What Goes on Behind the Scenes

at Art Docents??

Continued Education for us All!

It is so important to our organization that we continue to stay fresh with our own education as Art Docents, Artists and Community Members.  This past month we had several important educational activities we participated in.  

We are looking forward to the second half of the year and getting ready for so many different things that support our program and classroom presentations.  Below are a few examples of who and how we continue to learn together….

ART DOCENTS

Kelly Martin, “Classroom Management in the Art Room”

At our January General Meeting we had a wonderful guest speaker, our own Art Teacher from Los Gatos Union School District.  

Mrs. Martin gave us the opportunity to refresh our skills in the classroom and generate consistent practices while our docents teach our presentations and workshops. – Thank You Kelly!

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STUDENTS of LOS GATOS

Continuing Education in the Schools with our Guest Artist Program:

Thank you Mary L. and Marissa D. for volunteering your time as Art Docents

to bring our Guest Artist Program this year!

Paula Lucia: Presenting to the Elementary Schools in Los Gatos

Stephen Bruce: Presenting to Fisher Middle school in Los Gatos

Thank you to our Guest Artists as well!

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ART DOCENT EXECUTIVE BOARD

We are proud to have SVCreates support our organization.  Annually they hold workshops for Non-Profit organizations and for their Grantee organizations.   SVCreates is a network of leaders who care about the cultural and aesthetic quality of life in Silicon Valley.  Their Local Arts Grant provide general operating support grants for small and mid-sized nonprofit arts organizations.  

Their mission is to accelerate Silicon Valley’s creative culture.  

Their Purpose is…

1) Promote artistic excellence while reflecting the dynamic, diverse, and innovative character of Santa Clara County

2) Recognize and encourage non-professional, volunteer involvement as an essential part of Santa Clara County’s cultural environment

3) Stimulate local support, particularly at the grassroots level

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 Below you’ll see that this year we have attended two of the workshops and plan on attending another one in March .

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Stefanie J., our program coordinator attended:

Workshop: Grantwriting with Audrey Wong

New to grantwriting? Want to brush up on grantwriting basics? Need to take your skills to the next level? Join us on January 12th for a workshop led by Audrey Wong!

Jenny G., our treasurer and I attended:

Workshop: Financial Planning & Budget Development

A viable financial management strategy needs to address a vision for the future and incorporate the past and present positions of the organization.

Here Jenny and I are…at the workshop.  I’m so thankful to have Jenny on board as our Treasurer, she is a wealth of knowledge and so giving of her volunteering time!

Stephanie D., our VP of Public Relations and I are planning on attending:

Engage.Next 5.0: Audience Engagement & The Art of Relevance

March 16th to hear from Nina Simon on her book “The Art of Relevance” and her work on audience engagement and community participation in the arts.

We are so fortunate to have so many opportunities to further our own personal education.  The Art Docents believe in education for both our students and our great volunteers.  Thank you to Theresa B.,  Roxana K. and Elizabeth G., our Continuing Education Committee for bringing our docents so many opportunities to visit museums, take art workshops and practice our own art together.

Through volunteering, trying new things, teaching something, or just taking the time to listen to new ideas…I must agree that Michelangelo says it best….”I am still learning.”

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Julie Ferrario

President of Art Docents of Los Gatos

Happy New Year – 2018!

Mayor Rob Rennie has selected the Art Docents as a  

Small Business Big Applause recipient.

Please Join the Art Docents

Tuesday, January 16 at 7 p.m.

during the Town Council meeting

The Mayor and Town Council  would like to honor our organization on

Tuesday, January 16 at 7 p.m. during the Town Council meeting.

Each month they recognize one small business/organization that is selected

by the Mayor.  This takes place right after the Pledge and are typically

done by 7:15 p.m., with no expectation to stay for the entire meeting.

Every volunteer is what makes this organization great,

therefore we want to extend an invitation to all of our

Docents, Board Members and Supporters of the Docents.

We hope you will be able to attend the meeting on

January 16 at 7 p.m. as we accept the commendation.  

We look forward to seeing there!

The Art Docents are 45 years strong and still going!

45 years ago, in 1973….due to funding cuts in the Los Gatos School District, two volunteers, Ema Rau and Emma Hopp, founded the Art Docent Program.  They felt that Art Education was just too important to simply not teach to our students.

The mission of the Art Docents of Los Gatos is to provide high quality visual arts curriculum to students in Kindergarten through 5th grade in the Los Gatos Union School District, with the goal of fostering the development of flexible, innovative and creative individuals.

1. The Art Docents serve students in the Los Gatos elementary schools (Blossom Hill, Daves Avenue, Lexington, Louise Van Meter) and R.J. Fisher Middle School.
2. The curriculum is led by staff and trained volunteers who teach students the elements of art through sequential lessons and hands-on STEAM workshops, including foil sculpture, collage, printmaking, digital photography and scientific illustration.
3. Our program consists of four major components, Print presentations, Hands-on Workshops, Guest Artist Program and finally our Annual Student Art Show where we showcase artwork from each student in the district grades K-5 and some Fisher students.  
4. As we move forward, we have continued to update our curriculum to stay current.  We are the “A” in S.T.E.A.M.….putting Art into the mix of important subjects all students need for a more complete education.  We emphasize the basic principles of art with Color, Line, Composition, Design Elements, and Art History.  Our lessons focus on Critical thinking skills and vocabulary to discuss and contemplate what makes something art.  The A in S.T.E.A.M. is represented in some of the workshops we teach where we cover:
   1. Proportions and Leonardo Da Vinci’s “Vitruvian Man” drawing – we have 4th graders measure their own proportions with string and then practice drawing the human figure more accurately.
   2. Science: in the 7th grade we use preserved real spiders & bugs to teach students how to draw more accurately what they see when they study science.
   3. Online Digital Photography manipulation: is taught in the 5th grade based upon a lesson where we describe abstract photographic compositions
   4. Math: we are currently developing a 6th grade lesson that will introduce math students to the concept of BIG DATA ART and what it is to be a data scientist and using big data as an interesting art medium.

Who are we….we are the community who cares about Art Education!

1. We currently have 63 Active Volunteers and 22 Sustaining Members
2. Executive Board (Volunteers)
   1. Julie Ferrario – President
   2. Stacey Closser – VP Programs A
   3. Theresa Bricker – VP Programs B
   4. Stephanie Draca – VP of PR
   5. Sue Nystrom Walsh – VP of Membership
   6. Sue Ward – VP of Fundraising
   7. Jenny Gifford – Treasurer
   8. Michelle Abene – Parliamentarian (past president)
   9. Judith Fishwick – Secretary (past president)
   10. Stefanie Johnston – Program Coordinator (paid position)
3. Board of Directors (Local Business people and artists)
   1. Bonnie Westman
   2. Julie Jenkins
   3. Darrell Monda
   4. Elizabeth Reigal
   5. Marie Cameron
4. Supporters of Art Docents
   1. Los Gatos Union School District Superintendent – Diana Abbati
   2. LGEF President – Ryan Rosenberg,  & Executive Director – Deborah Weinstein
   3. Home and School Clubs – Blossom Hill, Daves Ave, Fisher, Lexington, & Van Meter
   4. Town of Los Gatos
   5. City of Monte Sereno
   6. Los Gatos Community Foundation
   7. AM Rotary of Los Gatos
   8. PM Rotary of Los Gatos
   9. Silicon Valley Creates
   10. Los Gatos Community Foundation
5.  Thank you to our Friends of Art Docents.

History Club of Los Gatos
Los Gatos Morning Rotary
The Rotary Club of Los Gatos
Michael Rosenthal Gallery
JCO’s Place
Agilent Technologies
Los Gatos Music in the Park
Alain Pinel c/o Jeff Barnett

Diana & Edward Abbati
Abene Family
Maureen Cappon-Javey
Elaine Cardinale (in memory of Marge Brown and Patty Baker)
Dr. James and Maxine Carroll
Ros Edmonds
Fishwick Family
Friends of Patty Baker 
Candace and Douglas Grady
Hakkarainen-Marselli Family
Patti Hansen
Julie Jenkins
Donna Jensen-Madier
Mary Leonardis
Mary Martin
Louise Millman
Natalie Jo Nelson ( in memory of Jean and Larry Nelson)
Maureen Oates
Sue Nystrom Walsh
Dora Piccoli
Allison Redington (in memory of Marge Brown)
Elizabeth Riegel
Carol Tinsley
Mark Vantress
Carol Webb and Philip Chen
Bonnie and Dean Westman

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It does take a village to make it all come together for the students – Thank you all for supporting the Art Docents Program!  

Happy New Year 2018!

Julie Ferrario

President of Art Docents of Los Gatos

December Brings Holiday Happenings!

Art Docents are….

“Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead” 

Secondly it’s that time of year that we enjoy our annual Holiday Party.  

We will be honoring both new docents and those who have their 5, 15, and 20 year anniversaries.

….it’s such a nice chance to say thanks to all those who volunteer and are part of our program for many years!In January our newest Docents will head out into the classrooms

to carry on with teaching Art to the students of Los Gatos Union School District.  

Congratulate our “new” Art Docents, formerly our 2017 Training Class. 

Many thanks to our Trainers

Traci M., Janice J. & Julie H.

Happy Holidays from my family to yours!

From my November Art Challenge….I will sign off by posting my picture inspired by Norman Rockwell’s “Freedom From Want” Genre Painting.

I’m thankful for my family and all the volunteers who make the Art Docents’ a great program!

Julie Ferrario,

President of the Art Docents of Los Gatos

November Art Challenge!

Our First Grade lesson for November includes this famous painting, “Freedom from Want”, by Norman Rockwell.  In our lesson we talk about Genre Paintings, Contrast and Emphasis.

• Contrast: art experts refer to the arrangement of opposite elements (light vs. dark colors, rough vs. smooth textures, large vs. small shapes, etc.) in a piece so as to create visual interest, excitement and drama.
• Emphasis: an area or object within the artwork that draws attention and becomes a focal point.
• Genre: Art depicting scenes of everyday life.

“Freedom from Want”

Artist: Norman Rockwell

(Saturday Evening Post Cover, 1943)
(oil on canvas, 46 x 36 in.)

Freedom from Want is considered one of Rockwell’s finest works. Of the four paintings in the Four Freedoms,
it is the one most often seen in art books with critical review and commentary.
Although all were intended to promote patriotism in a time of war,
Freedom from Want became a symbol of “family togetherness, peace, and plenty.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_from_Want_(painting)

As I think of the Art Docents and also how this Fall has been a hard one with so many natural disasters as well as extremely disturbing violence happening around the world….I started to think about November and taking the time to be thankful for all the good in our lives.

• Contrast:  Looking at the extremes of what has been happening in our world and comparing it to the blessings we have in our lives.
• Emphasis:  I want to emphasize the kind deeds that so many people have done in response to tragedies.
• Genre:  What art can you find in your everyday life that depicts something you can be thankful for – lets emphasize the positive you experience.

For example….the Art Docents Help Santa Rosa

Thank you to Bonnie W., an Art Docent Board of Director,

for inspiring us to help and taking the time to make this happen!

So here is my November Art Challenge!