Issue link: http://latinschool.uberflip.com/i/93284
A New Home for Middle School Artists On any given weekday, Latin's new middle school art room is a bustling hub of activity. When art classes are not in session, students spend recess working on projects, a teacher is drawing on the faculty display area, members of the middle school model club meet, or art teacher Russell Harris is working on one of his own paintings in the corner of the room where he has set up his easel. Students and teachers learn from each other, and art is always being created. Harris started the year off in room 256 "I thought this was a great way to say to middle schoolers 'This is your space, you helped create it, and you should feel ownership over it.'" – Russell Harris by showing students a movie of last year's fifth graders making and painting clay tiles, tiles that have now become the backsplash decorating one wall of the room. "I thought this was a great way to say to middle schoolers 'This is your space, you helped create it, and you should feel ownership over it,'" said Harris. In fact, everything in the room is designed with the middle school art student in mind. By working closely with the architects, Harris was able to include elements such as a blackboard for illustrating color gradations, white boards covering every wall for students and teachers to draw on, a round still-life table and work surfaces that are non-light- reflecting and easily cleaned. At the same time, state-of-the-art technology such as an oversized Smart Board, a hover cam (which allows Harris to produce a close-up film of his hands working when he is showing students an art process) or specialized projectors are creating countless new learning opportunities. "It is all very exciting for me as a teacher, because I am not limited," said Harris. Making and creating art are celebrated on every surface of the middle school art room. 18 Latin Magazine ARTS