Interpreting Sounds of the Symphony

The Catacombs by Krista Buder, Grade 12

Mussorgsky by Nicole Hanna

Classical music has a remarkable capacity to inspire.  With hopes of making connections through the arts, the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra approached the art department at South Kamloops Secondary with a unique opportunity to visually interpret a famous symphony.  Pictures at an Exhibition, a musical work in 10 movements by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881) was originally inspired by the artwork of his talented friend, Vicktor Hartmann (1834-1873). Investigating the six of the 10 remaining images, SKSS students embarked on a process of listening to the recorded 10 movements of the symphony and researching specific aspects for a personal art image.

 Camyrn Morris, grade 11                                                            Cynthia James, grade 12 

               

In a final presentation of student learning, SKSS art students framed their work, provided artist statements and installed 22 artworks for display at the Kamloops Symphony's performance on February 13, 2016.  Many of the secondary students were in attendance the night of the symphony performance.  Unexpectedly, alongside the original Hartmann images the student work was projected during the live performance.  For many reasons this experience had a profound and positive impact on the art students who were sitting in the audience listening to the live performance!  

The symphony was fantastic. It was so much more interesting to listen to the music live. The coolest part was probably seeing how the student artists interpreted the sounds of the symphony while the professional musicians were playing. Evidently, it was inspiring to see how the music can give people such different imagery. -Kayla S., grade 12

The collaboration between the symphony music and visual art was a fantastic learning experience. During intermission we shared with audience members who approached art students with questions as well as many compliments.  This process of sharing with the community was a whole new experience itself, but such a great feeling as a developing artist! With this being said, sitting in the audience along with your classmates, listening to the live music while your own art was being projected in the performance was phenomenal! I specifically enjoyed the quiet whispers in the audience complementing the student art images.  –Alma S., grade 11

Free Range Eggs by Lyle Loveday, grade 11

City of Storms by Miranda McGhee

   A special thank-you to Krystal Kehoe of the KSO for arranging this unique opportunity and collaboration with SKSS art students.  We are truly grateful to make meaningful community connections through visual arts.  Also, thanks to Vice Principal Blake Buemann for attending and supporting students at this event!

Just Colour: Inspiring Community through Illustrations

 

In a world that's increasingly fast-paced and virtual, people are discovering the meditative calm and visual pleasure offered by the new generation of coloring books for adults. Adult colouring books are a great way for people to relax, be creative, and go back to their childhood.  

Coloring is accessible.

It unleashes the creativity we all have in a way that is safe.

For these reasons, SKSS grade 9 & 10 art students decided to create their own sophisticated colouring book.  Illustrating images for a collective purpose became a way to show individual creativity, share artwork outside of the classroom, and an opportunity to invite others to be a part of their art making. 

Students participated in multiple colouring parties hosted at the school that were fantastic community events with teachers, counselors, principals, friends, grandparents and parents in attendance, taking time to connect with art students through the simple act of colouring.

More than just Clay: Sharing Friendship & Peace

Providing students with an active clay and sculpture program builds many opportunities for learning.  Clay is a unique art material that is highly responsive to touch and very forgiving.  In this sense, allowing for mistakes and playful art making gives students a sense of control, builds personal confidence and opens the mind to a greater sense of self-expression and imagination.

  

Applying sculpture skills, SKSS students shared a connection with our neighbouring elementary school (Lloyd George) by teaching clay techniques to Mme Girard’s grade 2 class.  We decided on a theme of Friendship & Peace. Just incase we could save the world, one grade two student at a time!  Students worked with clay slabs to cut their hand shape from both high school and elementary students to create a collaborative bowl.  To finish the designs, students added french or english words and symbols that represented our peace and friendship theme. 

Excited young artists chattered and worked hard over two sessions of classes creating common ground through their clay work and glazing.  Perhaps most importantly, SKSS students spoke about the valuable outcome of our collaboration, which was more than our colourful hand-bowls.  In fact, they expressed that teaching and working with young students reminded them of the importance of helping others and the significance of art making at any age. 

Inspired by Collaboration: Imaginary Animals

Animals enrich us in so many ways … the facial expression of an irritated house cat or the sheer beauty of witnessing a local herd of Bighorn sheep crossing the street at Sun Rivers in Kamloops.  Animals are interesting to learn about and observe. In this sense, animals inspire a creative subject for playful art making. 

Upper: Kaitlyn M face painting, LG artwork: Raccola
Lower: Art by LG student, Kate M & Rhona Armes admire LG student practice face painting 

Throughout the month of June 2015, South Kamloops Students participated in a collaborative art project with Lloyd George Elementary School.  Grade three artists from Mme Roy’s classroom came to the South Kam artroom and created an imaginary animal with a high school student.  Through a dialogue of composition, explanation of line, shape, colour, and an openness to creativity, 24 elementary students designed imaginary animals.  This process of creating imaginary creatures provided an ideal subject to take risks, try new materials, and connect both realistic and imagined imagery. 

Designing Collaborative Images: Easton & LG student

Garden Art Show!  SKSS Students set up the framed elementary student work in our school courtyard.
LG students were invited to SKSS back for a second visit to view the in-progress artwork created
 by their high school buddy's.  We also had some face painting! 

SKSS Student Courtney shares a moment with LG students reading artist statements.

The second stage of our creative thinking involved SKSS art students working with the images created by the grade 3 students to develop a personally meaningful image.  Aspects of material and composition presented a diverse opportunity for students to develop the image, maintaining some of the same qualities while pushing the sophistication of each imagined animal. 

Here are some of the outcomes of the SKSS student work:

Artwork by: Kate, grade 9

Artwork by: Camryn, grade 10

Artwork by: Lauren, grade 9

Our collaborative project comes together with a final presentation of student learning at Riverside Park on September 19^th, 2015.  Students will share our work and process with the community at the Kamloops Children’s Art Festival, an annual event hosted by the Kamloops Art Council. We are very proud to be a part of this celebration of the arts and share our finished work with with Kamloops!