CSF Funded Etching Press Results in Student Publication and Presentation
September 2009
Print, Poetry & Prose: A Blend of Writing, Imagery
& Technology
On Friday, September 18th, this year’s seventh
grade class at Seven Bridges gathered in the auditorium for the unveiling of Print, Poetry & Prose: A Blend of
Writing, Imagery & Technology. The presentation was the culmination of last year’s joint effort by Mr.
Byrne’s 6th grade English class and Ms. Koshel’s 6th
grade Art class to create a lesson in “ekphrastic” writing, which is writing in
response to artwork of any kind (including painting, sculpture and print). The impetus for this unique, collaborative
lesson and presentation was the installation at Seven Bridges last fall of a
new etching press, thanks to a grant provided by the Chappaqua School Foundation.
After Ms. Koshel’s grant was approved and the printing press
arrived in her classroom, her art students were encouraged to create fine art
prints on the new press. The students
were then paired with students in Mr. Byrne’s English class, who reviewed their
partner’s prints and responded in writing, either in poetry or prose, as to how
they were moved by the work of art. The
result is nothing short of spectacular. Ms. Koshel and Mr. Byrne took the
lesson one step further by selecting the work of twenty nine students and
publishing, in book form, Print,
Poetry & Prose: A Blend of Writing, Imagery & Technology.At the presentation on September 18th,
students passionately read written work for their peers, while the
corresponding art composition was displayed overhead. As applause echoed throughout the auditorium,
it was clear that Team 6 East had successfully melded English and Art to create
a memorable lesson for the entire grade. Seventh grader Sophie Rader, author of
the preface to the book, wrote that through this project, she “realized a very
important connection between music and art” and “discovered that music and art
have a certain beat and rhythm, and your own personal taste, style and creative
ability is the melody.”
Thank you to our dedicated teachers, Ms. Koshel and Mr.
Byrne, for their collaborative efforts and for teaching such an innovative
lesson to our sixth graders. A special thank you goes out as well to the Chappaqua School Foundation. Through generous donations from our
community, the Chappaqua School
Foundation is able to award grants that support a myriad of creative and
special programming in all of our schools. The etching press at Seven Bridges is just one example of how the Chappaqua School Foundation works with
the faculty and administration to create and sustain a unique educational
experience for all Chappaqua students.
