Grant enriches Valley View art program
courtesy photo
Primary students at Valley View Elementary School listen while Edna Lemm begins the day’s art lesson with the history of the artist and samples of their artwork.
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Students at Valley View School are receiving an excellent education in art history, art appreciation, as well as trying their hand at becoming artists themselves. Most schools have art time, but teachers and staff at Valley View School feel students are getting much more than arts and crafts in their current art program. Four years ago, Edna Lemm started art lessons with both the primary and intermediate classes twice each month. Time and resources were limited, but parents who were helping saw how valuable these lessons were. One parent decided to write a grant to see if the art program could be expanded.
The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation helped make this art program possible with a $2,500 grant. This has allowed the school to expand the current program so students have art lessons consistently with weekly lessons. Carol Madden, intermediate classroom teacher, says, “If this were just arts and crafts time, I would not be in favor of devoting so much class time to art. This art program teaches the history of the artists and allows the students to experience similar art techniques based on each artist. These lessons are very valuable for my students.”
Lemm has been teaching art in the Mission Valley for almost 11 years at several schools as well as lessons she offers at her home art studio. Lemm begins each lesson teaching the history of each artist’s life and their artwork. She emphasizes art appreciation by showing several examples of each artist’s work. She then discusses the artist, techniques and art mediums required to make similar art. This year, the students have learned about many artists, including Charlie Russell, Matisse, Salvador Dali, Alexander Calder, Piet Mondrian, Keith Haring, Kevin RedStar, Picasso, Henri Rosseau, Paul Klee, and Dale Chihuly. A favorite project of the students was when each class worked together to make a huge graffiti mural based on Keith Haring’s artwork.
“I love how this art program gives students a timeline of art history through artists and art periods. I feel they are receiving an excellent start in the area of art at our school,” says Wendy Lobdell, primary teacher.
With 10 kindergarten students at Valley View this year, Lemm notes how much their motor skills have improved from the beginning of the year. This is a big accomplishment for 5 and 6-year-olds, and it is in part to the consistent art lessons. Across the hall, you can see excellent artwork from older students who have had several years of lessons with Lemm. Their arwork continues to improve and impress.
Parent helpers who assist Lemm during the art lessons comment about how much they learn about art history with the students. They also love all the amazing artwork that is coming home, only problem is that you want to frame it all. Valley View teachers, parents and students are very thankful to have such a great art program offered at the school. They are especially thankful to the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation for making the expansion possible.
