Humanities & Language
Art Department
Brooklyn Prep offers a full year of art in the 9th grade through Multimedia Art, a studio intensive art course that integrates traditional art practices with technology. Students explore the foundations of art from the elements and principles through thematic, interdisciplinary projects with connections to English and History. Students also explore digital art and design through the use of a mobile Mac lab loaded with the Adobe Creative Suite, iMovie, Garageband, and Microsoft Office to allow students to explore design and multimedia presentations. The goal of the course is to develop and provide a solid foundation for every student’s imagination, one of our Habits of Mind. Multimedia Art is taught by practicing artist Shervone Neckles.
Prep also currently offers an upper-level elective in Studio Art centered around the vibrant Williamsburg art community. The course takes students out of the classroom and into the neighborhood to visit some of the areas twenty-nine galleries and experience contemporary art firsthand. Students develop their own responses to the work based on the artist’s work based on their interpretations and analysis of the artist’s work. Students also study concepts and techniques associated with the art and learn important historical connections through art history. The goal of the semester long course is to develop a portfolio of diverse works that grow out of real experiences with art in the community. It is a unique course that takes advantage of Prep’s central location in Williamsburg. Studio Art is taught by practicing artist William Powhida.
Additionally, Prep offers a unique course called Digital Portfolio, where students conceive and execute independent projects in an area of personal, academic, college, or career interests. Students are challenged to pose their own questions and answer it in the form of a creative project. Students are supported in the process by the use of self-assessment techniques and technology to plan and document the project from start to finish. Students learn how to use Google apps like gmail, Google Documents, and Blogger to support their inquiry. Students explore their ideas through questioning, discussion, research, and experimentation while learning how to set and meet individual goals. The course provides computers, digital cameras, digital video, and art materials to help students visualize their ideas. The goal of the course is to prepare students for the challenge of self-directed learning and the self-regulation needed to succeed in college and career. Digital Portfolio is also taught by William Powhida.
Brooklyn Prep’s Art and Technology classes feature:
•Scaffolded. Unit based Projects with many art making opportunities
•An Interdisciplinary approach to connecting art to core academic subjects
•An emphasis on integrating technology into the classroom
•Developing both a cultural and historical appreciation for the arts by extending learning beyond the classroom with gallery and museum visits.
•Supporting literacy skills through the description, analysis, and interpretation of art
•Multiple forms of formative and summative assessments to effectively track student growth
•Two well-equipped art studios
•Opportunities for exhibition and publication of student work
• Practicing Artists in each classroom with real world experience
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