Visual Arts

Why is art so important? The following are ways in which art is of value to the young child. These can also be considered as the goals of an art experience, and subjects can be evaluated according to them.

15 Things Your Child Learns from Art

• Develops creative thinking. Provides means of communication and self-expression.
• Serves as an emotional release
• Strengthens the self-concept and confidence.
• Increases self-understanding.
• Heightens aesthetic awareness and sensitivity.
• Enhances the ability to visualize.
• Provides problem-solving/decision-making opportunities.
• Develops appreciation for the individuality of others.
• Leads to integration of the individual.
• Serves a balance to classroom activities.
• Aids physical coordination.
• Develops work habits and a sense of responsibility.
• Aids the adult in understanding and helping the child.
• Generates joy!

Essential Values of The Cushman School Visual Arts program are:

1. Individual: Visual art and the individual is a means by which one expresses their feelings and gains a personal satisfaction through individual accomplishment and creative problem solving.
2. Societal: Visual art brings individuals together. It helps us assume a personal responsibility for the improvement of community living.
3. Cultural: Visual art records the achievement of mankind. It helps us to understand the past and present cultures of today’s society. Visual arts help build cultural bridges between people.

In summary, the visual arts program at The Cushman School strives to encourage self- expression to increase self-awareness and self-esteem. This is very much in keeping with the Cushman philosophy. It is hoped that visual art can be a means of bringing individuals together to assume personal responsibility for the improvement of community living, and to understand the past and present cultures of today’s society. The art room at The Cushman School is an ever changing gallery and parents are always welcome to visit. We appreciate the opportunity to share these art experiences with our students.

The Visual Arts Program Elementary School: 1st – 6th grades

The objectives of The Cushman School visual arts program are:

1. Involvement in and response to personal visual experiences.
2. Perceive and understand visual relationships in the environment.
3. Think, feel, and act creatively with a goal towards creative problem solving.
4. Increase manipulative and organizational skills.
5. Acquire knowledge of civilization’s heritage of visual art and design.
6. Understand the nature of art and the creative process.
7. Make intelligent visual judgments.
8. Use art knowledge and skills in personal and community life

The Visual Arts Program Primary School: Multi-Age
The multi-age child at The Cushman School, with his/her rapidly developing vocabulary, finds visual art still another way of communicating with those around him/her. By using a variety of materials such as paint, crayons, clay, scissors, paper, and glue, the student manipulates, pretends, imagines, and experiences texture, design and color. The student becomes aware of beauty in his/her environment and is able to put his/her thoughts and feelings into concrete form. A student reflects experiences, environment, and cultural heritage in the impressions he/she paints, models or colors. The student develops an understanding of visual and spatial relationships, solves problems and uses judgment when talking about their art work. All students’ art work whether still in the scribble stage or the more advanced realistic design level, should be appreciated for what it is, the free and imaginative creation of the student’s mind. The young artist’s art work should be displayed at home.