Day 151 - Christina Chang, Burlington High School Art Department

Architecture Students Redefine Empty Space for Final Exam:

Architecture students often get to sketch, plan and create models, but they don't always get to make vast improvements and change come to life. Their final exam "History Hallway Redesign" allowed students to transform a large empty hallway in to the "History Learning Space".

Before picture 

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With paint donated from Colorworks and guest artist Interior Designer Deborah Chang's help, students transform the space.

After Pictures:

Day 121 - Christina Chang, Burlington High School Hart

Proud Teacher Moments....Visiting BHS Graduate Jason Yeadon at MLB FanCave:

It is always a delight to see former students, especially when they work at very cool spots in Manhattan! I had the pleasure of visiting Jason Yeadon, class of 2006. Jason is a graphic designer for MLB. He is currently working at the MLB Fan Cave as designer.

A note from Jason:
Now into its third season, the MLB Fan Cave is a powerful marketing platform that engages fans digitally, experientially, and socially. Through MLB player and celebrity visits, concerts, an art gallery and more, the MLB Fan Cave serves as the intersection of Baseball and pop culture. The MLB Fan Cave is both a local destination in the heart of Greenwich Village and a national content platform (MLBFANCAVE.com) directly connecting with fans like never before.

There are 9 "super-fans" also know as "cave dwellers" that watch all 2,430 games of the MLB season... yes that means they do not get a day off and are in the cave all baseball season. They regularly interview players and act in skits and funny short videos with these celebrities. The videos are posted to MLBFanCave.com and shared through social media.

As a designer for Major League Baseball I am responsible for the overall look of the Fan Cave, prop and set design, social media graphics and activation for MLB sponsors. I am also responsible for design involving the All-Star game and Postseason when it relates to the MLB Fan Cave and social media.

I graduated from Syracuse University with a BFA in communication design. I took may art classes at BHS and also played football, track and hockey. My art and sports background is what attracted me to MLB. BHS really prepared me for a career in design and without the amazing teachers I had or the variety of art classes I was offered to take I would not be where I am today.  

Jason in front of the wall that he designed.

Day 118 - Christina Chang, Burlington High School Art Department

Lessons from Max....:

I had the pleasure of taking my first class at the Art Students League of New York a few weeks ago. Founded in 1875 by artists and for artists, the Art Students League of New York has been instrumental in shaping America's legacy in the fine arts. Many renowned artists have honed their skills at the League, which is dedicated to sustaining the great tradition of training artists. Today, more than 2,500 students of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels, study at the League each month. Click here to see a short film about the League by Dale Schierholt.  

I spent the a week with artist Max Ginsburg. Here are some of his oil paintings:

During my weeklong workshop with Max I learned the following:

• Painting is a challenging, difficult and rewarding
• Teaching feeds your painting- Max also worked as a high school art educator for many years 
• Many of the people in Max's paintings are former students
• Painting color, form, and light are all technical skills that can be improved 
• Max is a master at using his brush to create the human form, it was a delight to watch and observe him paint
• Max describes himself as a "social realist". He depicts NYC and the people who inhabit it, he has a message that he wants to share and political views that he expresses in his paintings. His work is much more than just figurative work, but he expresses his point of view and captures the human spirit

Here is a portrait painting that I created during the workshop.

Day 112 Christina Chang - Burlington High School Art Department

When Tragedy Strikes Create Art:

What a week.... Hard to digest everything that happened. Many times I thought of you- my students, since we were on vacation I wanted many times to talk to you about how you were doing and digesting all of the feelings and emotions that go along side a tragedy. I wanted to talk to you about how this is a great time to create art. Art is a healthy way to deal with all of the emotions you may be feeling.

Many artists use art as a means to deal with tragedy. Here are just a few works of art created after tragic events.

Probably Picasso's most famous work, Guernica is certainly the his most powerful political statement, painted as an immediate reaction to the Nazi's devastating casual bombing practice on the Basque town of Guernica during Spanish Civil War.

Guernica shows the tragedies of war and the suffering it inflicts upon individuals, particularly innocent civilians. This work has gained a monumental status, becoming a perpetual reminder of the tragedies of war, an anti-war symbol, and an embodiment of peace. On completion Guernica was displayed around the world in a brief tour, becoming famous and widely acclaimed. This tour helped bring the Spanish Civil War to the world's attention.
http://www.pablopicasso.org/guernica.jsp

The tragic events that occurred on December 14 at Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown, Conn., ended 26 lives and left the entire nation confused, angry and anxious. Artist Jeremy Collins reacted by channeling his complex emotions and desire to help into a two-color sketch conveying the massive community of friends, community members and absolute strangers willing to send their prayers and support to the victims.

After receiving an overwhelming response to the piece on Facebook, Collins put the prints up for sale, using proceeds to help pay for families' funeral costs. Collins spreads his message, "the world mourns with you all," through this powerful portrait.

National September 11 Memorial & Museum
Honoring the lives of those who were lost is at the heart of our mission.  Occupying eight of the 16 acres at the World Trade Center, the Memorial is a tribute to the past and a place of hope for the future.

Lady Liberty
Lady Liberty, a Statue of Liberty replica, stood honor guard outside the firehouse of Engine 54/Ladder 4/Battalion 9. The firehouse lost 15 of their men at the World Trade Center on 9/11. How Lady Liberty appeared outside the firehouse is unknown, but its presence encouraged the public to leave messages and tributes. Explore the Lady Liberty statue and learn more about the ornaments that adorn it and the stories of tribute behind them.