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Teresa Williams The Roseburg News Review May 10, 2006
GREEN –The first-graders in Sharon Sawicki’s class sat around tables piled with scraps of painted paper and began cutting out shapes to glue on a farm scene collage.The assignment wasn’t unusual for first-graders, but the lesson that preceded it was.
Volunteer Linda Mincher of Tenmile helps 7-year-old Beth Mignola paste a flower on a poster during an art presentation on French artist Henri Matisse given by Art Express at Green Elementary School Monday. JON AUSTRIA / N-R staff photo
They learned about history, art and determination from Marie Rasmussen and Linda Mincher, volunteers with the Umpqua Valley Arts Association’s Art Express program.
Rasmussen asked the 24 students on the floor what they would put into a picture of a farm.
Dogs, horses, cows, barn, sheep, pigs, they answered.
Rasmussen told the students to keep thinking about what they would like to put in that picture.
Then she told them about Henri Matisse, a French artist who died in 1954.
“He liked to do great big paintings with a lot of color,” she said.
But Matisse developed kidney problems, Rasmussen said, and she showed the students a picture of the artist in his wheelchair.
“He had to find another way to use all that color,” Rasmussen said.
He went to a convent, and the nuns took care of him. They also painted paper, and Matisse used the paper to create collage.
“From his wheelchair he designed this piece right here,” Rasmussen said, and she and Mincher held up “Large Composition With Masks,” a mural that hangs in the National Gallery in Washington, D.C.
They showed the students “The Carousel,” “Garden” and “The Beast of the Sea,” as well.
The students found horses and seaweed in the abstract compositions.
“So you really have to use your imagination when you look at the work of Henri Matisse,” Rasmussen said.
Art Express’ Linda Mincher, left, and Marie Rasmussen, right, show off the piece ‘Large Composition With Masks’ by Henri Matisse during an artist presentation at Green Elementary Monday. JON AUSTRIA / N-R staff photo
Then it was the students’ turn to create a mural. The background was already painted, and another class had added some animals.
Many of the students were drawn to the blue paper.
Bennett Bray, 6, made a blue horse.
“I kind of want to be an artist when I grow up,” he said.
His uncle is an artist and draws all kinds of things, he said.
Bennett hadn’t seen Matisse’s work before, but he liked it.
“It was colorful,” Bennett said.
Cody Van Sickle, also 6, made a big blue apple “because I like blue,” he said.
Seven-year-old Alex Mignola broke with the blue tradition and made a yellow haystack.
“Because then the animals could eat food,” she said.
Joey Flannagan cuts out shirt and pants while Tannah Cross looks at her pair of scissors as they participate in an artist presentation on Henri Matisse at Green Elementary School Monday.
JON AUSTRIA / N-R staff photo
Brandy Belcher was ambitious. She made an apple, a haystack and a butterfly.
Anthony Briggs has lost the teeth surrounding his two front teeth, and he showed them off along with the beaver he made. He also liked Matisse’s work.
“That was awesome,” Anthony said. “I liked the orange.”
ART EXPRESS glance
Art Express is a free program of the Umpqua Valley Arts Association for elementary school teachers to use in grades one through five.Approximately 30 artists volunteer to teach in Douglas County schools.
The lessons are introduced from the perspective of art history and techniques associated with historical movements. Materials include painting, drawing, small sculpture, clay or anything appropriate to stimulate creativity, visual literacy and individual expression in children.
Supplies are provided by grants from private donors and the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians.
Schools interested in the program should contact Peggy Sloan at 440-1991.
