“We are all creative beings. Just as we have a body, emotions, and senses, we all have creativity within us.” This is how artist educator Imogene Drummond introduced Art Sparks’ second session to San Miguel Academy fifth-graders.
After a discussion on symbols, Imogene drew four basic shapes on the board and asked the class to name them. Like a chorus, they sang out “circle,” “square,” “rectangle,” and “triangle.” As everyone said they knew how to make these shapes, Imogene shared that all paintings and drawings are made of these shapes. “And so,” she exclaimed, “you all already know how to draw and paint. You know more than you think you do!”
Students then watched the introduction to Divine Sparks film. The intro sets up the story of an imaginative fantasy about a boy and an adult who take a journey in a “magical” seashell. Imogene discussed how the boy symbolizes being a child-like each of them, the adult is the child’s guide, and the shell is a “magic carpet” in which the story takes place. As the story symbolizes the child’s life journey, Imogene made the connection that each person’s life is like a personal story and that, by exploring our own story, we can discover ways to make our lives more meaningful and satisfying.
For the art activity, students thought about what they want to become in ten years, who will help them get there, what symbolic “magical vehicle” will help them on their journey, and what equipment they’ll take with them.
- Osmar, who wants to be a lawyer when he grows up, painted a briefcase. The rectangular shape he created was a creative way to signify becoming a lawyer, and also nicely echoed the shape of the paper he was painting on! When asked who would help him on his journey, he added green on one side of the briefcase, and blue on the other side—representing his mother and grandmother as those are their favorite colors. When Imogene confirmed to Osmar that he is good at thinking symbolically, he said “Yes!”
- As Diyani wants to be a child psychiatrist when she grows up, she painted an enclosed safe space—imbued with a fluid light white and various shades of calming gray surrounded by a dynamic black boundary—for her to sit with, listen to, and help her young clients.
In this thought-provoking activity, the students delved into their psyches to create individually meaningful work!
