The emphasis of the art curriculum at Pinecroft is on imaginative thinking, creative-self expression, and confidence building through the instruction of basic art making skills, sensory awareness, and material experimentation in a variety of media.Here, they learn what it means to be an artist: to take care with their work, to respect the tools and the processes of making and to focus on a project until they are proud of the finished work.
The unique learning context of the art room also encourages a broad appreciation of creative thinking and design through stories and myths of other cultures, studies of art history, interdisciplinary projects, as well as inspiration from the natural world.We believe that visual art making is a living process that supports self-definition and becomes a means to discovering new possibilities, new thinking and a new understanding of the world.
The art room is a spacious, light filled environment equipped with a wide range of media and tools. In the classroom we strive to create an environment of joy, natural enthusiasm, play and respect. We support children to trust their way of doing things, and to be creativly brave. When they leave Pinecroft, we hope the children see they are artists in their own right having made contact with the creative forces bubbling inside them, unencumbered by self-criticism and self-doubt. Each class is an hour. During this time, the children are given plenty of opportunity to develop unique projects that are often produced in multiple stages. Here they learn what it means to be an artist: to take care with their work, to respect the tools and the processes of making, and to stick with what they are doing until they are proud of the finished work. Sometimes the children participate in the set up of the classroom, as well as the clean up so they understand the cycle of work unique to artists’ practice. It’s a dynamic environment where we share fun and learning.
Student interns from the Studio Art program at Wheaton College assist throughout the year.Guest artists are invited to conduct specialized workshops. Special art enrichment programs are offered after school. Two exhibitions, mounted for the school’s Open House, feature the children’s work for public view.
