Shape Invaders Crash Course

 

To prep for state testing students at Grover Washington Jr. Middle School revisited our main project from the previous year. Math teacher Jerry Jackson prepared a test prep worksheet for the students to work on in response to a Shape Invader design that they created using vinyl polygon shapes.

The Shape Invader initiative was a big breakthrough for Jackson and I last year. The art initiative we created with the students had a direct impact on textbook problem solving and testing. To create the designs we worked with students to identify design constraints that could help them practice concepts such as ratio and percentage. The students then responded to their Shape Invader design to find the area, perimeter and a host of other math skills and concepts that they need to know well.

Math teacher Jerry Jackson helping a student with calculations

Last spring we selected our best designs and Invaded the School District of Philadelphia administration building in Center City Philadelphia. We were also invited to invade the Central Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library. 

In the search to link art, math and contemporary art I have not been able to find many other projects that have such a direct correlation. If you know of other projects please let us know. We are familiar with Komar and Melamid’s Most Wanted Painting project and we are excited to have this project serve as a starting point for us this year.

Tectonic Quilt @ Philadelphia International Airport Terminal C

Benjamin Volta and students from the Grover Washington Jr. Middle School, Tectonic Quilt, Ink on Paper, PHL Terminal C.  Photos courtesy of the Philadelphia International Airport
 
Philadelphia, PA

December 13, 2012 – The Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy’s Public Art Program and the Philadelphia International Airport are pleased to announce the completion of two new public artwork commissions.  The two commissioned artists, Ava Blitz and Benjamin Volta, were both present for the official dedication yesterday, along with the students from the Grover Washington Jr. Middle School who helped create Benjamin’s work.  Their artworks are located on the exterior walls at the new restrooms built in Terminals B and C at the Philadelphia International Airport.  These commissions further the Airport’s goal to create dynamic visual landmarks, providing a memorable experience for airport visitors.
               

                                   

SHAPE INVADERS @ 440 N BROAD

 

SHAPE INVADERS @ 440 N BROAD

 THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA
EDUCATION CENTER

BENJAMIN VOLTA WITH JERRY JACKSON'S 8TH GRADE
MATH CLASS AT GROVER WASHINGTON JR MIDDLE SCHOOL

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SHAPE INVADERS @ GROVER WASHINGTON JR. MIDDLE SCHOOL

 

SHAPE INVADERS
BENJAMIN VOLTA WITH JERRY JACKSON'S 8TH GRADE
MATH CLASS AT GROVER WASHINGTON JR. MIDDLE SCHOOL

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STEAM @ The Esther Klein Gallery at the Science Center

 

STEAM
science . technology . engineering . art . math

July 18th - Sept 30th
Reception September 21st, 5 - 7:30pm

Benjamin Volta and Jerry Jackson with students from Grover Washington Jr. Middle School
and classroom teachers and students from Solis-Cohen and Morton Thomas G elementary School

The Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership (PAEP) and Breadboard partner to pioneer the movement to integrate art into STEM education. STEAM at the Esther Klein Gallery at the Science Center highlights projects created in collaboration with PAEP, an artist, a math and science teacher and students in Philadelphia Schools.

The Esther Klein Gallery at the Science Center
3600 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Gallery Hours
Monday - Saturday, 9:00am -5:00pm
Free to Public / Wheelchair Access

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ARTS BRIDGES @ SOLIS-COHEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Avid Eyes
These gigantic eyes reflect our exploration of artwork that hang in five galleries at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Each student created a triangular drawing that reference these great artworks from the past. Throughout the project the students’ individual drawings presented a main idea in their foreground and supporting details in their background. To create a collaborative artwork we arranged the students’ individual drawings around a central axis to form a new design. The gigantic eye design can be seen as the overall main idea, and the drawings throughout can be seen as the supporting details.

Archival Pigment Print on Stretched Canvas with Reflective Vinyl





Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership project - Arts Bridges: Building Literacy Through an Integrated Arts Collaborative Model is made possible by a grant of federal funds to The School District of Philadelphia by the United Sates Department of Education, Office of Innovation and Improvement, under the Arts in Education Model Development & Dissemination Grant Program. The Philadelphia Museum of Art is a collaborating partner.