House of Estrogen

Jurassic Park

The girls made these at "Trashosaurus Rex" art camp last week. I want to go to camp!

 

 

 

  

Toga! Toga! Toga!

Elise's troop leader sent this picture last night from Girl Scout camp. Look at this and tell me you don't find yourself chanting, "Toga! Toga! Toga!"

Flair for Drama

Elise just finished up a week at one of her favorite track-out camps, a drama camp. Art and drama are definitely two of Elise's loves. I have no idea where those interests may lead her, but for now, she is completely in her element doing anything art related.

Elise has attended this camp twice previously. The play is always based on a children's book, and in the past, we have made a point of reading the book several times before camp started. This time, the hustle and bustle of life got the best of me, and I didn't get a chance to check the book out of the library. The book this session was The Monster Who Did My Math. While the play was delightful, I couldn't always catch all the dialog, so I think I need to go back to read the book to grasp the whole story line! Next time, I'll remember to check out the book ahead of time.

Here is Elise and one of her BFFs S before the play started. They had the job of seating audience members. I think Elise was actually more excited about that job than the play itself! The other picture is of the little sister BFF's, Nina and N. Elise and S were in the same daycare class from age 1 until they went off to kindergarten. Nina and N have been in the same class together since they were 8 months old. 

  

Here's a short clip from the play. Elise played the role of the teacher. You'll quickly realize why I wished I had read the story first!

 

After dinner, we went out for a post-play pizza feast. Addie even got in on the meal gnawing on a pizza crust!

 

An Artist A Day

Elise has been attending a track-out camp all week called "An Artist A Day" where they have focused on a particular artist each day of camp, learning about his work, and then doing their own artwork in that style. This kind of thing is right up Elise's alley. She was in heaven!

 Impressionism: Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night, and Elise's rendition of Starry Night

 

Piet Mondrian, and Elise does Mondrian

 

Surrealist faces by Salvador Dali and Elise

And the abstract expressionist movement demonstrated by Jackson Pollock and Elise (on both paper and her apron!)

 

Art Appreciation

My parents are very enthusiastic about the arts - the symphony, the opera, art museums, folk art galleries, the works. The arts are a passion for my dad, in particular. As you might imagine, they made every attempt to raise me with this same appreciation for the arts. This involved dragging me to more than my fair share of art museums as a child. I enjoyed attending plays and musicals. I did my best to avoid going to opera. Every vacation though seemed to involve at least one art museum. I enjoyed a few of them, was bored through many, and in the end, unfortunately, I don't think I acquired their love for the arts. That's certainly not for lack of effort on their part though! I do remember liking one exhibit in particular... the works of Alexander Calder. His bright colored sculptures and mobiles were something even a museum weary kid could get excited about. I even had a poster in my bedroom with pictures from his circus.

This week, Elise has been attending an art track-out camp in the mornings. She has absolutely loved it, and she has come home each day with paintings, pastel drawings, and sculptures. Today was especially great. They discussed Calder, and then each child made a miniature circus based on Calder's Circus!

   

I may not be a connoisseur of the arts like my parents, but I can share my appreciation for an artist like Calder with my daughter! Who knows... maybe she'll be the one to follow in her grandfather's footsteps with a passion for the arts.

Her acting debut

Elise attended a fantastic performing arts track-out camp this week. The kids spent the week preparing for their performance on Friday evening. They were performing a play based on the book A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon. They were in charge of designing and painting sets, making costumes, writing the play, creating posters to decorate the lobby, making tickets, etc. Elise had so much fun each and every day!

The play was fantastic! The kids all did a great job. In the video below, you can see Elise playing the part of Dr. Mellon. She is the last one in line as all the experts and specialists march on stage.

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