Ceramics Open to: All students Length: Semester Clay is the medium in this semester long course. The expressive qualities of clay, skills and technical information unique to ceramics, and thinking visually in three dimensions will be the focus of student exploration. Students will work towards communicating ideas visually and demonstrating an understanding of the elements and principles of art through the pieces they make. Students work on a series of assignments that allow for personal expression as well as expanding the student's understanding of art history, the multi-cultural nature of clay, and aesthetics. Artistic criticism is delivered through an ongoing dialogue with students, guiding them towards a deeper understanding of analysis and decision making.
Drawing Open to: All students Length: Semester This drawing course explores the artistic compositions using pencil, charcoal, marker, pastel and crayon. Students will learn various types of shading, gradation, and blending techniques, such as cross-hatch and stipple. Cartoon, gesture, perspective and contour drawing will be demonstrated. Through a variety of drawing projects, students will develop their hand-eye coordination and observation skills. Students will also participate in the evaluation process, learning how to make revisions in their artwork, and how to create strong compositions. Students will explore drawing from both reality (figure drawing, still life and landscape) and imagination.
Drawing 2 (offered on a rotating basis) Open to: All Students Prerequisite: Drawing Length: Semester Students will continue to develop their mechanical and observational skills in drawing and hone their technique by using specific exercises to solve advanced drawing problems. They will develop their creativity and different styles of drawing through the development of work that reflects subjects of personal interest and importance. Students will also participate in the evaluation process, learning the language and conventions of the critique. They will understand how to make revisions in their artwork to create strong compositions and a finished portfolio of work that is ready for a gallery exhibit. Students will also understand their own work in a historical context.
African Arts (offered on a rotating basis) Open to: All students Length: Semester African Arts is an interdisciplinary course that will explore African history and culture through the arts. Students will learn how the social, economic, political, and racial factors influenced the arts as seen in the context of such historical events as the Harlem Renaissance, the Civil Rights Movement, the Black Panthers as well as prominent African-American artists like Marcus Garvey, August Wilson, Spike Lee and Maya Angelou. Students will explore various art forms, such as music, dance, poetry, sculpture, and painting. Through these creative processes, students will increase their knowledge and appreciation of African history and heritage.
Global Art (offered on a rotating basis) Open to: All Students Length: Semester The goal of this course is to offer South High School Students the opportunity to explore the cultural richness of visual art making that takes place in their world. The course will begin with the earliest known (Primitive) artworks and culminate with contemporary cultural trends around the globe. Students will be given opportunities to create artwork using the styles, media and physical processes that have influenced artists throughout the history of visual arts. The course will cover styles, movements and media in; African Arts, Oceanic, Chinese, Middle Eastern, European, Native American Arts and others. Lessons are focused on visual processes, media and the cultural contexts of work created in the past or being created now in other parts of the world.
Native Arts (offered on a rotating basis) Open to: All students Length: Semester Native Arts is an interdisciplinary course that will explore Native history and culture through the arts. Students will learn how the arts have been an integral part of the Native community. Traditional and contemporary native arts will be studied and discussed. The arts of the Ojibwe, Lakota and Dakota will be emphasized, but other Native communities will also be represented in this course. Students will explore various art forms, such as music, dance, poetry, filmmaking, sculpture, photography, painting, beading and birch bark crafts. Through these creative processes, students will increase their knowledge and appreciation of Native American heritage.
Painting Open to: All students Length: Semester This painting course will explore artistic works and concepts developed with the techniques of using watercolor, acrylic, and mixed-media. Students will learn about various styles of painting such as: realism, impressionism, cubism, surrealism and expressionism. Students will also participate in the evaluation process, learning how to make revisions in their artwork, and how to create strong compositions. Students will be taught how to build a painting frame, and also how to stretch and prepare their own canvas.
Painting 2 (offered on a rotating basis) Open to: All Students Prerequisite: Painting Length: Semester Students continue to develop their mechanical and observational skills in painting and hone their technique, primarily in acrylics. They will develop their creativity through the development of work that reflects subjects of personal interest and importance. Students will also participate in the evaluation process, learning the language and conventions of the critique. They will understand how to make revisions in their artwork to create strong compositions and a finished portfolio of work that is ready for a gallery exhibit. Students will also understand their own work in a historical context.