Week Four: The Sea!

This week’s theme is the sea and the various ways in which the creatures of the ocean evolve and adapt to their environment.

On Monday, we paid a visit to the Adventure Aquarium in Camden, New Jersey where we explored the Deep Seas and were able to touch a variety of water-based organisms: sharks, sting rays, starfish, and so much more!

Today, we played Sharks and Minnows as well as Octopus tag to learn about how sea creatures have to work together in groups called schools or adapt to their environments in order to survive.  We then worked on creating a rap about the Heart, created a Comic Book based on the five senses, and created clay creations.

Meet the Staff: Bridging the Gaps Interns

This year at Artology, we have four interns from the Philadelphia branch of Bridging the Gaps.

Debbie August (leader of the Green Group):

I am a second year Masters Music Therapy student at the Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions, working toward my music therapy board certification next June.  I hold a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Rowan University and perform professionally around the Philadelphia area.  I am very, very excited to be working with this year’s wonderful and talented group of Artologists!

Leeanne Griffith (leader of the Red Group):

I am a second year medical student at Drexel University College of Medicine.  I chose BuildaBridge Artology Camp as my community site through Bridging the Gaps Community Health Internship Program.  I am very excited to be working with the Artologists this summer and hope I can inspire them to learn as much as they can!

Amy Lu (Blue Group):

I am currently studying Art Therapy at Drexel University and have one more year and a thesis to go!  I have experience and enjoy working with children and adolescents and am excited to be a part of Artology this summer.  On my spare time, I play volleyball, bake, and scout out new adventures to have in Philadelphia.

Sharon Song (Silver Group):

I just finished my first year of medical school.  I love making things (art, music, food, discoveries).  In can write in cursive backwards and would like to start a band using classroom instruments only.

Field Trip Features: Philadelphia Museum of Art and Franklin Institute

Last Friday, July 6, Artology travled to the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA).

Once inside the PMA, the Artologists went on an art scavenger hunt throughout the Modern Art (about 18th century to 21st century) galleries.  Ms. L distributed clues that corresponded with works within the galleries.  Using all of their groups’ intellectual and physical might, the Artologists scurried around the museum on a mission to be the first group to find all eight pieces.  Once the scavenger hunt and subsequent picnic lunch were complete, the Artologists had the opportunity to explore areas of the Museum that they were interested in.

         

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On Monday, July 9, Artology traveled to the Franklin Institute to learn more about the theme for this week– Space!

We traveled to the Space Command section of the Institute, saw a movie in the Planetarium about our solar system’s weather, and then were able to explore other parts of the Institute such as the Giant Heart and the steam-engine-powered train.

      

Career Days with Bridging the Gaps

This year Artology continues its partnership with Drexel University’s Bridging the Gaps (BTG) internship program which “commits an academic health institution to sustain a relationship with an underserved community by providing meaningful service while training community-responsive health and social service professionals.”  Essentially, BTG partners with community organizations to allow health professionals to provide their services to organizations and learn more about community building.  Leeanne Griffith (Med Student), Sharon Song (Med Student), Debbie August (Music Therapy), and Amy Lu (Art Therapy) have joined us this year through BTG and add their knowledge and energy to Artology as group leaders.

In addition to their roles as group leaders, the BTG interns also present various careers to the Artologists to show them various paths they can pursue in the arts and science fields.

Ms. Griffith and Ms. Song presented about various careers in the medical field.

 

Ms. August presented about various careers in the performing and musical arts.

Ms. Lu will be presenting about careers in the visual arts.

In addition to presenting to the Artologists about future job possibilities, the BTG interns will also be presenting about cardiovascular and oral health in line with the specifications of the BTG program.

Inside Look: Science Lab

Welcome to Ms. K’s Lab!

Ms. Alexis Kiesel leads the Science portion of Artology and has been leading Artologists on the hunt of each weeks’ theme: Five Senses, Our Surroundings, and Outer Space.  So far Artologists have reenacted the history of the Earth, created experiments with plants, made miniature mountains, identified different kinds of rock formations, and learned about microscopes and the scientific method.

        

Ms. K’s favorite part about Artology is “Taking the kids out in nature and teaching them about local ecosystems and wildlife.

During the school year, she is a science teacher at local universities and museums.

Inside Look: Art Lab

Welcome to Ms. Liz Latham’s Lab!

Inside the Art Lab, Ms. L leads Artologists in exploring the themes of the week through various activities that have included painting en plein air, writing haikus, creating a mural with moss, drawing portraits, exploring the five senses and so much more!

              

 

Ms. L is an art teacher with the Violette de Mazia Foundation which seeks, “to advance, teach, study, promote and otherwise support the aesthetics and appreciation of art based on the theories, methods, and approaches of Albert C. Barnes, John Dewey and Violette de Mazia.”  During the school year, she teaches art appreciation in Philadelphia area public and charter schools.

When asked why she was drawn to Artology, Ms. L replies, “I was drawn to the Artology program because of the BuildaBridge classroom model and my interest in arts integration.”

At the conclusion of Artology on Friday, July 27, we will be having an open-house for parents to come and see the talents of their Artologists as well as the work that the have created with Ms. L.

Field Trip Feature: Philadelphia Magic Gardens

On Friday, June 29, Artology paid a visit to the Philadelphia Magic Gardens on South St. There, we received a tour of the mosaic Gardens and adjacent apartment building created (and “mosai-icized”) by Philadelphia artist, Isaiah Zagar.  At the end of the tour, Artologists created their own doily tiles inspired by the ones that Mr. Zagar creates for his folk-art and mosaic installations!