Capturing Changes

Capturing Changes: "Photomorphosis"
Corning Free Academy Student Exhibit
June 18 - September 14, 2008

June 10, 2008

Corning, NY - Students from the Sixth Grade East Team at Corning Free Academy (CFA) have participated in a year-long arts integration program with the Rockwell Museum of Western Art. The project was designed to authentically integrate the arts into the core curriculum and demonstrate that the arts are a vital avenue to student understanding of higher thinking skills, resulting in increased student achievement. Throughout the year, students worked with visiting photographer, Kirsten Van Atta, to develop personal photographic essays on "change" and worked with the Rockwell Museum of Western Art staff to develop critical thinking/observation skills during visits to the Museum. CFA East Team teachers developed correlating lesson plans to examine and reinforce the concept of "change" in Math, Science, Humanities, Language A, and Art. Each student has chosen one photograph from their essay for the Museum exhibit.

The overall goal of this project is to help students develop skills through the arts and to transfer them in measurable ways to their academic endeavors. During regular class time, students learned the essential elements of photography; took photographs on their own; edited photographs; and produced a photographic essay that demonstrates the students' personal interpretation of change. In alignment with the International Baccalaureate program, students have utilized developmental workbooks that document all phases of the creative process for the photographic essays. Throughout the school year, students participated in activities at the Rockwell Museum of Western Art to develop their observation and critical thinking skills. The culminating event of this project is a photographic exhibit representing all students' work at the Rockwell Museum of Western Art.

The partnership between the Rockwell Museum of Western Art and the Corning- Painted Post Area School District provided students with an opportunity over the course of the school year to study directly with a professional photographer and to study works of art during several visits to the Museum. Students were introduced to photographic concepts and processes that brought greater understanding and insight into their core curriculum subjects. The student work on exhibit at the Museum reveals a depth of understanding and expression that is extraordinary at this age level, said Gigi Alvare, Director of Education at the Rockwell Museum.

An opening reception will be held on Wednesday June 18, 2008 from 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend. The exhibit will be on view at the Museum through September 14, 2008.

This program was made possible from an Empire State Partnership grant awarded by The New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.