Guggenheim – Learning Through Art – Spotlight on PS 144 in Queens

Written by Rachel, Nod’s PR & Social Media Lead

Today’s post is a continuation of a series on The Land of Nod’s sponsorship of the Guggenheim’s A Year with Children 2015, which features art created by the Guggenheim’s artist-in-residence program, Learning Through Art. Learning Through Art teaching artists partner with classroom teachers in each of the city’s five boroughs to design collaborative projects that explore art and ideas related to the classroom curriculum.

Each Tuesday in June we highlighted of the school’s projects. Today’s spotlight is on PS 144 in Queens.

Third graders at PS 144 were inspired by architects Frank Gehry and Frank Lloyd Wright as they came up with models of their ideal classroom. The student artists considered shape, line, and form while exploring innovative ideas for redesigning a classroom space through sculpture. As young product and interior designers, they experimented with multiple possibilities by building prototypes. Students explored options for the shape of a classroom by creating small paper sculptures before they built their 3-D classroom models from wire, plastic, paper, foam, metal, and found objects.

LTA students in the classroom
Third grade, PS 144, Queens, 2015
© 2015 Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, New York

Student Artwork
Third grade, PS 144, Queens, 2015
Photo: Kris McKay © 2015 Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, New York

Molly O’Brien, Teaching Artist for PS 144, believes that, “The greatest lessons can be learned using art: expression, acceptance, confidence, innovation, teamwork, critical thinking. I look at my role as a teaching artist as an opportunity for the students and me to collaborate as artists. Students are constantly surprising me with their brilliance. I encourage them to question the world around them, and in return their questions inspire my own practice.”