Art Club Unites

This year, the ACECC Upper Campus has seen the development of the ART CLUB with Mr. Harris as the sponsor. This club provides artistic opportunities beyond the walls of the classroom. It also will provide an opportunity for students that cannot fit art into their busy schedules. The club participates in art trips, community services, sales, etc. The club will also perform school service projects in the field of art.  Anyone may join the ART CLUB.  A scholar does not need to currently be in an art class to join.  We welcome scholars who have an interest in ART and would enjoy hanging out with others who like being creative and getting messy.  Right now, ART CLUB is meeting in the Art room on Tuesday afternoons.  Here is a sample of what we are currently working on.

The ART CLUB's first project is to create a series of panels for LINC.  The Local Investment Commission (LINC) is a nationally recognized organization known for its efforts to improve the lives of children and families in the Kansas City area.

Enjoying the spoils of the hunt

Cleaning the mud.  Oxymoron anyone?

The panels that the ART CLUB are working on are inspired by both the Korhogo cloth and the Mud cloth.  After collecting local mud and cleaning it, scholars added pigments to increase the color strength.  Scholars added iron oxide and cobalt pigment to the mud and let the mud age.  After continuous mixing and thinning, we developed a paint like consistency.

Scholars applied the mud mixture to 4x4 plates (which pays homage to the small strips of fabric that are dyed, painted or woven to create various African cloths) and stamped the fabric panels.  After the mud mixture dried, scholars researched various African symbols and painted them over the mud mixture.

Series of panels in progress

Detail of some of the designs

The ART CLUB is still working on these panels and has 3 more sets to complete.  Each scholar is challenged to develop a pattern and they discuss it with the group.  When a consensus is reached, the panel is worked on.  I encourage scholars to stand up as individual leaders and also work within a collaborative group.