Mobile lessons in art

Andrew Edwards

All it takes to turn a third-grade classroom into a vibrant art

colony is some construction paper, wire, glue and the right guest

teacher to lead the way.

Students at Kettler Elementary School took time on Tuesday morning

for the “Meet the Masters” program, which mixes art appreciation with

participation.

The students learn about six artists throughout the year, and

after their introduction, make a project emulating the style of

artists such as Rembrandt and Rosa Bonheur.

One of the students, 8-year-old Sebastian Demartini, said she

enjoyed learning about the history of great artists.

“If they were still alive I’d thank them for making all these cool

things,” he said.

On Tuesday, the children built mobiles in the style of kinetic

artist Alexander Calder. The class’s goal was to balance abstract

shapes made out of bright red and yellow construction paper that were

attached to short lengths of wire.

“You’re going to be bending wires today,” guest art teacher Jackie

Brubaker said. “We’re going to be looping. We shall have a good

time.”

Art lessons, Brubaker said, are good for children since they allow

students to exercise the part of their brain not used during math and

other lessons.

“It helps them work with the other side of their brain, the right

brain,” she said.

Psychologists who study the brain believe the right side of the

brain is where imagination and creativity happens, while the left

half is used for analysis and concrete thinking.

Brubaker took the class step-by-step through the mobile-building

process, from folding and gluing paper together to make a base,

finding then right balance for the wires, and cutting out shapes to

decorate the mobile.

For some of the students, working with wire turned out to be the

highlight of the day.

“I think it’s fun because you get to do things with wire,” said

8-year-old Natalie Kaa.

The fun of wire was explained succinctly by 9-year-old Connor

Boster.

“It’s bendy,” he said.

Once completed, the students’ mobiles were balancing acts of

abstract art, with colorful designs hanging gracefully in mid-air.

“It looks like it’s really, really floating,” 8-year-old Tyler

Odey said.

And while the students might not be ready for the Guggenheim or

Museum of Contemporary Art just yet, 9-year-old Kevin Garnett was

sure his mobile would be displayed in a place of honor.

“My mom’s going to put it up in her room or my kitchen for

decoration,” he said.