Instructor: Katie Wolf
This semester-long evening class meets once a week from 5:45 pm-7:30 pm and is designed to explore the value of developing a personal and deep connection to Nature and creativity as part of educating the whole person. Our study of architects, artists, scientists, contemporary movements in sustainable choices and indeginous cultures will be a springboard for a variety of art-making studio assignments. Your research, class discussion and art projects will be the basis for your grade. A final portfolio of your work will summarize your understanding of the course work.
All students are welcome to join us in Studio 108 and your grade will be averaged into your semester’s transcript as Art and Architecture 1B, Sculpture B or Studio Art B. The Art and Nature Intensive can fulfill the 2nd level of Art and Architecture 1A, Sculpture A or Studio Art A -OR- you may take the class as an elective for credit, because you are interested in Nature, building community and exploring the creative process.
*This class will be offered pending adequate enrollment.
**This course is offered outside of the 9:00 am – 2:45 pm school day.
Alternate Course Titles for this course (it fulfills all of these):
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- Art and Nature Intensive: Art and Architecture 1B (8W) [6106]
- Art and Nature Intensive: Studio Art B (8W) [6126]
- Art and Nature Intensive: Sculpture B (8W) [6156]
Dance 1B is a movement-based studio course designed to further the development of the dancer in the principles and elements of modern dance practice and choreography. The class will include physical practice in contemporary/modern dance technique. Students will study dance history, choreographic processes, and improvisational techniques. Through written assignments and class discussions, students will grow in their ability to analyze dance performance as an art form through a critical, informed, and appreciative lens. Students will work collaboratively to explore dance elements and perform choreographed dances in a supportive community environment.
Students will continue the study and development of acting through scene work. While building on the principles and techniques learned in Drama 1A, students will participate in group warm-ups (vocal and physical), theatre games, improvisations, and advanced theatre exercises. Students will work on scenes from professionally produced plays. Students will study 20th Century theatre through the study of playwrights such as Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, and August Wilson.
Roots of Jazz: Exploring Music in Culture is designed for non-musicians and develops the art of perceptive listening to music of Africa, Latin American, India, Bali, China, the Middle East, Asia, Japan, and Eastern Europe. Learning will be balanced between theoretical and experiential song-writing activities. Students will evolve specific criteria for listening to, describing, analyzing, understanding, and creating music as it is understood and experienced in different cultures. Students will play instruments and explore digital media. This is an intermediate level course, meeting four class hours per week with extensive lectures, experiential learning, audio-visual presentations, class projects, demonstration and attendance at live performances.
Advanced Placement (AP) Music Theory is a fast-paced course including a substantial amount of homework in preparation for the AP music theory exam in May. This course prepares students to complete college level work in the areas of reading and analyzing notated music and aural training. Particular emphasis will be placed upon developing listening skills, sight-singing ability and knowledge of rhythm, melody, harmony, form and other compositional devices.
Class receives honors weighting in SI weighted GPA and UC/CSU GPA calculations
*This class will be offered pending adequate enrollment.
**This course meets during the regular school day, periods 1-7, during fall OR spring semester.
The Photography 1B class will build on skills learned in Photography 1A. In addition, students will learn basic studio lighting and more advanced darkroom techniques to obtain better results when printing in black and white. Still life is a major aspect of the program and images from the following artists will be presented: Edward Weston, Renger-Patzsch, Minor White and Aaron Siskind. At the end the semester, students will do research on the biography and style of a photographer who has made important aesthetic advances in history. The final project will consist of creating still life images with thematic unity.
3D Studies/Mixed Media Sculpture B continues the exploration of the visual world; its relationships of form and space — in the context of historical examples, environmental/cultural impact, creative self-expression and collaborative pieces. Field trips to local museums and sculpture collections and some written work will complement the original work created by the student in the studio and at home.
*This class will be offered pending adequate enrollment.
As a follow-up course to Studio Art A, the Studio Art B class will place emphasis on the concept of connection and progression in developing and expanding a visual image. A more refined sense of visual decision-making and creative initiative will be stressed and expected of the mature visual arts student. Students will use a variety of materials, techniques, and styles to explore themselves in relationship to their personal history, community, and their God. We will work in acrylic paint, water color paint, pencil, oil pastel, colored pencil, linoleum block prints, and a variety of mixed media materials. A special project involving an in depth self-study through visual images will urge the student to see her/himself in various aspects; with a connection to a specific community, a realistic self-portrait and a non-objective symbol that strikes a familiar resounding chord.
Instructor: Katie Wolf
An experiential class focused on the exploration of the human desire to remember and recognize the Creator. Through our exploration of symbols used as visual expressions in art, architecture and religious imagery, we will study various faith traditions to gather an understanding of praise older than language and the written word; to “see God in all things.” In this integrated approach to learning about culture, religion and the arts, each student will create 15 major art pieces that represent the faith traditions studied and their own original works that express an understanding of aesthetics. Through research, studio work, field trips (Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, S.F., First Church of Christ Scientist, Berkeley, St. Mary’s Cathedral, S.F.), written papers, prayer, and reflection, each student will gain an ability to understand the role of the Creative spark in our lives. An understanding of their own creative process will allow them to embrace the universal call of the Beloved to us, His instruments, and our response – an expression of praise.
This course is open to all sophomores, juniors and seniors. Students will be introduced to good practice procedures for choral rehearsal and to an awareness of different styles of choral music. Student achievement will involve study of sight-singing, notation, phrasing, rhythm, harmony and musical terminology. Students will be expected to spend additional hours beyond the regular class time. Students are expected to attend all rehearsals and performances. Ensembles will perform at concerts and choral festivals.
This course is offered outside of the 9:00 am – 2:45 pm school day. Meets 1 evening per week, plus performances.
One Semester; offered after school/evenings ONLY
First Semester Taken: Mixed Chorus A (6551)
Second Semester Taken: Mixed Chorus B (6552)