Grade 6 Terracotta Warriors
Workers digging a well outside the city of Xi'an, China, in 1974 struck upon one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in the world: a life-size clay soldier poised for battle. The diggers notified Chinese authorities, who dispatched government archaeologists to the site.
They found not one, but thousands of clay soldiers, each with unique facial expressions and positioned according to rank. And though largely gray today, patches of paint hint at once brightly colored clothes. The soldiers are in trench like, underground corridors. In some of the corridors, clay horses are aligned four abreast; behind them are wooden chariots.
The terra-cotta army, as it is known, is part of an elaborate mausoleum created to accompany the first emperor of China into the afterlife. The young Emperor Ying Zheng took the throne in 246 B.C. at the age of 13.
This is our grade 6 army. As they travel on their path past SBCA their battle is to continue sharing all the great traditions of their catholic faith, family spirit, and academic excellence, skills and values needed to become successful, morally conscious members of society. They have created an army by multiplying themselves as a visual reminder or the power of their faith and instruction from South Boston Catholic Academy.
The original warriors were created in terracotta whereas our students created a self-portrait printing plate and printed it again and again with grey ink on black paper to suggest the clay.
grade 6 creating the artwork
We’re constantly trying new things in the art room. Looking at new art, using new materials or trying new media is how we stretch our artist’s brain power. Kindergarten created outstanding owls out of recycled materials and watched a wonderful story about Owl Babies. Chinese artist Wang Yani inspired grade 1 to create painted monkeys and grade 2 to create awakened lions with sumi brushes and water based ink. In grade 3 students were amazed at the beautiful designs on the shells of box turtles, created their own out of clay and even designed a box room for the turtles. Grade 4 learned about printmaking and transformed their prints into a beautiful kimono complete with and obi. Grade 5 has been working in self-hardening clay on a project inspired by the work of sculptor Claes Oldenburg. (No photos because we want to surprise you at this year’s art show.) Grade 6 has also been working on a special project for the art show using combining illumination and repousse on special metal sheets. (Again, not photos, we want to surprise you.)
Over the next few weeks students will all be working on projects for the Art Show which will be on May 3, in the school cafeteria. Remember, all work from the art show will also be displayed on Artsonia a day or two after the show. This year we are trying something new and will have preschool work with grade 6 on a special project using our art room iPad minis. (Yes, we have 10 and are looking to get 4 more!)
Please remember to check out our student art work at Artonia.com
Visit our Art Gallery!