The Potter's Wheel

Andrea Opland, Saline High School Senior, would like to continue exploring ceramics after taking Pottery I with Ms. Koppleman. I ran into Andrea a few weeks ago after school practicing the art of the cylindrical form. She said that she was very frustrated at first when learning how to center the clay, but then was able to get the hang of it with a lot of practice. At the time I spoke with her she had only been throwing for about a week and I could see her excitement and determination for the potter's wheel.


Students from Ms. Koppleman's art room will be holding wheel throwing demonstrations at the Spring Arts Festival. We encourage you to check out the dedication that students like Andrea put forth to learn about the challenges the potter's wheel can bring.

Badge of Expression

This year at the Spring Arts Festival reception (Saturday 6-8) art teachers will be passing out a variety of art buttons. Don't miss out on the chance to wear an exclusive badge (while supplies last). These buttons will give you the chance to express your excitement, creativity, and overall love for art.

6th Annual Circle of Art

With all the excitement leading up to the Spring Arts Festival, it's a good time to bring up the annual Circle of Art at Saline Frame Shop.

"Turning Art Into Food"
The Circle of Art is a charity event that helps raise money for Food Gatherers. Local artists donate work to the auction, and in turn, 100% of the bid goes to Food Gatherers.

Make sure you go online to take a look and bid right this minute on all of the artwork your fellow community members have generously donated. Participating in the auction is not only a great way to contribute to this vital cause, but providing that you win a bid, you can also acquire an original piece of art.

The charity event takes place on Sunday, May 16th from 12 to 5p.m. It would be a great addition to a weekend of art and many of the Saline Art Department staff has work in the auction.

Countdown to Spring Arts Festival 2010

Well, it's that time of the year! It's time for Saline Area Schools annual Spring Arts Festival at Saline High School. The festival celebrates the many talented students in our community. This year continues the tradition and will be filled with many outstanding works for everyone to see. Please stay tuned to the blog this week as there will be daily posts leading up to the festival.

Saline Area Schools K-12 Art Department Presents...

Spring Arts Festival 2010

May 14th - 16th

Friday 4pm - 8pm

Saturday 1pm - 8pm
*Reception 6pm - 8pm

Sunday 1pm - 8pm

*Special events will take place at the reception, which include a raffle, T-shirt painting, meet and great with art teachers, and demonstrations!

Please join us in this annual celebration of art. We look forward to seeing you there.

Artists Are All Amoung Us

Saline Area Schools custodian Mary Dunham has a creative side. She works in watercolor to express herself. Mary has been painting for most of her life and communicates who she is in her pictures. She has shown her work at the Ella Sharp Gallery in Jackson, the Rinhill Gallery in Ann Arbor, and the Pentimire Winery in Tecumseh.

Also, Mary has submitted a painting in the upcoming Circle of Art charity event at the Saline Frame Shop.

When asked about her creative side Mary says "Painting is more true of me than any other side of me. It becomes 100 percent of the person I am. Each time I paint I learn more and become more".

Visiting Artist at Saline Middle School

The pictures are of guest artist, Autum Fisher. She is a stone sculptor working in limestone and marble. She came into Ms. Hughes’ class March 30th along with Nicole Bidden's students for career enrichment and showed slides of her work and gave the students a stone carving demonstration. As you can see students were allowed to use her tools and carve into the stone.

Quotes regarding the arts by JFK

President Kennedy was a great supporter of the arts; inscribed on the walls of the River Terrace, just outside the Grand Foyer, you will find quotes from speeches in which he spoke of his vision for America's cultural life.

THERE IS A CONNECTION, HARD TO EXPLAIN LOGICALLY BUT EASY TO FEEL, BETWEEN ACHIEVEMENT IN PUBLIC LIFE AND PROGRESS IN THE ARTS. THE AGE OF PERICLES WAS ALSO THE AGE OF PHIDIAS. THE AGE OF LORENZO DE MEDICI WAS ALSO THE AGE OF LEONARDO DA VINCI, THE AGE OF ELIZABETH ALSO THE AGE OF SHAKESPEARE, AND THE NEW FRONTIER FOR WHICH I CAMPAIGN IN PUBLIC LIFE, CAN ALSO BE A NEW FRONTIER FOR AMERICAN ART.
Letter to Miss Theodate Johnson, Publisher, Musical America, September 13, 1960

I AM CERTAIN THAT AFTER THE DUST OF CENTURIES HAS PASSED OVER OUR CITIES, WE, TOO, WILL BE REMEMBERED NOT FOR VICTORIES OR DEFEATS IN BATTLE OR IN POLITICS, BUT FOR OUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE HUMAN SPIRIT.
On behalf of the National Cultural Center which would come to bear his name November 29, 1962

TO FURTHER THE APPRECIATION OF CULTURE AMONG ALL THE PEOPLE. TO INCREASE RESPECT FOR THE CREATIVE INDIVIDUAL, TO WIDEN PARTICIPATION BY ALL THE PROCESSES AND FULFILLMENTS OF ART — THIS IS ONE OF THE FASCINATING CHALLENGES OF THESE DAYS.
"The Arts in America,” Look, December 18, 1962

THIS COUNTRY CANNOT AFFORD TO BE MATERIALLY RICH AND SPIRITUALLY POOR.
State of the Union Message, January 14, 1963

I LOOK FORWARD TO AN AMERICA WHICH WILL REWARD ACHIEVEMENT IN THE ARTS AS WE REWARD ACHIEVEMENT IN BUSINESS OR STATECRAFT. I LOOK FORWARD TO AN AMERICA WHICH WILL STEADILY RAISE THE STANDARDS OF ARTISTIC ACCOMPLISHMENT AND WHICH WILL STEADILY ENLARGE CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL OF OUR CITIZENS. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO AN AMERICA WHICH COMMANDS RESPECT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD NOT ONLY FOR ITS STRENGTH BUT FOR ITS CIVILIZATION AS WELL.
At Amherst College, October 26, 1963

I LOOK FORWARD TO AN AMERICA WHICH WILL NOT BE AFRAID OF GRACE AND BEAUTY.
At Amherst College, October 26, 1963