Clinton School Welcomes Artist-in-Residence

Students at Clinton Elementary school spent time this spring working with nationally-known clay artist Cliff Mendelson as they participated in the school’s ninth annual PTA-sponsored Artist-in-Residence grant. Over the course of several sessions, each fourth  grade class spent time learning about ways in which different countries and cultures have used clay for making everyday objects as well as for decorative use.  They also learned a range of different techniques for designing, shaping, and firing pieces which were then shown in a gallery tour at the school on May 10.

Funded by a grant from the Clinton School PTA, the grant brought Mendelson to school for three days, during which he worked with each class for 90 minutes.  In the first session, fourth grade teachers and students learned how to cut, soften, shape, and mold clay as  Mendelson made a pot with each class and a platter for the school to keep.  On the class pots, each student got to use a  tool to make a design or shape a piece of clay to add to it, so that each class’s piece had been worked on by the hands of every student in the class.            

In the second session, students quickly got to work to make their own masterpieces. Clinton art teacher Christine Tischio had spent time working with Mendelson via phone and email to help students prepare for their studio time by teaching them about different symbols and themes for possible use on their own works, and students used art time for several weeks to plan out their creations.  On the day of the workshops, students got busy quickly shaping, molding, reshaping, and sharing their ideas with Mr. Mendelson as he circulate about the room working with each student.

On his third visit, Mendelson taught students about the  uses of masks in different global cultures and students designed their own. Ms. Tischio then guided students through lessons on color and design as they painted their own masks.  All of the pieces were displayed in the Gallery Walk in the school on May 10, to which families were invited to see the finished products on display.

Clinton Elementary, led by Principal Patricia O’Neill and Assistant Principal Ann Bodnar is the school district’s headquarters school for the English Language Learning program. Many languages are spoken by students’ families, and the school’s PTA incorporates global cultures and traditions into its assembly and programs for families each year.

This article was submitted on behalf of the Clinton PTA.