The Gateway Arts in Education Partnership uses a work of art as text for learning, using inquiry, art-making and context to make connections across the curriculum. This year the students at Eden Hall Upper Elementary School studied a ceramic vessel created by potter and professor, David MacDonald as part of his Middle Passage Series.  Their interdisciplinary exploration of this work took place over several months and concluded recently with a residency at the school with the artist himself.

On April 6 through 8, MacDonald presented lecture demonstrations for each of the 4th, 5th and 6th grade classrooms, plus an open house viewing for parents each evening. He created dozens of vessels during the sessions, demonstrating his unique techniques and engaging in lively question and answer sessions. 

The Middle Passage Series is work MacDonald created inspired by the decorative motifs and cultural history of sub-Saharan Africa. They are wheel-thrown terracotta vessels, which are then altered in shape and embellished with patterned textures. Gateway to the Arts teaching artists partnered with Eden Hall’s three visual arts teachers to conduct workshops with every student at the school around the vessel. In addition, teaching artists partnered with teachers who had attended the Gateway Arts in Education Institute to bring two more workshops to over twenty six classes.  Over 1,000 students carefully studied the Vessel and constructed their own meaning for the piece which was communicated through visual art, music, and creative writing.
 
In the classrooms, students created their own textured clay vessels and discussed them in relation to the Vessel from the Middle Passage. The concept of pattern was examined in many ways: discussing symbolism, as an element within a larger context, as an aspect of decision-making in the creative process, and even as an associative connotation explored through poetry, journaling and creative fiction exercises.

During the evening open house, students showcased a musical piece, extrapolated from their in-depth inquiry into the work of art, which featured African drumming and gourd shakers, augmented with metallophones, cowbells and singing.

The high level of parent engagement at the evening events was a reflection of the student’s own enthusiasm about the work they had been doing in school. One 5th grader exclaimed “I love Gateway to the Arts,” and went on to explain that if it wasn’t for the work with the Vessel from the Middle Passage she would not have had the opportunity to do all these “fun things,” specifically writing poetry inspired by the colors in MacDonald’s piece.

The Gateway Arts in Education Partnership beings with the Gateway Arts in Education Institute, a week-long professional development workshop for educators and artists. This year the Institute will occur August 2-6 at the Father Ryan Arts Center in McKees Rocks. For more information, visit GatewayAIEP.org or contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it at 412.362.6982.

View additional photos from the open house on our facebook page.