New 2011 - 2012 Visual Arts Teachers

Christian Gilbreath Berkmar HS	Allison Lawrence Berkmar MS	Libby Stanchiw Stripling ES

Visual Arts Program Description

High School Visual Arts Program

The Gwinnett County Public Schools High School Visual Arts Program embraces unique and creative thinking and subscribes to a standards-based curriculum (Academic Knowledge and Skills) that fosters the development of creative, caring, discerning, knowledgeable, self-disciplined, inquiring, and motivated individuals. Visual Arts students are expected to be able to communicate at a basic level about the visual arts in the areas of knowledge, skills and usage of the basic vocabularies, materials, tools, techniques and intellectual methods of the discipline. Furthermore, they should be able to define and solve artistic problems with insight, reason, and technical proficiency as well as develop basic analyses of works of art from structural, historical, and cultural perspectives.

High school visual arts students are encouraged to become involved in a variety of art-related competitions and extra-curricular activities including: Art Club, National Art Honor Society (grades 10-12), Tapestry (Gwinnet County Schools District Wide Art Exhibit), Governor’s Honors Program (qualifying visual arts students are nominated by art teachers), Scholastic Art Awards (National Juried Competition), All-State Festival of Art and Design (State-Wide Juried Competition),Georgia High School Drawing Competition (Juried Competition), Juried Photography Competitions, Ceramics Symposium (Juried Competition), Congressional Art Exhibit, PTSA sponsored Reflections Competition and Artwork published in school publications.

Middle School Visual Arts Program

The purpose of middle school art is not to cultivate future artists, but to offer students experience in the arts that supports other academic endeavors. Research has shown that math, visual-spatial understanding, analytical reasoning, as well as a dozen other important learning skills are all improved through experience in the visual arts, and new studies continue to find other links between the arts and academic achievement.

Middle school is a particularly challenging time for students’ artistic development, a time when students become disillusioned with art because they cannot achieve the level of realism they desire. Helping students through this tough period by showing them that art is a series of skill sets that can be learned through patience and practice is a valuable experience. Through this experience students can decide if art is something they would like to pursue in high school. For many it opens the potential of art not as a vocation but as a life-long avocation.

Middle school student artists have the opportunity to share their success through a variety of exhibition opportunities. Fall exhibits include the PTSA Reflections Art Contest and the Regional Scholastic Art Competition. In the spring students participate in the Capitol Art Exhibition and GCPS Tapestry Art Festival.

Elementary School Art Program

In Gwinnett County Public Schools art at the elementary level is seen as an integral part of the educational curriculum. Art education helps beginning learners see and think in new ways and builds bridges between the verbal and nonverbal, and between logic and emotion. In some disciplines only one correct response is acceptable; however, art encourages exploration, diversity, and teaches students that sometimes there may be more than one “right” answer. In the early stages of art appreciation students learn that there are many possibilities which may result in many successful outcomes. Art allows students to think “outside of the box” and experience the intrinsic joy of learning and creating for the pure sake of learning and creating. In addition, children are given opportunities to develop their dexterity and fine motor skills.

GCPS Visual Art Instruction is based upon the Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS). These provide the standards for students and also spiral from grade to grade, ensuring that all students receive age appropriate instruction for their developmental stage. One of the resources provided for all elementary visual arts teachers is the Art Everywhere series by Harcourt. “Corefx”, a software application, is also present at each school linking technology with studio art. These core materials supplement traditional two dimensional art instruction, such as drawing and painting, and three dimensional art instruction, such as sculpture and ceramics. Theories such as color, perspective, and art history are used to enhance “hand-on” activities.

There are many opportunities for students to receive recognition for their achievement in art at their local school, such as art displays and art shows. Students can receive outside recognition through county sponsored art exhibitions and through local, state, and national contests. Also, students’ artwork is displayed at “Tapestry,” a Gwinnett Country Public Schools art show which encompasses artwork from all schools and grade levels within the school district. Gwinnett County School Public Schools is a strong supporter of the visual arts program.