CTQS Standard I

Teachers demonstrate mastery of and pedagogical expertise in the content they teach.

Element A:

Teachers provide instruction that is aligned with the Colorado Academic Standards and their district's organized plan of instruction. The elementary teacher is an expert in literacy and mathematics and is knowledgeable in all other content that he or she teaches (e.g., science, social studies, arts, physical education, or world languages). The secondary teacher has knowledge of literacy and mathematics and is an expert in his or her content endorsement area(s). 

High School Standard 3. Invent and Discover to Create

GLE 2. Ideate and build works of art and design to demonstrate growth and proficiency in traditional and new art media.

a. Examine and evolve potential meanings of an artwork.

b. Master skills in a variety of media and techniques to create personally meaningful works of art.

c. Interpret how meaning in works of art is related to the materials and process chosen by the artist.

d. Resolve art making problems by persisting through failure and making revisions.

GLE 3. Articulate and demonstrate that the making and study of art and design can be approached from a variety of perspectives.

a. Identify how interpretation can be an essential part of the art making process to evaluate progress.

b. Receive and reflect upon feedback and integrate into artwork as needed.

c. Use knowledge and developed skills to inform future works of visual art and design.

d. Persevere through the progression of a work to explore and encourage alternative solutions.

Ceramic Shoes

This 2-week unit follows Colorado Visual Art Standard 3, Invent and Discover to Create while also focusing on Jeffco’s Intermediate Visual Arts Curriculum which centers big ideas to generate works of art and enhance student learning. Intermediate ceramics students will develop and practiced slab building techniques to create a ceramic shoe that was symbolic of something personal to them. Students researched popular trends, personal routines, and shoe functionality. They then used this to explore how material objects, like shoes can serve as identity self-portraits. The unit is broken down into five parts: research, planning, making, critique, and reflection.

The goals for student learning included:

  • challenging students to think conceptually,

  • using symbolism to express ideas about identity,

  • refining of technical skills in clay and

  • paying close attention to the inclusion of details in finished work

Students demonstrated their expertise in math and problem-solving skills when they were required to design and develop their own technical pattern. Students were shown how to create a paper pattern in preparation for their clay shoe. This planning step became crucial to student success in slab building. Students who took their time to break down their show into flat shapes were able to work more independently in the making process, saving them time in the long-run. Whereas students who jumped right into making had to go back and refine more, even in some cases having to start over completely.

Artifacts

This presentation was used to guide students through Contemporary Artist Diana “Didi” Rojas ceramics process, following the idea of self portraiture in shoes. It then introduces students to the expectations and guidelines of this 3 week build, where they are expected to make their own shoe pattern and build a ceramic shoe using slabs and being precise with details specific to their shoe of choice.

In-process student work which displays how each slab is patterned.

In-process student work which displays how each slab is patterned.

Glazed Student Shoe

Glazed Student Shoe

In-process student work which displays details and specificity.

In-process student work which displays details and specificity.

Glazed Student Shoe

Glazed Student Shoe

Finished construction of shoe with student writing and pattern / template for building.

Finished construction of shoe with student writing and pattern / template for building.

Finished construction of shoe with student writing and pattern / template for building.

Finished construction of shoe with student writing and pattern / template for building.

Finished construction of shoe with student writing and pattern / template for building.

Finished construction of shoe with student writing and pattern / template for building.

Finished construction of shoe with student writing and pattern / template for building.

Finished construction of shoe with student writing and pattern / template for building.

Glazed Student Shoe

Glazed Student Shoe

Student writing on artistic choices and creative problem solving.

Student writing on artistic choices and creative problem solving.