Collage Assemblage

Artists: Michael Alharir, Jr., Rory Fischer, Maeve Ghergurovich, Avi Jackson, Siya Jain, Luke Lawless, Harrison Major, Dean Previtera, Shivah Shahani, Mateo Sinisterra, Violet May Smith, and Wyatt Williams

"Chalkboard Meeting" is a compilation of candid moments of Ms. Cherise Sistrunk's classroom children at work at the easel.

For the background the children applied black paint and a touch of gray paint to mimic a smudged chalkboard. As a group they blended an array of brown tones of paint and applied this to paper that was then cut into strips. These strips were collaged together in plank-like fashion to simulate hardwood flooring. A blue baseboard was added to ground the foundation. The components of this background are directly inspired by our former home at GTMS West and our current classroom environment at GTMS North.

Every child was provided with a multi-part template created directly from their individual photographs. These included their hair, clothing and shoes. Each piece was painted separately then collaged together. Art techniques that the children have been practicing throughout the school year were utilized. Patterns and prints on their clothing were achieved through the use of stenciling, shaving cream printing, dot painting and additional collaging. As a finishing touch, actual scribbles on the chalkboard made by the hands of each child serve as signatures for the piece. The many processes of this lively collaboration resulted in this stunning work of art.