This Week in Art: December 15-19

6th Grade Art:


This was the last week of Term "C" art classes for 6th grade. We spent our last day melting our plastic abstract flower forms into 3-dimensional bowl-like shapes, which will be hung up in the cafeteria and become part of our year-long installation inspired by the artwork of Dale Chihuly. We had a short schedule today (and were a little bit busy!) so there is no student blogger this week.

7th Grade Art:


Seventh graders are on a field trip today! They went to Drury Lane to see "A Christmas Carol." Today was also the last day of Term "C" art classes for 7th grade. Here are some of our final painted portrait projects from the term. You can now view them all on our Artsonia gallery, along with some awesome reflective artist's statements to go along with the work.

During classes this week, students finished up their observational pop can drawings, which will also be posted soon on our Artsonia gallery, so be sure to keep an eye out!

8th Grade Art:


Today was the last day of art for 8th grade quarter 2 students! Many of the students were very busy finishing up their pixelated self portraits. Here is a preview of some of the awesomeness I've seen so far! Also today, students took their ceramics choice projects home to show off and/or give as holiday gifts! So act surprised! :)

In other art news...


Sandburg Middle School student artwork is on the cover of the District 205 holiday card this year! I was contacted almost a full year ago to arrange the artwork for the card, and it's finally here! This artwork was done by current 7th grade students (who were in 6th grade at the time of selection). Didn't it turn out awesome?!

On Tuesday night at the school board meeting, 8th grader Jack Rosenberg was honored for his inclusion in the IAEA Student Art Show with a special proclamation by the school board. Read more about our experience on this blog post. Congratulations Jack!



The Elmhurst Art Museum has art camps over winter break! You can still sign up here. You can also register for winter art classes that begin on January 5th! Full details and signup info here on the EAM website.

Have a great holiday/winter break and don't forget to MAKE SOME ART!

Thanks for another great week!
- Mrs. L.

This Week in Art: December 8-12

6th Grade Art:


"Today we are making lego versions of our selves. This is mine I used a phone because I love my phone. I did not put in my glasses because I never wear them except for school. I do not actually do not have the shoes I put on myself because I messed up coloring the pants."

- Cate C, Period 8

7th Grade Art:


There is no 7th grade student blogger today, as we began a new project in class and I didn't want to pull anyone away from their work time (7th graders will miss next Friday's art class due to a field trip, too). We've completed (or should have completed) our monochromatic portrait paintings by now, and today we began a new drawing unit all about still life. We brought in cans of pop to drink, and now we're drawing the can!

Students are concentrating on size/proportion, value and shading, and craftsmanship when using colored pencil in order to create the most realistic drawings possible. We'll see how they turn out by next Thursday, as it'll be our last day of art for this term!

8th Grade Art:

Victoria's projects: works-in-progress

"This week in art we worked on glazing our mug with colored glaze and clear glaze. The clear glaze was a very milky substance. We also worked on our pixel projects. The theme of my mug is from the tv show supernatural."

-Victoria Z, Period 2

In other art news...

image via Artnet News

Did you hear about the guy who punched a hole in a Monet painting at the National Gallery of Ireland? He was been sentenced to five years in prison. Respect art, yo.

Speaking of the damaged Monet painting, here's how it was repaired before being put back on display. Amazing!

Here's an article from TeachingChannel.org about how arts education can help students in special education and ELL programs. Hooray for art!

Thanks for another great week!
- Mrs. L.

This Week in Art: Dec 1-5

Last week was Thanksgiving and Parent-Teacher Conferences, so we did not have a blog post. But now we're back! (Well, for a few weeks until winter break at least...) Check out what happened this week:

6th Grade Art:

Here is Jack's finished sculpture!

"This week in art we focused on painting our 3D letters. We worked on blending paint and applying all over patterns to them. For my sculpture I did red and black paint for the Chicago Bulls. I kept my all over pattern basic by just doing dots but changing color depending what the background is."

-Jack R, Period 8

7th Grade Art:

Conor's black and white portrait painting is finished!

"Over the past few weeks, we made portraits of ourselves and we used Photoshop. I liked this project, but it was a lengthy one. Since we got to choose the colors we wanted, I chose white and black because they go together well."

-Conor L, Period 5

another 7th grade student works on his painting project

8th Grade Art:

Samantha's mug is looking so cute!

"This week in art class we have been working on glazing our clay projects. For my clay project I chose to do a mug. I'm still working on my mug, but I'm making good progress. My mug's theme is under the sea."

-Samantha H, Period 2

You can view the ceramics projects from Quarter 1 at our Artsonia gallery here. 

In other art news...
Our food pantry/UCCA fundraiser is now going on at Elijah's Coffee Shop in downtown Elmhurst! This year, we're selling crocheted coffee cup sleeves made by members of the Sandburg Crochet Club. For $5, you can own your own handmade sleeve (or buy them as gifts for others!) and all of the profits will go directly to the local food pantry via United Community Concerns Association. This sale will be going on from now through winter break (early January).

You can read about last year's UCCA fundraiser on their news page here.


Education Week has published a whole series of articles and commentaries on the importance of arts education - read them here.

Thanks for another great week!
- Mrs. L.