Corning Free Academy Student Exhibit
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 29, 2009
Contact: Beth Manwaring 607.974.4254 or manwaringb@rockwellmuseum.org
June 16- September 13, 2009
Corning, NY - Sixth Grade students from the Corning-Painted Post Area School District's Corning Free Academy participated in a yearlong 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 VanAtta to develop a series of photographs answering the question: "Why do you do what you do?" Sixth grade teachers created lessons that developed critical thinking and observation skills. These skills were reinforced as students worked with the Rockwell Museum of Western Art staff during visits to the Museum.
An opening reception will be held on Wednesday June 16, 2009 from 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. There will be opening remarks at 6:15 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend. The exhibit will be on view at the Museum through September 13, 2009.
This program was made possible by an Empire State Partnership grant awarded by The New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.
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' responses to the question: "Why do you do what you do?" 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 Alvaré, Director of Education at the Rockwell Museum of Western Art.
About the Rockwell Museum of Western Art
Accredited by the American Association of Museums, the Rockwell Museum of Western Art is located in the center of the Finger Lakes Wine Country of New York Sate and in the heart of Corning's Gaffer District. The Museum is open to the public seven days a week; hours are 9:00 a.m. to 85:00 p.m., all summer. Membership to the Museum includes yearlong free admission. For more information, please visit us online at www.rockwellmuseum.org.
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