Art damentals un
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By Caren Handleman
At a time when many schools are cutting back on the arts, Fort Worth Country Day continues to support and encourage students to explore and experiment in all aspects of the arts. Recognizing the value and importance of the arts in developing creativity, organizational know-how, problem-solving skills, and the ability to look at everyday objects with new appreciation and vision, FWCD reestablished the Art Fundamentals course to introduce students to studio art (drawing and painting), ceramics and photography, in a yearlong, hands-on course, typically taken during freshman year. Team-taught by Holly Clifford (studio art), Jerry Mahle (ceramics) and Sil Azevedo (photography), the course provides two essential functions: allowing students to have hands-on exploration of each art form and working with each faculty member, who refer to the course as Art Fun-damentals. 22
THE FALCONER
Course Structure Providing the foundation for FWCD visual arts courses, this class is a prerequisite for the specialized Ceramics, Painting & Drawing and Photography courses. Students are introduced to each discipline, which leads to a common vocabulary and hands-on design experiences. The textbook: a sketchbook for students to record their notes, drawings and design exercises. Divided into four segments, the first is a series of teamtaught lectures by the three faculty, focusing on the elements and principles of design. During this section, instruction concentrates on what makes great design in art and a sampling of art history, including artists past and present. For the remainder of the course, students split into three groups, each rotating through the hands-on portion of the course, Painting & Drawing, Ceramics and Photography. The course format allows students to experiment and build confidence before committing to one specific area. Some students spend a couple years in one area, then decide to venture into another, a change that is easier when students and teachers know one another.
