School Kids Get Line On Art of Architecture
School kids get line of art of architecture
Paper: San Mateo County Times (CA)
Message: School kids get line on art of architecture
Author: Rebekah Gordon, STAFF WRITER
Date: February 10, 2006
Section: San Mateo
FOSTER CITYIN anticipation of what might be built someday at Audubon Elementary School, first-graders in Toni Mickelson's class settled for a lesson Tuesday about building instead.
"Make sure the structure is sturdy, otherwise it will collapse," parent Kenneth Huo warned six eager students using their bodies to form an arch.
From cantilevers to post-and-lintels, the children acted out architectural forms, all in anticipation of three-dimensional murals they hope to design to bring drab school walls to life.
The school, built in 1968 on Gull Avenue and modernized last year, has five portable classrooms that are at least 20 years old. Two portable walls face the campus entrance, and Huo approached the school about giving kids something more than dull beige masses to look at when they arrive each morning.
"It's not visually a very pleasantenvironment," said Huo, who works as a building inspector and planner for Atherton. "We'd like to at least stimulate their imagination and give them some identity."
Huo, who used to volunteer as an architect-in-residence for the LEAP/AIA Architects in Schools program, a San Francisco venture between a nonprofit and the American Institute of Architects to bring architects to classrooms, wanted to do the same for his son's school in Foster City.
He and the school envision working with professional architects-in-residence to create three-dimensional murals out of plywood and wood pieces, layered and painted in many colors. The 100 first- through third-graders whose classes use the wooden portables will pick a theme and help plan and paint. Parents and volunteers will do the assembly.
In the meantime, Huo has made visits the school to teach architecture fundamentals.
Huo's son, Kevin, 7, a first-grader, is looking forward most to painting.
"The kids can paint the wall," he said. "Whatever they want to paint."
The school has applied for an $8,000 Artist Residency grant from the Peninsula Community Foundation to cover the cost of supplies and stipends for additional architects to give about five hours of classroom instruction. They hope to solicit help from local service clubs and the Foster City Arts & Culture Commission, too.
Jaime Fernandez, a San Francisco architect who teaches the architecture summer camp at the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito and in the Young Artist Studio Program at the California College of the Arts in San Francisco, may be one of the architects-in-residence for Audubon. He and Huo once worked together in the LEAP/AIA program.
"What is interesting is not just the final project," he said, "but the process itself to which the children are exposed."
Murals, he said, allow many children to get involved.
"It's a way to spread the seeds of curiosity and creativity and to open a new door or a new window," he said.
Audubon is no stranger to creative school beautification; last year, the school erected a tile mural in the lunch yard, each tile painted by a student.
Principal Leslie Lohmeier said that in the classroom, this project will enhance the math curriculum, exploring topics like geometry and ratios.
The murals will also instill a sense of pride for students.
"It helps everyone feel welcomed, and like this is a child-centered place," she said.
Staff writer Rebekah Gordon can be reached at (650) 348-4331 or rgordon@sanmateocountytimes.com.
Author: Rebekah Gordon, STAFF WRITER
Section: San Mateo
(c) 2006 San Mateo County Times. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Media NewsGroup, Inc. by NewsBank, Inc.
Paper: San Mateo County Times (CA)
Message: School kids get line on art of architecture
Author: Rebekah Gordon, STAFF WRITER
Date: February 10, 2006
Section: San Mateo
FOSTER CITYIN anticipation of what might be built someday at Audubon Elementary School, first-graders in Toni Mickelson's class settled for a lesson Tuesday about building instead.
"Make sure the structure is sturdy, otherwise it will collapse," parent Kenneth Huo warned six eager students using their bodies to form an arch.
From cantilevers to post-and-lintels, the children acted out architectural forms, all in anticipation of three-dimensional murals they hope to design to bring drab school walls to life.
The school, built in 1968 on Gull Avenue and modernized last year, has five portable classrooms that are at least 20 years old. Two portable walls face the campus entrance, and Huo approached the school about giving kids something more than dull beige masses to look at when they arrive each morning.
"It's not visually a very pleasantenvironment," said Huo, who works as a building inspector and planner for Atherton. "We'd like to at least stimulate their imagination and give them some identity."
Huo, who used to volunteer as an architect-in-residence for the LEAP/AIA Architects in Schools program, a San Francisco venture between a nonprofit and the American Institute of Architects to bring architects to classrooms, wanted to do the same for his son's school in Foster City.
He and the school envision working with professional architects-in-residence to create three-dimensional murals out of plywood and wood pieces, layered and painted in many colors. The 100 first- through third-graders whose classes use the wooden portables will pick a theme and help plan and paint. Parents and volunteers will do the assembly.
In the meantime, Huo has made visits the school to teach architecture fundamentals.
Huo's son, Kevin, 7, a first-grader, is looking forward most to painting.
"The kids can paint the wall," he said. "Whatever they want to paint."
The school has applied for an $8,000 Artist Residency grant from the Peninsula Community Foundation to cover the cost of supplies and stipends for additional architects to give about five hours of classroom instruction. They hope to solicit help from local service clubs and the Foster City Arts & Culture Commission, too.
Jaime Fernandez, a San Francisco architect who teaches the architecture summer camp at the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito and in the Young Artist Studio Program at the California College of the Arts in San Francisco, may be one of the architects-in-residence for Audubon. He and Huo once worked together in the LEAP/AIA program.
"What is interesting is not just the final project," he said, "but the process itself to which the children are exposed."
Murals, he said, allow many children to get involved.
"It's a way to spread the seeds of curiosity and creativity and to open a new door or a new window," he said.
Audubon is no stranger to creative school beautification; last year, the school erected a tile mural in the lunch yard, each tile painted by a student.
Principal Leslie Lohmeier said that in the classroom, this project will enhance the math curriculum, exploring topics like geometry and ratios.
The murals will also instill a sense of pride for students.
"It helps everyone feel welcomed, and like this is a child-centered place," she said.
Staff writer Rebekah Gordon can be reached at (650) 348-4331 or rgordon@sanmateocountytimes.com.
Author: Rebekah Gordon, STAFF WRITER
Section: San Mateo
(c) 2006 San Mateo County Times. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Media NewsGroup, Inc. by NewsBank, Inc.
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