At Garrison Forest School, the Visual Arts ignite the creative spark within each student, emphasize the value of the creative process, and celebrate the students' artistic achievements. Fundamental to the human experience, the Visual Arts give expression and meaning to what is seen, felt, learned, imagined, as well as what is unseen, unfamiliar, and unknown.
Beginning in the Lower Division, art students develop:
- Visual-thinking strategies
- Technical and problem-solving skills
- Perspectives of historical contexts
- Interdisciplinary connections
- Aesthetic judgments
- Personal languages and imagination
- Service projects
Lower Division
Hands-on, creative expression is an essential component of all Lower Division classrooms. During each school day, students have ample opportunity to paint, draw, and create crafts that tie-in to the curriculum. Beginning in Pre-Kindergarten, students have weekly Art classes in a large, modern studio with a kiln for pottery and sculpture. Emphasizing the creative process, the Lower Division Visual Arts curriculum focuses on the elements on art (line, color, space, texture, and volume) and an appreciation for the art of other cultures and traditions. Students enjoy open-ended artistic experiences working with collage, sculpture, paint, textiles, watercolor, printmaking, ceramics, mosaics, woodworking, and mixed media. For Grades One through Five, the year culminates in an Art Show where work by each student is exhibited.
Middle School
The Middle School Visual Arts curriculum provides opportunities for students to refine their artistic skills through a variety of 2-D and 3-D media and techniques, including drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpting. Students develop a cumulative understanding of the elements and principles of design as they move from Sixth through Eighth Grade. Visual Arts projects also connect to Geography, History, Language Arts, and Mathematics classes in exciting, experiential ways.
Upper School
Upper School students explore a range of art disciplines. They may choose to concentrate in a particular area or medium and to prepare an Advanced Placement Portfolio. Design Lab, required in Grade Nine, combines Tablet PC technology with hands-on projects, stresses experimentation with a variety of concepts and materials, and provides a foundation for numerous arts electives:
- Drawing
- Drawing Portfolio
- Painting
- Photo I
- Photo II
- Digital Imaging I
- Digital Imaging II
- Animation
- 3D Studio
- Drawing Portfolio/AP Drawing Portfolio
- Digital Portfolio/AP 2D Portfolio
- 3D Portfolio/AP 3D Portfolio
- AP Art History
Because classroom experiences often produce artists who seek to expand their arts learning and applications, the Visual Arts program provides many opportunities for enrichment with Studio Sundays, guest artists, museum visits, and possibilities for specialization with Independent Senior Projects. Upper School students combine their Visual Arts' interests and talents with participation in teen councils and service for community organizations.