"We’re All One Family Under One Sky”

We are delighted that Partners for Arts Education has again awarded an art$TART grant to Jowonio. This year we received $4000 to continue the development of our school’s ceramics program. PAE support is made possible New York State Council for the Arts.

The big idea for this year’s project comes from our artist Erin who not only worked on the last two projects but was an alumni of Jowonio (class of 1985). She feels a unique defining characteristic of our school comes from her memory of our All School Sings. This Wednesday morning activity where children sing, sign, and participate in song and movement has been going on for decades. Erin’s insight leads us to explore the connection between the music and visual art. We want to offer the children in three classrooms the potential to work on expandable mural panels based on the song "We’re All One Family Under One Sky". The song reflects our inclusive policies, is open to numerous interpretations, and is often a favorite tune!

This project also expands on the initiative launched last year to have student art prominently displayed inside and outside the school building (a goal emerging from Jowonio’s 2007-2011 Strategic Plan). Erin Murphy worked closely with two classrooms and one of the results was a large clay installation depicting children’s relationship with nature. Music is another important part of Jowonio’s programming and we are excited to explore this theme with a teaching artist with whom we have an established relationship. Music and clay will be incorporated into classroom activities each week, and the major output will be expandable mural panels that will be prominently displayed in the main hallway.

"Nature's Cycles in Clay"

Jowonio's 2008 PAE-funded project