The First Creek Art Explorers Club exists to expose students to exploring and analyzing existing local artists and locally displayed artwork. This artwork includes settings of, but is not limited to, museums, galleries, outdoor advertisements, nature, architecture, public vernacular art (graffiti, tagging, and flash-art installations), and studios. Students go beyond the typical classroom setting and are able to respond to the art that we see by sketching, photographing, and making their own studio art.
12162k10 art club field trip :)
2010_12-09: First meeting and introduction sketches.
This was our first meeting of the year because of Mr. Purdy's extended family leave absences. We discussed ideas for what we could do in the art club this year with a brainstorming activity. We also discussed field trip forms and documents. Students took time to create introduction sketches: drawings that represent their interests, hobbies, and personalities.
2009 - 2010 (from here down).
2010_06-04: Seattle Art Museum & Olympic Sculpture Park field trip.
A great afternoon in Seattle for our final art club event of the year! We went to the Seattle Art Museum and then walked over to the Olympic Sculpture Park. We were quite tired at the end after all of that walking! But, it was a great trip.
2010_05-21: Downtown Artwalk - 'fringe art galleries.'
This week, we went on the free "third Thursday Artwalk" and checked out some of the fringe art scene stops. We went to the Tacoma Art Supply store, then rode the lightrail north to the end of the line. We walked up to the old Masonic Temple and up the Spanish Steps. Then we went south to the graffiti garages on 7th and Broadway. While on Broadway, we went to the Speakeasy Arts Cooperative and Sanford and Son Antiques Middle Merchants. We wandered up the hill to Market Street to see the mural of Alice and Wonderland, then back down to Mad Hat Tea Company. From there we took the bus back home.
2010_05-06: Clay.
Students worked on some freestyle designs using Idaho White clay.
2010_04-15: Third Thursday Art Walk Downtown.
We visited the park at the south end of the Thea Foss Waterway to do some sketching and photography. Then we went to the Museum of Glass.
2010_04-08: Photography of textures outside the school building.
Students worked with digital cameras to capture various textures outside of the school.
2010_03-18: Third Thursday Art Walk - Downtown Tacoma.
There were only 3 students in attendance, so we had a special "treat" for dinner. We visited the Tacoma Art Museum to see "The Secret Language of Animals" as well as a quick look at "The Concise Guide to Northwest Art." We rode the link light-rail to and from the museum. On the way to the museum, we stopped by the federal courthouse at the old Union Station to see the permanent art on display there by Dale Chihuly. We also went down to Thea's Park to enjoy our dinner as well as the cool breezes near the waterfront. Our focus was on photography rather than sketching, so each student had a great time taking digital photos. We spoke briefly about composing a nice photo using the rule of thirds.
2010_03-11: 2-Point Perspective Drawing: art studio.
We decided to stay in the studio and do some 2-point perspective drawing. Mr. Purdy modeled step-by-step instructions and students came up with some simple 3-d cubes in a picture plane. (sketch by Angel.)
2010_03-25: Neighborhood Architecture Sketching.
We went to some neighborhoods to sketch houses and common types of residential architecture.
2010_02-18: Third Thursday Art Walk - Downtown Tacoma.
There were 3 boys and 2 girls in attendance. We went to the new greenspace / mini-park at the south end of the Thea Foss Waterway to sketch the Highway509 / E 21st Street bridge and enjoy the sunshine. Then we walked up past the Museum of Glass, across the Bridge of Glass, to the Washington State History Museum.
Sketch by Araceli.
Photo by Mr. Purdy.
2010_02-04: Neighborhood Outdoor Drawing.
We went outside the school to the corner of S 56th and Portland to look at and sketch common logos that we see everyday but don't often notice. We also went over to Portland Avenue Nursery to look at and draw plants and fountains.
Sketch by Rahman.
Sketch by Araceli.
2010_01-21: Third Thursday Art Walk - Downtown Tacoma.
We went out behind the school to do some sketching and photography of nature. It was a soggy and cold adventure, but we still had a good time!
Photos by Mr. Purdy.
Photos by Mr. Purdy.
2010_01-07: Indoor / Studio Drawing Activity.
Thank-You card creation. We spent some time indoors drawing up thank-you cards for local businesses and non-profits that gave food to school families in need during the holidays. (Albertson's and Life Center) .
2009_12-17: Third Thursday Artwalk - Downtown Tacoma.
Visiting of the Third Thursday Artwalk in downtown Tacoma. Specifically we visited the Museum of Glass, the Bridge of Glass and the outdoor sculptures near the Museum of Glass. .
2009_12-10: Studio Research Activity.
Researching and mapping of local art opportunities. Specifically, we used the computers and internet to find local art in Tacoma as well as art websites that were interesting to display, view, or create art on. .
2009_12-03: Studio Introduction and Research Activities.
Introducing ourselves and researching and mapping of local art opportunities. Specifically, we used the computers and internet to find local art in Tacoma as well as art websites that were interesting to display, view, or create art on. .