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Visual Arts Program

  • girl painting mask
  • mask making

Each week, lower school students have a one hour art class with art specialist, Laura Pereira.  Middle school students have two 45 minute classes.   

"Painting should be an adventure . . . you take what you find." -Romare Bearden

VISION 

Learning through the arts is an essential part of education at Friends School. The arts are an integral part of humanity and cultural history.  Therefore, the arts are an integral part of our school’s culture and our students’ personal and social development.  Art-making helps students process ideas and feelings and helps infuse life with joy, passion, and meaning. Students are invited to create new thoughts and experiences, and develop strong artistic voices as part of their learning in the arts.

Five Guiding Principles of Arts Education at FSM

  1. Experiential:  Active, hands-on, concrete experience is the most effective method of arts education. Students are immersed in the most direct experience possible.
  2. Holistic:  Children learn best when they encounter whole ideas, events, and materials within a purposeful context. The arts are integral to people and communities.  Understanding the important role the arts have both in history and human culture enhances art appreciation. 
  3. Authentic: Real, rich, complex ideas and materials are at the heart of the curriculum. Whenever possible, students’ interests are incorporated into classroom activities. This may lead to spontaneous changes in studies and influence curriculum. 
  4. Expressive:  To develop expressiveness students must be involved in meaningful arts experiences.  Many opportunities are provided throughout the arts curriculum for students to share their work with others.
  5. Collaborative:  Cooperative learning in the arts is more effective than competitive and individualistic approaches.  Students’ skills are enriched through collaboration with other students, and across classroom grade levels and curriculum areas.

 Students in visual art at FSM will:

  • Gain experience with a wide variety of materials and techniques.
  • Utilize the artistic process to create meaningful works of art.
  • Explore why artists make art and what kinds of things inspire people to make art.
  • Understand how artwork is a product of culture, technology and time.
  • Begin to analyze works of art for meaning.
  • Begin to see connections between art and life.
  • Explore art as a medium for self-expression.