Grandview Blvd Elementary Visits Excellence in Fibers and Karyl Sisson exhibitions

Ms. Sanchez’s 2nd graders from Grandview Boulevard Elementary visited the Craft in America Center for their first time yesterday to view the Excellence in Fibers IV and Karyl Sisson: Fissures and Connections exhibitions.

Although most of them did not understand what “fibers” meant before walking in to the Center, they quickly thought up ideas once they walked into the “Excellence of Fibers IV” exhibit. “What materials were used to create these works of art? Do you know what texture is? Does the art piece look soft, hard, fuzzy, rough?” Asking the students questions like these encouraged the students to perceive on their own what fibers was to them. Once they understood what fibers meant, we played a game of “I SPY” and students became a lot more aware of what different type of fibers were utilized: “I spy with my little eye, a piece made with yarn….a piece made with paper….a piece made with bark…”

After discussing the various shapes, forms, colors, designs, and lines delineated in the Excellence in Fibers IV exhibition, the students moved on to the Karyl Sisson: Fissures and Connections exhibition. The students were able to easily identify the materials used in Sisson’s work: Zippers, cloth, clothespins, and paper straws. They especially loved playing with the zippered sample that Sisson made specifically for visitors to play with. The students used clothespins to recreate and invent shapes that are similar to those in the show.

After the walkthrough, discussion, and Q&A with the artist, students were given a demonstration on weaving with paper straws. The students, teacher, and aide were absolutely thrilled that Karyl Sisson was able to teach a workshop on weaving. Students learned to work with an easy “over and under” pattern with paper straws. The end result being a coaster that they could take home to share and use.