Jenks students learn artistic process through mobile project

Fourth- and fifth-graders from John S. Jenks School in Chestnut Hill have created an original mobile art work that will welcome students as they return this fall. Hanging in the school's main entrance hall, the mobile was built under the direction of teachers and artist-in-residence Tina Zavitsanos.

A grant from the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts, which was matched dollar for dollar through the fundraising efforts of the Jenks Home and School Association, made the project possible.

Jenks students designed, printed and painted a seven-paneled hinged box kite that incorporates the use of several artistic processes and media. Participating students were able to successfully mimic the entire artistic process while having the opportunity to kinesthetically understand the artistic elements of their science and social studies curriculum. All fourth- and fifth-grade students were involved on some level in every step of production from conception to installation. 

Starting with brainstorming in their own sketchbooks, these young artists worked from the concepts of home structures and energy sourcesto create simplified abstract visuals. They were then given disposable cameras to take out into their own environment to document houses, people and abstract cropped shots. These photographs were cut and collaged together by the fourth-graders to make whimsical new structures based on the real imagery. Creativity was highly encouraged but the basics of perceptual representation were not discarded. 

The artist-in-residence joined and burned theses photo stencils onto silk screens for the fifth graders to hand print multiples onto canvas. To further understand the printing process, fifth-grade students went on a class field trip to the Fabric Workshop and Museum to view contemporary work on display. They were also given a guided tour of the facilities in order to see large scale print production in a working studio.

These prints then became the outlined layout for the final acrylic painting, which was completed in small groups with individual instruction provided. Finally, the canvas images were stretched onto light wooden frames constructed by the artist-in-residence and inspired by the 3-D drafts of the fifth-grade students. The entire piece was then suspended by wire in the school’s main entrance for all to enjoy.