El Festival de las Calaveras - Festival of Bones

More than 3000 years ago, the Aztec Indians, who dwelled in Mexico, spent many months each year honor and tending to their deceased family members with ceremonies and rituals. Each year, in the same tradition as the Aztec Indians, on November 1st and 2nd, the Day of the Dead is celebrated in cities, towns and villages throughout Mexico. People attend mass, set up altars in their homes, and clean and decorate the graves of family members. They gather for days of celebration with singing and dancing and enjoying festive food. The activities associated with the Day of the Dead or El Festival de las Calaveras allow families to dedicate time each year to honor those who have passed away.

One of the traditional folk art customs is for family members to create brightly painted skeleton and skull figures. "Sugar Skulls" are decorative folk art pieces created specifically for the celebration. These pieces are beautify crafted and often highly decorated. Day of the Dead folk art skulls are usually far less realist than skeleton masks worn during our Halloween. These masks are traditionally painted in bright festive colors and have a symmetrical design.

Attached are samples from some 3rd grade student who have captured the beauty, intricacy and symmetry of the Day of the Dead paper "Sugar Skulls".

Kindergarten Shape Assessment

A directed drawing activity with the Kindergarteners to assess their knowledge about and their ability to render simple shapes. The assessment artwork from the beginning of the year will be saved in a portfolio. At the end of the year the portfolio will be reviewed to mark each students development and growth.

Back to School 2013-2014 - Malcolm Bell Art Room!

We have been very busy in the art room the last 4 weeks. Its amazing how quickly the time goes by. It seems even faster since I am scheduled with my art students only once a week for 45 minutes. Not nearly enough time as far as I'm concerned. But even in those short 45 minutes we are able to learn about and create some beautiful visual art.

The second graders have been working on warm/cool watercolor painting using Fall leaves as inspiration. Here are a few of the 2nd graders beginning their leaf paintings.

 

MHS Spanish Class Shares Illustrated Spanish Children Books with Bell School 3rd graders

 

Marblehead High School Spanish Students Illustrated Children's books in Spanish. My oldest daughter Lauren visited Mrs. McMahon's Class to share her book with our Bell School Students.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getting ready for the Bell School Fine Art Exhbition!

 

Thanks to my daughter Lauren for spending this beautiful beach day hanging artwork

for the Bell School Fine Arts Night with her mom rather than going to the beach. We are almost ready to go. The kids work looks great. As soon as school is out I owe her a lobster roll and day at Good Harbor Beach!

 

 

 

 

 

Self Portrait End of Year Unit - Image and Identity

 

Self Portrait Unit

Year end review - image and identity

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish!

 

Clay Pinch Pots Fish by 2nd graders.

Bell Fine Arts Night - June 5th!

 

Bell School Library with Art from our Bell School Students

 

Bell School Library ready to go.

Third Grade Art in the third grade wing. Self Portraits and Georgia O'keeffe Floral Studies.

Always trying something new...video!

This is a short clip from our winter musical. I was so fortunate to have my family bring me an IPad for the holidays. I tried out taking a short clip during our Bell School Winter Musical rehearsal the Jellyfish song. This is one of my favorites numbers from the show. I hear this song in my sleep now...did you know jellyfish don't have a heart?
I bet when these kids are in HS there will be a SAT question about jellyfish and they will fondly remember thier jellyfish song. We can only hope.

Bell School 2013 Winter Musical - Oceans of Fun

Bell Elementary School Presents….

“Oceans of Fun” - The 2013 Winter Musical

 

Music Direction: Ms. Simone     Art Direction: Mrs. Nohelty        Choreography: Ms. Baker

 

On January 15 and 16, at the Marblehead High School, the second and third grade students from Bell Elementary School performed the children’s musical “Oceans of Fun” written by Jill and Michael Gallina.  Students sang through educational songs about the various sea creatures that live in the ocean, which include: Jellyfish, Scallops, Oysters and Clams, Sharks, Octopi, Sea Turtles and Lobsters.  Students were dressed in hand painted head pieces that each performer  individually created and brightly colored tee-shirts silk screened with artwork of sea creatures each child designed specifically for the show shirts.  Original watercolor art painted by the 2nd grade students was also projected behind the performers throughout the show.  Each class was featured in a specific choreographed dance in the front of the stage, depending on their sea creature, as the others sang on the risers.  The students exhibited excellent singing, movement, artistry and concert etiquette. 

Beautiful Flowers from Bell School Familes

The Bell School families presented the directors of the 2013 winter musical these beautiful flowers at the end of the performances. Thanks to all the 2nd and 3rd grade families for their support and generosity to the Fine Art program at Bell.