Subvertisements

International Academy students learned about the guerilla marketing style known as subvertising. Subvertisements are parodies and spoofs of corporate or political advertisements. Subvertisements may take the form of a new image or be an alteration to an already existing image or icon. Students were challenged to come up with their own original parodies to bring more truth to traditional advertisements. 

Khokhloma Painting

Khokhloma painting is the name of a Russian wood painting handicraft style and national ornament, known for its curved and vivid, mostly flower, berry and leaf patterns. Often the Slavic mythical figure of Russian fairytales Firebird is also a part of Khokhloma painting. When painted on wood, in most cases red, black, green, yellow and orange are used over a gold background. The effect it has when applied to wooden tableware or furniture, making it look heavier and metal-like. The Khokhloma painting symbolizes the high importance of forests and nature in Russian culture and its history. Russia comprises the world’s largest forest area.

Middle school students learned about this style of painting as part of a global friday focus on Russia. We then adapted this style of painting and made our own original artworks. 

Rousseau Tigers

Students in grades 1-3 created these hidden tigers in the style of self-taught French painter Henri Rousseau. We began by completing a guided drawing of a tiger. After the drawing was completed in pencil, students traced over the lines with black crayon. Before we painted the tigers, we looked at lots of pictures so students could see the tigers colors and which areas are typically white. During the final class, we read the story The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau by Michelle Markel. Students got to learn about the artist and see his many hidden jungle animals. We then added textured leaves and grass to our paintings to mimic the habitats of jungle tigers.

Elmer Collage

Elmer is a wonderful children's story about appreciating people's differences. I enjoy teaching this lesson to PreK and Kinder classes and the kids love the story. Elmer discovers that when he tries to change his appearance in order to 'blend in' with the other elephants, they no longer recognize him or accept him as one of their own. This makes Elmer sad and he experiences how it feels to be treated like an outcast after being ostracized by his old friends. It's only when it begins to rain and the grey paint that Elmer has covered himself with starts to disappear that Elmer's 'true colors are revealed, much to the surprise and delight of his friends who preferred his multicolored and fun loving persona. Following their happy reunion, the elephants reassure Elmer that they love him because of his differences and not in spite of them. As a way to celebrate the elephants cover themselves in multi-colored paint in recognition of Elmer's unique appearance and personality.

We began by using a glue and water mixture and brushing it over squares of tissue paper to attach it to a white paper. During the next class, we drew an elephant shape on the back of that paper and cut it out to create the Elmer. All you need to add is an eye and an ear with black crayon or marker. We glued our elephants onto a torn paper background of palm trees.