Acton

This year in the Art Department we will be focusing on Architecture and creating and building in 3D. Our goal is to develop our spatial skills and learn to work within teams. Many famous architects like Frank Lloyd Wright have shared how doing this as a young child influenced their decision to become a designer and builder! Last year when our older students shared the excitement of designing homes and then building and decorating an entire room in 3D from the ground up – we knew we could take it further and investigate all the facets of Architecture. Our younger grades from Kindergarten to 5th grade will also be focusing on this. This will allow us to explore the influence of other countries on the design elements we use today. Students will see how the Greek, Roman, Russian and Mayan cultures have affected things we see today in our buildings. Nature, climate, location and purpose influence what we build and how we design it. This takes our students into social studies and science. Students will also be applying mathematical formulas and the Golden Ratio in the creation of their designs! Perspective drawing will be utilized by our older students. If you have any building materials, small pieces of wood or old wooden/ foam blocks sets you would like to donate- we can use them!

If you enjoy the arts also or would just like to discover more about what we do in the visual arts, I can always use volunteers. Just email me or call and I will be happy to schedule you to help with a group! 810-695-4710.

Educational Links

www.janbrett.com

www.ancestry.com

www.flintarts.org

www.dia.org

http://michigan.org/Things-to-do/Attractions/Museums

About Mrs. Acton

Mrs. Susan Acton’s Educational Background and Experience:

Bachelor in Science in Education, 1980. Art Ed K- 12.

Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio.

Master of Arts in Education, 1990. Art Ed and Art Therapy.

University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM.

I have taught in Public and State Schools in three states for over 16 years including the New Mexico School for the Deaf and the Albuquerque Public School System’s Blind and Deaf programs. There I worked as a therapist and art educator.

I’ve been teaching at WPA for over six years. In between teaching art, I worked as a Certified Art Therapist, part-time for over fifteen years in schools, hospitals and private practice. Recently I completed construction of an Art Studio in my yard at my home in Clarkston where I live with my husband Bill and our two daughters, Emily and Isabel. In my own studio I create life-size portraits of peoples in clay sculptures and on canvas with oil paints. What I enjoy doing most, besides art, is spending time with my family and cooking meals from the food we grow in our garden. My family enjoys making art and taking walks in nature. We love watching Nacho Libre, Princess Bride, and other comedies.