Sky McClain, Art Teacher
Kressen Elementary in Voorhees Township, New Jersey
The Voorhees Public school
district is a kindergarten to eighth grade school district in
southern New Jersey. They are one of the largest K to 8th
grade districts in the state.
Say "Hello" to their energetic elementary Art Teacher,
Mrs. McClain and enjoy the art of her students.
This year (2004) Mrs. McClain and her students studied the art of Japan. All
grade levels learned about the culture and many of the fine artists.
See
what is new - Art of India
These second graders looked at the
work of Nam June Paik and then at some Japanese made robots.
Then they made their own robots. They used wood pieces, pipe
cleaners, garage odds & ends (Mrs. McClain sent a letter home
asking for these), cardboard for the base, Elmer's glue, and tempera
paint. A glue gun came in handy to glue anything that wouldn't
stick for the children. To simplify, robot could only be
painted silver. The base could be painted many colors.
Each child wrote a little story about their robots - the robot's
name, what it does, what was fun about making it, etc.
This Robot is even playing the piano!
Just imagine the Stories these robots tell! Give the
personalities - likes and dislikes too.
See Junkmation
-The "Legend of Sky Kingdom" From Zimbabwe (no longer
online)
Internet Resources:
Nam
June Paik Korean/American Video Artist, Born 1932 Paik
Video Sculpture exhibit Robots
Nam
June Paik Lesson Plan - Albright Knox See Piano
Piece
Japanese
robots -Sony Robot
Factory - click names at left Qonto
Japanese Robot Images
This is a lucky cat made by a fourth
grader. The cats were made of Crayola Model Magic and
painted with tempera paint. They were attached to a
cardboard base, covered with colored paper and decorated with
Japanese calligraphy. Close to 100 children made them and
each one was wonderful. Lucky Cat could be made with firing clay
(pinch pot method) air dry clay - paper clay or polymer clays (Sculpey
or Fimo).
The Legend of Maneki
Neko
In the 17th century, there
was a rundown and poverty-stricken temple in Tokyo. The temple's
priest was very poor, but he shared what little food he had with
his pet cat, Tama.
One day, a wealthy
and important man was caught in a storm while hunting and he
took refuge under a big tree near the temple.
While
he waited for the storm to pass, the man noticed a cat beckoning
him to come inside the temple gate. This was so startling that he
left the shelter of the tree to have a closer look at this unusual
cat. At that moment, the tree was struck by lighting.
As a result, the wealthy man became
friends with the poor priest, and the temple became prosperous. The
priest and his cat never went hungry again.
When Tama died he was buried in the
Goutokuji Temple's cat cemetery with respect and love, and the Maneki
Neko was made in honor of him. A Maneki Neko in your place of business,
your home or on your website is said to bring in good luck and visitors.
Maneki Neko is Japanese for
"beckoning cat." The message he's holding says "Please
come in. You are welcome!" and he is beckoning you with his paw .
(In Japan, the gesture of beckoning is pretty much the reverse of the
gesture used in the West.) from: http://www.actioncat.com/luckycat.html
Maneki
Neko (Lucky cat) is a cat doll which is believed to invite money,
people and good luck with its paw.
Each Maneki Neko's color and
inviting paw has its own meaning. Right paw invites money, while left
paw invites people or guests. The most popular Mike-neko cats (a white
cat with brown and black spots on it) invite good luck. Black cats keep
away disease and evil, and golden cats invites money, of course. (copied
from http://www.harapan.co.jp/english/manekineko.htm)
[ MORE ART
OF JAPAN! | WORK INSPIRED BY
FAVORITE
ARTISTS! | ART OF INDIA! ]
