Art teacher Alana Devito worked with students on a variety of projects. First-grade Trinity artists were inspired by traditional African masks, as well as contemporary African-American artist, Kimmy Cantrell, who creates mask-like faces in clay. The students used different materials and shapes to create faces.
Kindergarten and second-grade Trinity artists were inspired by Africa’s natural environment and animals, specifically lions and zebras. While kindergartners focused on using different lines and textures, second graders added extra interest and imagination with their color choices.
Third-grade Trinity artists were inspired by Adinkra patterns and cloth from Ghana. Similar to the African creators of this art form, our artists created their own stamps, using foam, cardboard, and paint instead of the traditionally used carved gourds and boiled bark. Students each chose a traditional Adinkra symbol to create, and then used it to make patterned works of art, with meaning.
All kindergarten through third-grade students participated in creating these projects. Strong examples were chosen from first-, second-, and third-grade works of art to be showcased in the virtual art exhibit.
Music also has been incorporated into the Black History Month celebration at Trinity Elementary School. Music teacher Jane Lim taught kindergartners through fourth-graders a Ghanaian circle game, Obwisana, where every child had a rock, and as they sang the song, they tapped on the floor to the beat of the music. Then, they pass the rock to their neighbor. The students not only learned the song, but also learned to play the game and perform a short dance. View of a video of some of the children here.
Click here to learn more about attending the virtual art exhibit.