Walt Whitman: Hearts & Heritage: Celebrating Identity and Pattern in the Art Room

This month in art, students are exploring thematic work focused on hearts for February. We studied artists who incorporate hearts and bold patterns—Chris Uphues, Keith Haring, and James Goldcrown—and used the elements and principles of art to experiment with different compositions. Students have been encouraged to create mixed-media pieces, combining a variety of materials to expand their creative practice.

In honor of Black History Month, we also incorporated African American artists such as Alma Thomas and Reggie Laurent to inspire color, pattern, and form in student work. In addition to these guided projects, students have been brimming with original ideas—producing sculptures, paintings, drawings, and more.