DCCA: Contemporary Connections

Contemporary Connections is supported, in part, by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency committed to promoting and supporting the arts in Delaware. This program is also supported by ING DIRECT Kids Foundation, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Principal Financial Group Foundation Inc., and the Wilmington Flower Market.

Contemporary Connections

For more than fifteen years, the Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts has implemented its Contemporary Connections interdisciplinary arts program in Delaware public schools as a vehicle to expose students to the connections between art and other core subjects such as math, science, and the humanities.

During the 2008- 2009 school year, the DCCA paired four Bancroft Elementary School teachers with three professional artists to develop arts-integration units in science and social studies. During the fall semester, artist Heather Pieters worked with Gwen McCants’ 4th grade class on a unit that integrated Delaware history with art. The students created linoleum block prints and t-shirts that illustrated technological advancements throughout time, as well as key moments in Delaware history. Also in the fall semester, artist Stephanie Beck worked with Tracey Young’s 5th grade class on two printmaking and social studies units, “Cultures of Wilmington” and “Patterns of Our Country.” With Beck, the 5th graders created a collaborative, quilted wall-hanging made from their print designs. During the early part of the spring semester, artist Jane Chesson worked with Bancroft 1st grade teacher Tessa Wallace to develop a unit that explored U.S. Geography, landforms, and mapping through art. The students made a giant, wooden, interactive floor puzzle inspired by the modern artist Jasper Johns. Later in the spring, artist Heather Pieters worked with Tiwanna Bullard’s 4th grade class on a unit that explored science and reading. The fourth graders learned about color theory and types of landscapes in preparation for the creation of their mural that illustrated stories about the natural environment and weather conditions. Each class project included a field trip to the DCCA galleries and artist studios and art opening reception at the school.

The DCCA will partner with Bancroft Elementary for a third time during the 2009-2010 school year. For more information about Contemporary Connections or to inquire about participating in the program for the 2010-2011 school year, please call our education department at (302) 656-6466 ext. 7106.