Klimt - Beautiful Resources

This is one of the most beautifully crafted websites that I have come across in a very long time. I know that is a big claim but have a look at the way that this site is constructed. It is not just the layout, or the quality of the images or the calming music in the background, it is everything put together.

 It is the feel and eye for detail that the designer Julian Damy has produced. I want to use it as a model for all of my students that next time I get them to built websites about artists. This would be a fantastic resource for any teacher contemplating studying Gustav Klimt.

http://www.iklimt.com/#

Tumblr

This is a blog site that my seniors put me onto. I personally prefer Blogger but my students are happier with Tumblr. We are currently using it as a virtual visual arts process diary. I know some people will sneer at this, but it is the only way that we can get boys to really reflect on images, artworks and their own process. I have got more from my current Yr 11s in the last 5 weeks than I got from my Yr 12s all year.

The students seems to enjoy the fact that we are using blogging tools as opposed to pencil and paper. They are still drawing but are now photographing their work and then posting it along with reflections on their tumblr. They are all following each other and are starting to comment on each other ideas and work - offering suggestion, other websites, artists and resources that they think would be of assistance.

http://www.tumblr.com

Painting Machine

I went to an interesting Breakout Session at the Ulearn Conference in Christchurch a couple of weeks back called  "A Brush with Destiny -  Promoting Sparks of Creative Brillance. It was a group of PreSchool teachers from Nayland Kindergarten who were embedding the 'arts' into their programs. I was impressed by the work of these women who each acknowledged that they started the program with little background in art teaching but with lots of energy. Apart from the wonderful work that they were doing - digital portfolios, the use of wikis, artists in residence and art appreciation; I was impressed by their painting machine.


One of the community had placed a record turntable into a small bench. They then attached paper to the turntable and the students where able to paint the spinning paper. This made for the most wonderful patterned works of art. This simple idea is one that could give every child the chance to create a beautiful painting. I love these simple ideas that give students the opportunity for successful learning experiences.  Everyone is doing it even Damien Hirst

Damien Hirst, Beautiful, Cyclonic, Bleeding, Slashing, Hurricane, Dippy, Cowards Painting” 1992, household paint on canvas.

http://naylandkindy.blogspot.com/

GeoTagging

Geo tagging is my favourite thing about Flickr. We are teaching a unit of work on Graffiti in Visual Arts at the moment. As part of our research we are photographically documenting local graffiti. These will be saved and then uploaded to our Flickr account.

We will geo-tag these images and then create an online exhibition. The students will work collaboratively to decide which images will be included and why and in what order the audience should view the images to see the historical progression of graffiti in Eastwood. Some piece have been in place for 7 to 8 years. People will then be able to access the images on a google map and actually find them if they want to view them in situ.

This is a mock-up only (We have yet to finalise our own)

This feature of Flickr could be adopted for any number of activities in various subjects areas.

Geography - local rivers, creeks, dams or land forms
History - famous battle sites, incidents in history, war memorials
Art - art galleries and museums, public sculptures, buildings of architectural importance
Religion - local Churches of world religions, incidents in the life of Jesus or the saints
Hospitality - cafes, food supplies, wholesalers, growers, organic farmers - Food Equity Unit

Documenting excursions or field trips takes on a new dimension when people back home can see where you went and what you experienced.

http://www.flickr.com

Mosaickr

What do you do with the thousands of photographs you have taken on your recent holiday or shot of your students throughout the year. It is such a shame to let them go to waste. Mosaickr is an online mosaic maker. It is a tool that uses all of your images to create a larger image. I have seen companies charge $100s to do these. 


This Web 2 tool allows you to make your own. With the mosaic engine of "mosaickr.com" you can generate mosaics with up to 500 images and a total of approximately 2500 tiles. Make sure you first have a Flickr account.  Once you have your Yahoo!-ID and your Flickr account you are all set and ready to use "mosaickr.com" to create an unlimited number of photo mosaics. Your students will love to find the images of themselves in your class mosaic.

http://www.mosaickr.com/

Block Posters

Make a huge poster out of any image you like. It is as simple as selecting your image, uploading to the Web 2 tool, deciding how it gets split and then downloading it again. The tool slices the image into the correct number of individual pages so you just hit print and each one is printed ready to be lined up on the wall.  Presto - huge poster.

This would be great for stimulus materials for new units of work, printing scenes for role plays or small theatre productions, you could also scan and then print out artworks at their original size so the students get an idea of the impact of the original. So many great uses for this tool.

http://www.blockposters.com/default.aspx