Faux Stained Glass

This is the first year I am doing an art history class here at Wheeler (and here's the awesome website I created for the course). It's a great class because it's a unique group: those who like art AND like talking about history. We do a lot of looking at and discussion images and events from history, creating art in the style of the movement we're studying, and.... cooking up feasts that relate to our topic of study. It's fun!

The first time period/movement we studied was medieval art in Europe (specifically Italy). Besides doing a presentation on a medieval artist of their choice, students were also required to complete an art project. Because stained glass was such a prolific art form in the middle ages, we decided to create faux stained glass pieces using a product called Gallery Glass. Below you can see the process, products, and pictures from our medieval feast day.

And in case you are interested in what we cooked.... Here is the recipe for medieval waffres, or "waffles"... except, they're made with about a billion eggs, ginger, and... cheese. But with chocolate chips, syrup, and whipped cream, they were pretty good!

Working on a beautiful representation of "hamsa," a sign of protection. 

Working on a composition featuring the Italian flag, theater curtains, and a family dinner table. 

Creating his perfect golf course. 

Making that perfect, relaxing, island paradise. 

Mountainous landscape!

This composition features a hand holding a pomegranate and musical bar featuring the seeds of the pomegranate as musical notes. 

Almost done!

About to start cooking!

Grating cheese for our... waffles!

Yum!

He ate all of our leftovers like a champ!

YUMMMMMMMMMMMM!

7th Grade Stained Glass

This year, seventh graders made "stained glass" window panels out of black paper, transparency sheets, markers, tissue paper, and the use of X-Acto blades. We began by looking at examples of stained glass and learning the history and original purpose of the art. (A long time ago, most people were illiterate; stained glass was an excellent way to visually present information, especially bible stories.) For our project, students could choose to create an abstract or representational panel. Below you can see examples of their beautiful art.

I feel it worth mentioning that it took me about three weeks to successfully hang these artworks. I tried masking tape, packing tape, frog tape, two different brands of sticky tak, and hot glue. All of these adhesives failed to hold these art projects to our cafeteria windows. It was frustrating. A last, however, I tried 3M duct tape. The stained glass has been hanging ever since. Thank goodness.

 

 

This student chose not to use an X-Acto blade.

 

 

 

Thanks to the seventh grade, our cafeteria looks a lot better now!

Stencils/Stained Glass

Using X-Acto blades, the seventh graders created beautiful "stained glass" stencils. We did this twice -- the first time, students simply cut a symmetrical design. The second version was meant to tell a story. We decided upon storytelling because we learned that one of the original purposes of stained glass was to tell stories!

Below you can find a few beautiful examples of their work: