Olympics of Visual Arts Countdown

Hot glue guns, papier mache strips, Mod Podge containers, model magic wrappers are the accoutrement of Olympics of Visual Arts (OVA) students. The students–in a new class this year for 8th graders at Wells and a before-school club for C.V. Starr 5th graders–are broken into groups such as fashion, architecture, illustration and painting. The groups are given a prompt, such as “create a biomorphic school” and then create projects for an Olympics-style event at the end of April in Saratoga Springs.

The projects are next-level. Students start out brainstorming ideas and quickly turn their ideas into art.

The biomorphic classroom is a bee hive made of egg cartons–it’s a bit like a cave–with cells, each one containing a different classroom for bees: a music room, a library, and a history class. Inside each classroom are bees made out of Model Magic who are involved in activities such as writing essays, playing music and reading books.

“See down below, there are peanut bees and baby bees. We are going to hang bees from yarn from the top,” explained Cayden, a member of the beehive group. “We created a beehive you can actually walk into.”

The fashion groups are working with an underwater theme. The fifth graders took a more traditional route, affixing neon-colored fish to a gown they sewed themselves–when you shine a black light on the features, they glow! The eighth graders designed a gown based on a Japanese story involving an empress and a dragon–their gown features a kimono top and a skirt with designs that look like waves. Topping it all off, there are magical jewels and a papier mache dragon headpiece.

The children’s book, Owl Moon, is the theme of the illustration group’s project: a tent with painted scenes from the book on each side. There is also a tree with painted leaves and real feathers, and inside is a diptych with a giant painted owl.

Around the classrooms, students are working in groups, collaborating and creating.

“We planned out our idea at the beginning,” explained Callum Dodge, “but as we go along we have new ideas and incorporate those into the project.”

Callum’s group is design–her group created a seasonal dining table inspired by nature. There are colorful place settings, each with delicious treats like winter-themed, snowflake-shaped macaroons, and at the center there is a tiered cake, with each tier representing the different seasons. Above the table is an arch with a tree on one side and leaves which turn from spring to summer to fall colors. Under the table are soft cushions that match the colors of the seasons–which students cut, sewed and stuffed themselves.

“We are going to put animals on the table too. There’s a hedgehog and squirrels that will go under the tree trunk decorations,” said Callum.

The OVA experience is all about the process, but the final projects are just incredible..

These offerings are part of the district’s interest in building an art pathway for students, allowing them to explore their interests further, deepen their learning and enhance their artistic talents.