As an extension of the ARTworks program, students from NEST+m participated in a 6-week long art making intensive that included lessons with CUE alumni artist, Margaret Cogswell. Student artwork will be on view in CUE's project space March 3rd—23rd. Join us to celebrate the students' work on March 3rd, 2016!

“hopes, dreams and fears”
Students created mixed media pieces drawing upon the theme of “hopes, dreams and fears”. The idea for the lesson unit was inspired by a conversation overheard in the art room about a year ago. Students were discussing their aspirations for the future and it opened up another part of their personality I rarely get to hear about. It prompted a writing assignment where each child wrote about their hopes, dreams and fears. They are mature enough to articulate what they hope, dream or fear for themselves and for the world. Our children are emotionally and socially aware and I wanted to provide them a platform and voice to express this.

In collaboration with CUE Artist Teacher Margaret Cogswell, we explored Eastern methodologies of watercolor technique and spoke about the emotional qualities of color. Each lesson incorporated new and unique materials for the children to be exposed to, yet challenged them to push their ideas in unexpected ways. Through the combination of text, visual imagery (both abstract and representational), and a limited color palette, every piece exhibits each child's thought process. A trip to the Whitney Museum of Art gave them an opportunity to connect their current learning and in-class discussion with contemporary works of similar themes.

-Christina Soriano, LS art teacher