Great Art website for kids

In doing our research for the boy's Art History papers we came across a wonderful site which has great tidbits about Art History as well as some really nice art projects to accompany them.

Check it out!!!

http://artsmarts4kids.blogspot.com/2008/04/timeline.html

Rene Magritte & Salvador Dali

For Art History Grey has chosen to write his research paper on Rene Magritte. So far the research is coming along. We were able to get a nice documentary from Netflix from the Artists of the 20th Century series. He really enjoyed it and was able to get a lot of information from it.

Gavin chose Salvador Dali and found a good book in the children's research section of the library. I ordered the same series documentary on Dali from Netflix, but it isnt in our local market and will take a few extra days to get here. I hope it arrives on time!

The boys only have this week to finish their papers and an accompanying art piece inspired by their artist. Should be interesting....

I'll post their projects when they are finished.

Cultural Geography Field Trips

This past weekend brought a couple great opportunities to get out into our community and enjoy some wonderful cultural events. Currently we are studying North America, so attending the Sun Mountain Gathering, a celebration of historical Native American culture was a lovely fit. Followed the next day by the incredible Rancho de Las Golondrinas Harvest Festival in Santa Fe. The Rancho is a living history museum, well a full settlement from the early 1800's. It was a Spanish Colonial settlement and has been beautifully preserved. The kids and I really enjoy getting to go there.

I think the kids came away with a nice historical perspective of where some of our current local cultural traditions began. Including adobe homes, farming techniques, tool development and the importance of religion in this part of the US. Also a respect for how people survived in this climate, using the land and it's resources in creative and thrifty ways.

It was a GREAT weekend. I could do stuff like that every week if it were possible.