Art is
an essential part of Integral Formation. Art enhances the
intellectual, spiritual, human, and apostolic formation of each
child. Exploring art awakens an innate call from the Divine Creator
and invites a creative response. "Through his artistic creativity
man appears more than ever in the image of God." (John Paul II
Letter to Artists, 1999)Our curriculum represents the best thinking of art educators and curriculum experts. They were developed from sources across the United States, as well as from The National Standards for Art Education.
The visual arts classes in grades K-8 provide opportunities for students to explore art production, art history, art appreciation, and art criticism in light of Catholic theology and Christian tradition. At the heart of this creative exploration is the belief that God is love and that all of creation is a manifestation of the love of God, including the gifts and talents bestowed on his creatures.
Students explore a variety of art mediums and processes as they develop and evaluate their ideas through the use of the design process. Students learn and apply the elements of art and principles of design to personal works of art. These elements are like the ingredients for works of art; they are the basic visual symbols artists use to create beauty. The elements are line, shape, form, color, value, space and texture. The principles are the recipes for art; they are the ways artists use the elements to create artwork. The principles are balance, movement, pattern, contrast, rhythm, variety and unity. Students create works of art that demonstrate concepts relating to these elements and principles.
Goals:
- Develop an appreciation for truth, goodness, and beauty.
- Worship our Creator by imitating his work of creation.
- Develop an appreciation of visual art from a Christian perspective.
- Learn the basic concepts of visual art and be able to describe artworks in terms of their elements and principles.
- Develop and share the gifts and talents God has given to each person.