Monet eloquently stated “My garden is my most beautiful master piece.” This is the motivation we use to describe the Art and Nature Exhibit we do each year during the Spring time. We pride ourselves on having the most comprehensive art program in the county which really complements our Montessori classroom. Gardening and Art play a pivotal role in helping children build creativity and knowledge.
Our art teachers, Barbara and Charley Knight, have been running our Art Program for almost 13 years at our schools. This wonderful couple are local artists and have their own teaching studio. The success of our art program rests on the support we get from our parent volunteers, who assist our children in our program.
I love Barbara Knight’s terminology, “Dipping the dogs tail in the water” to wash the paint off a brush. The children do pottery, marbling and learn a plethora of different art forms from different cultures and eras. The focus of our program is not on the product but on the process. We learn about blending vibrant colors, and about famous world artists. On one occasion we had a wonderful lesson on Michael Angelo’s Sistine Chapel where the paper was taped on the bottom of the chair and the children laid underneath to experience how Michael Angelo painted the Sistine Chapel laying on scaffolding. Our little artists love the creative process.
“Imagination does not become great until children, given the courage and the strength, use it to create,” said Maria Montessori. We are certain that we have a famous world artist amongst our Montessorians.
About Rohini Rustogi