COLORING OUTSIDE THE LINES AND ACROSS HISTORY

A Fairfield Elementary School Art Show

 

Established in 1866, predating the town of Davisville, our historic, two-room Fairfield School serves as a living connection to the past. This year, our 46 students (K-3rd Grade) explored art history to discover how creativity weaves stories across time and space.

Think back to 1866, the year our school began: the art world was shifting from the precision of Realism to the emotive, vibrant energy of Impressionism. Through this lens our students came to understand that art is less about "perfect" representation and more about capturing feelings and unique perspectives.

Today, our learning environment encourages creativity and individual expression by developing a deep understanding of artists throughout history and the way they have left marks and brushstrokes on our world. The Fairfield School teaching team:  Mrs. Lili Beechinor, Ms. Cate Dayan, Ms. Megan Wilkinson, and Ms. Orla Hagan, have used art history as a creative catalyst to advance their students’ understanding of place in time, expression, and emotional self-discovery.

 

Throughout the school year, students have been introduced to a diverse range of artists whose uniqueness have shaped our world: the swirling, deep skies of Vincent Van Gogh, the infinite, endless dots of Yayoi Kusama, the confident and vibrant pop-art of Andy Warhol, the playfulness and accessibility of color demonstrated by Romero Britto, the dark and emotive feelings in the works of Edvard Munch, the use of symbols, patterns, and gold by Gustav Klimt, the mystery and activism of Banksy, the whimsy and abstractness of Paul Klee, the relentless innovation of Pablo Picasso… and more!

By studying these artists, children have learned that art isn't just about making something look pretty; it's about sharing a part of themselves, leaving their own mark on the world. Just like the famous artists we study, our students are encouraged to use art to express big emotions, share feelings, and develop important skills for understanding themselves and others, while time traveling through our own human history.

 The works displayed here represent not only emerging artistic development and an exploration of materials and mediums, but also the unique voice of each Fairfield School student – a vibrant expression of their inner world and feelings. 

 

 Curated by art teacher: Cate Dayan