Instructor, Lower School Art, Grades: Pre-k, K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th
"At moments of great enthusiasm it seems to me that no one in the world has ever made something this beautiful and important."
Andrew Wyeth
Ms. Benter is the Lower School art teacher for students in grades pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. She is also the department head for visual arts at Portledge School.
Lower School Art News!
I am so excited to be working with the children on so many creative and inspiring new art projects this year. Check back often to view pictures, read news about art field trips and more. Also, be sure to stop by the Visual Arts Dept. pages where you can view the Artist of the Month, plus learn more about Middle School & Upper School art events coming up this year.
May 2012: Fifth grade students host their annual "Dinner Party"
The fifth graders recently completed their annual art installation titled "The Dinner Party" inspired by the artist Judy Chicago. Each student selected an individual who had or has made an important contribution to human kind. A ceramic plate, goblet and place mat were decorated to honor each "guest" invited to an imaginary dinner party event, held in the lower school gallery.
Steve Jobs is an honored "guest" at our dinner party.
April, 2012 - We are very proud of the eleven fifth graders who volunteered to participate in special training at the Heckscher Museum of Art in Hunitngton recently. These fifth graders acted as Junior Docents during a recent field trip to the museum, leading our fourth graders through two art exhibitions currently on view. Below, see the new Junior Docents in action as they engaged their fourth grade audience in discussions about the works of art on display.
Michael speaks about a painting by the artist, George Grosz.
Spencer engages the fourth graders in discussion while they view the George Grosz painting.
Brooke discusses the differences between two portrait paintings by different artists.
Victoria discusses a portrait painting of a boy selling fish.
Zoe & Gabriella discuss the differences between abstract and realistic landscape paintings by two artists.
Laura and Ashley discuss works from "A way With Words, Text in Art"exhibition.
Juiliet, Angelina and Eve discuss the use of text and sculptural relief in paintings at the museum.
Following the guided tour, the eleven Junior Docents proudly display their certificates of achievement. They did a wonderful job at the museum. The fourth graders are looking forward to the opportunity of becoming Junior Docents next year at the museum.
April, 2012 - the second graders travel to the Guggenheim Museum in New City where they viewed the sculptures created by John Chamberlain. See the pictures that follow:
The second graders stand together outside of the Guggenheim Museum with Mrs. Galvin.
The children discuss a large sculpture created using aluminum foil by the artist. John Chamberlain.
Mr. Chamberlain became very famous for using recycled junkyard car parts in his sculptures.
Another view of the large, aluminum foil sculpture created by John Chamberlain.
Another sculpture created from recycled car parts by the sculptor, John Chamberlain.
First Grade students collaborate with eighth grade students in preparation for their Nov. 30th art field trip to the Whitney Museum in New York City!
First and eighth grade students build with blocks as they create sculptures that explore balance.
Students stand together next to their successful sculpture design, inspired by the work of David Smith.
This symmetrical sculpture demonstrates strong balance.
Students work as a team while designing their structures.
The Lower School is celebrating the 125th birthday of the Statue of Liberty!
Students in grades pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, second, and third grades recently created beautiful tributes to the Statue of Liberty using wood, clay and recycled materials. These works are currently on display in the Lower School Gallery. View a selection of works below.
Sculptures created by lower school children in honor of the 125th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty.
Kindergarten students created ceramic liberty vessels in honor or Miss Liberty's birthday.
Another Miss Liberty Vessel design.
A fabulous painting of Miss Liberty was created by a fifth grade student.
Pre-kindergarten experiments with clay in art.
Kai enjoys making marks in his clay "snake" using a pencil.
Sophia and Isabella work together on a clay project.
Francisco uses a spray bottle to help keep his clay moist while he continues to work on his creation.
Brody and Will work together using clay tools in art.
Honoring Miss Liberty by creating ceramic sculptures!
Vitaly carefully adds the points to the crown on his Statue of Liberty sculpture.
Charlotte carefully models the head of Miss Liberty during art class.