St. Vincent parents help create a passion for art

Courtesy photo/Saint Vincent de Paul School

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SALT LAKE CITY — Saint Vincent de Paul School is thankful to have a group of dedicated parents volunteering for its Art Appreciation Program. Once a week diligent parents come in to teach and engage the students in art. Lesson plans are taught so students learn about famous artists, art concepts, and art mediums.

Every year students in each grade study the following famous artists: 1st grade – Wasily Kandinsky, 2nd – Paul Klee, 3rd – Vincent Van Gogh, 4th Georgia O’Keefe, 5th – Paul Gauguin, 6th – Gustav Klimt, 7th – Claude Monet and 8th – George Seurat.

Last week, 2nd-graders studied Paul Klee’s "Cat and Bird" masterpiece. Brooke Gaztambide, parent art volunteer, talked to the students about a simple line and what it can create. She then talked about how lines create shapes. With black oil pastels, she had the students first draw a cat’s face, then the eyes and then the rest of the details. Pastel chalk was used to add color.

Students learned about the relationship of colors, contrasting and complimentary. They used their fingers to blend the colors together to complete the project.

"My main goal is to inspire the kids to have a passion for art," Gaztambide said. "My goal is to introduce the students to many different mediums in our projects. I feel it is important to create a work of art each time, as students are so proud of their finished projects. It is fun when I see students in the hall and they ask me what they are doing for art this week and cannot wait!"

According to second grader Mikel, these goals have been achieved.

"Art is the best class, because I get to use my imagination and create things," he said.

Each March, the school hosts an art show in which students showcase their masterpieces. In addition, officials invest in the art education by hosting an artist in residence each year, a week of performing arts with the Missoula Children’s Theatre and educational field trips to various art museums and exhibits.

"Having been involved in our school’s art program for the past 13 years, our parent volunteers are a group of dedicated and highly motivated individuals," said Sarah Niemann, art appreciation coordinator. "The school, students and I appreciate all their hard work. It would not be as successful without their support and dedication to helping our students learn to love art."

Courtesy of Saint Vincent ed Paul School