The end of the holiday season has finally come and gone.  If you are anything like me, you are a little sad to see the colorful ambiance brought on by holiday lights and candles make it's way into a hibernation of sorts, as do you.  By now the last of the leaves have made their way to the ground and much of the color has left the landscape.  The northeast was graced with what seemed like a long, vibrant autumn with mostly clear and warm weather.  It may be a long ways away before we see blooming vegetation in our neighborhoods again.  However, you may be familiar with green or living walls, an unconventional way of bringing plants and flowers into a home or dwelling.  These days many communities have made greater efforts to living green through many means.  Architects and interior designers, especially in urban settings, have begun to design buildings and rooms with elements of vegetation incorporated into the plans.

Many architects working in cities have adapted the concept of living walls or vertical gardens, which involved attaching vegetation to walls, both inside and outside of buildings.  Incorporating plants and flowers into a building not only provides aesthetic beauty and charm to a given room, but plants and flowers have a remarkable way of providing healthy living to the people who dwell in these buildings.  In corporate settings, lobbies and common areas are designed with a central element including plants and flowers to increase fresh air and promote a sense of tranquility.  In a home, a living wall can exist as a piece that provides both fresh air as well as a warm and cozy atmosphere, especially in the winter.

Those of you who attended Artology’s art instillation at the Arborary Arborium this summer can recall Artology’s very own living wall that was designed and constructed by Ms. Vivian and the Artologists.  As city dwellers, the Artologist learned the importance of fresh air in Philadelphia where carbon emission is especially high.  The wall, created in three parts, was made of both real and hand-made ceramic flowers, which demonstrated appreciation for the natural landscape as well as fine arts.  Together both elements created a wonderful piece of art that the community was warmed by and very proud of.

And one of the most beautiful things about living walls and eco-design is that you can create your own green design element in your home with very little effort!  Simply bring a potted flower home and set it upon a table or surface that needs some warmth.  Hanging potted plants from the ceiling has the same effect, but can be a bit more tricky.  If you are willing to put a little more time and effort into a green living space, special vertical garden kits are available in stores and hang like picture frames where you can insert your favorite plants and flowers.  Don’t forget that your living art is just that, living, and needs sunshine and water.  Bringing plants and flowers into your home you find that if you give them love and warmth plants have the amazing ability to give the same back to you.

Read the Artology 2011 Final Report online.

For many artists, making art sometimes takes much more preparation than we have the resources to do.  For instance, when struck with the creative spirit to paint one may think to themselves that they must gather supplies such as brushes, a canvas, numerous paints, water, perhaps even turpentine!  The list can be daunting.  Depending on the level of seriousness, the ambition of the artist can outnumber the resources at his or her disposal the moment creativity strikes.

In the ‘Going Green’ era we have seen some highly innovative pieces of art created from recycled material, but how about something even more basic and available to everyone?  Land art, or known more widely as: environmental art makes use of the most basic materials available.   This movement, beginning in the 1960’s and 70’s in protest of synthetic materials, involves the use of organic materials found in a natural habitat to create works of art made to exist only in that natural environment and to slowly disintegrate over time back into the earth.

A favorite work of art for our Artologists this summer was a piece created by Sylvia Benitez titled ‘Hatshepsut’.  Constructed over three years from our visit to the Abington Art Center, many of the bamboo pieces were no longer intact, some completely missing, and even parts of the wood material had begun to rot.  Though it displayed weathering and deterioration, we found it to be a very strong form.  After some discussion many of the students realized that there was a beautiful quality in the way the pieces of the sculpture slowly and naturally will go back into the ground where they came from and possibly giving way to life in the future.

Environmental art can also exist in small measures.  Perhaps a simple rearrangement of flower petals on the ground or stacking rocks in a particular order can leave a viewer to wonder was this transient creation made by human hands or did it simply occur naturally?  Not only can environmental art be visually beautiful, it also has the ability to let us celebrate and appreciate the beauty of the way in which the world naturally occurs.

By taking part in this movement of environmental art, artist and non-artists alike can demonstrate an appreciation for our environment in ways that will encourage viewers to see the environment as they do, as something deserving of admiration and high regard.  Whether it be sand, clay, dirt, flowers, boulders, or water surrounding you, next time you are overcome with creativity why not look to nature not only as a source of inspiration but as the canvas for your next masterpiece.

Thank you to all the families and Artologists that were able to make it out to Artology's final reception and art show at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Saturday!  An exciting day for all the Artologists as they saw all the hard work come to fruition as an art exhibit, on display for all museum visitors to see.  We are so proud to see each and every one of you display a piece of work that together created a beautiful display!  Congratulations Artologists!

If you weren't able to make it out, you missed a great event.  Starting out at the Second Baptist Church in Germantown, families, staff, donors and Artologists reunited after a few weeks away from camp.  A wonderful time catching up over great food before the big trip over to the Museum.  At the Museum, our guests were welcomed into the Philadelphia Museum of Art all afternoon to explore the art within the building until our show opening.  Artologists were especially intrigued by the large stone steps all through out the museum and the medieval knight armor that afternoon.  During the show our guests were welcomed into the Artology family as they saw what a day in the life of an Artologists looks like.  We performed our daily cadences, drummed in our drum circle, and even invited the whole room to take part in our '16 Drums' song lead by Mr. Lava Larry!  Seeing a slide show of pictures from the summer brought laughs and excitement to the family and friends, as well as rekindled fond memories amongst our Artologists.  We had a wonderful time, and the art looks great Artologists, WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!!  Thank you to everyone who made this show possible, especially to the Philadelphia Museum of Art!  Artology's work will be on display in the Education wing of the Museum until October 30th.  We hope you get to check it out!!

From everyone here at Artology, thank you for a wonderful summer, have a great school year and we can't wait to see you next summer!

By Mr. Larry Lava (Larry Stier, Artology Science Teacher)

This year the –ology part of Artology  (that is the science component) was “earth science”.

I found this out days after being hired, and I still think they may have made this decision because they thought that I was actually around 4.5 billion years ago!).  So… “earth science”--  You know that wonderfully exciting and lively topic—ROCKS!

It's a bittersweet feeling here at Second Baptist Church where Artology thrived this summer. The hallways are no longer filled with sounds of Artologists performing their morning cadences and laughing. Meanwhile, songs about the rock cycle are no longer escaping from the Art Studio and Earth Science Cave. We miss our Artologists!!! However, we are excited as we prepare for our culminating reception and art exhibit on August 20th!!

The Artology Family is proud to announce details regarding our Culminating Reception and Art Show! Each year, this is a much anticipated event. You are cordially invited to join us as we showcase Artologists’ talents at prestigious community venues and as we show our appreciation for each one of you! The day will begin with light refreshments and socializing with fellow Artologists, Artology Directors, Lead Teachers, Group Leaders and other staff members. The celebration will continue as we transport Artologists and their guests to the Philadelphia Museum of Art to reveal their art exhibit! This portion of the event will be an opportunity view the wonderful artwork created by our young artists, join in a drum circle, hear blessing statements, explore the world-renowned Philadelphia Museum of Art the day of the event and much, much more! We look forward to seeing you there!

Saturday, August 20^th 2011

RSVP to Alysia Williams, General Operations Director of Artology, by Friday, August 12^th with the number of people attending and regarding the need for complimentary Artology transportation service. Transportation routes include two pick-up sites to travel to the reception, transportation from the reception to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and return travel from the Museum to the reception site.  Ms. Williams may be contacted via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

RECEPTION

11am-12:15pm

The Second Baptist Church of Germantown
6459 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119
(Please enter via the parking lot/door on the Cliveden Street side of the church.)
Board buses & personal transportation: 12:15pm; depart 12:30 pm

CHECK-IN AT THE PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART

1pm-1:15pm

Please printed invitation for free admittance.
26th Street & the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19130
(Enter via the WEST ENTRANCE- e.g., entrance that faces the river)

EXPLORE THE PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART

1:15pm-2:30pm
**Artologists, Families & Guests must return to the Education Wing by 2:45pm**

ART SHOW AND AWARD CEREMONY

3pm-4:30pm
The Philadelphia Museum of Art: Education Wing (Seminar Room)
(Buses Depart: 5pm)

REGARDING OPTIONAL/FREE ARTOLOGY BUS SERVICE

**Sites for FREE Pick-Up/Drop-Off Service (MUST RSVP W/ NAMES & TOTAL # USING THIS SERVICE)**:
Second Baptist Church of Germantown (Departs- 12:30pm, Returns approx. 5:30pm)
West Philadelphia/Intersection of 43rd Street & Ludlow Street: Departs-10am; approximate return- 5:30pm)
North Philadelphia/1981 North Woodstock St. (Meeting Location-Parking Lot): Departs-10am, approximate return 5:30pm)

Special thanks are extended to The Second Baptist Church of Germantown, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Germantown Friends School, Acme Markets, Brendenbeck's Bakery, The Night Kitchen and Feders Fresh Produce for their generous contributions towards this special celebration.

Co-written by: Alysia Williams & Bridget Carroll

What an End to a great season, last Thursday Artology wrapped up their last week at camp with a ‘Living Wall Installation” at Aubury Arboretum.

In addition to designing pieces for Artology's Culminating Reception and Art Show scheduled for August 20th at The Second Baptist Church of Germantown and The Philadelphia Museum of Art, our Artologists have been creating pieces for an additional art installation to be exhibited starting this week at Awbury Arboretum!

This summer, Lead Science Teacher, Mr. “Lava Larry”, has infused the science component of Artology with once popular “earth”-related songs. Now, Mr. Lava Larry jokes that he is as old as the last ice age; so most of his musical choices are less than…hmmm…contemporary!

Session Two Artologists' first lesson in Artology's Earth Science Cave opened with a 1950’s rock and roll ditty: “Earth Angel” (recorded by music groups such as "The Penguins” and "The Temptations").  This musical endeavor occurred just prior to Session II's  first visit to Wissahickon’s “Forbidden Drive”, where Artologists collected soil and rock samples, created clay models of landforms and studied soil percolation. As Artologists entered the trail, Mr. Lava Larry suggested that the students look for signs of the ”Earth Angel” as well. And, that they did.

Later in the week, the term also arose in drum circle when Artologists created an improvised song based on their Earth Science and Art experiences thus far. One young artologist even wrote “Earth Angel” in her journal in response to the query, "What did you feel (on today's study excursion)"?  Artology is certainly on the right track with this year's "Earth" theme. Rock music indeed!!

Co-written by Dr. J. Nathan Corbitt, Alysia Williams & Bridget Carroll

Our Artologists escaped the heat of the great outdoors today as they continued exciting, earth-themed projects!  However, they found themselves studying HEAT and PRESSURE indoors as they learned how sedimentary rocks are formed!

Session II of Artology 2011 got off to a fantastic start today! Among our 4^th-5^th graders, we see many returning faces, new faces, and faces of Artology siblings who are finally of age to join us! Welcome all!

Like Session I, the whole Artology crew took a voyage to Forbidden Drive to “explore, inquire and create” about landforms of the Wissahickon Creek. Artologists sculpted models of the land, collected soil samples, gathered treasured rocks and permeated their investigative senses with soil percolation! These projects lay the foundation for the next two weeks’…and potentially a lifetime’s…worth of creative inquiry.

All in a day’s work and purposeful play at Artology!!! What a great way to start camp Session II!!

(Article co-written by Bridget Carroll & Alysia Williams)

The last week for our 2011 Session I Artologists was jam-packed with field trips, journaling, adventure, triumph and of course... fun!

Artology 2011 has hit the ground running in our exploration of this summer's theme: EARTH! After a morning snack, each day formally begins with a career presentation followed by a drum circle where Artologists and staff share their talents in drumming, singing and dance! In addition, many days find Artologists and staff engaging in vibrant learning experiences off-site to work in harmony with our exciting lessons at our home base. For example, in our first week, we hiked a trail at Wissahickon Creek to study the different kinds of rock in our area as well as to collect soil samples and sculpt landforms with clay. Artologists were innovative in their sculptural interpretations of the hills, valley and creek - no two models were alike!

A key part of BuildaBridge's Artology Program is its community partnerships. We believe in investing in our community and encouraging others to begin such action

or to continue such work if already in motion. One manifestation of this community investment is the long-running Bridging the Gaps Internship Program, whose participants are known as BTGs. This fantastic program partners area schools and organizations to connect up-and-coming health and social services professionals with established local organizations who work with underserved and economically challenged individuals. Since its inception, the Artology Program has partnered with Drexel University's College of Medicine Bridging the Gaps Program for a reciprocal, dynamic relationship in our staffing of Artology's innovative programming. As always, this year's batch of BTGs are a compassionate group of graduate students who have dedicated their summer to  bridging the gaps in their community so that all can have an equal chance at the best of what life has to offer.

In keeping with Artology's tradition of high quality programming, this year's staff as a whole is exceptional once again! Alongside Alysia Williams (General Operations Director of Artology), Rachel Schaffran (Fiscal, Marketing & Reporting Director of Artology), Vivian Rowe and Larry Stier (Artology's Lead Teachers) and Bridget Carroll (Artology Administration Intern), the BTGs have begun preparations for this year's Artology programming.  In conjunction with Artology's Administration Intern, BTGs serve as Group Leaders to the approximate 60 Artologists (4th-8th grade students) enrolled during each year's programming as well as lead career presentations to begin each day of camp.  Artology's career presentations pertain to the fields of Art and Science and where the two intersect.  This year, the presentations will include goals in which Artologists can aim to accomplish within the perimeters of camp that very day! For example, with the presentation on Museum Curator, which can be a somewhat abstract career to a group of elementary middle schoolers,  the presentation will not only include the needed course of education, but also empower Artologists to observe 'artifacts' found during Artology's combination of outdoor and indoor field study. Moreover, this presentation will encourage Artologists to not only respect these findings but explore how they can preserve them, empowering them to take reasonable steps to becoming a Museum Curator one day. This is just one of MANY tantalizing career opportunities to be presented.

BuildaBridge's Artology Program highly values the work of the BTG Program and it participants! The 2011 roster of BTGs on Artology's Staff include: Ashley Gavoni, Julia Dillard, Katrina Loh and Samantha Rivera. We have no doubt that these talented individuals will provide great contributions to Artology's programming and beyond as they enter the medical field.

Co-written by Alysia Williams & Bridget Carroll

Pictured Above: A 2010 Artologist and Group Leader engage in a fun scavenger hunt at a local creek.  Artology's Directors and Lead Teachers have teamed to prepare a fun, high quality curriculum for this year's programming. We are proud to announce that this year's theme for Artology is... EARTH!

This was out first day

A short 6 minute video about Artology

Students in Action 07-09

Lucian Crump Gallery 2007
Coral Streets Arts Gallery 2008
Philadelpia Museum of Art 2009

Artwork from our Art Shows:

Artology 09

Artology 07-08

Artology Art Shows 07-08

Artology is an art and science summer learning program with an emphasis on ecology and environmental justice. Artology works to spark students' curiosity by utilizing Philadelphia's park system as a vibrant  interactive classroom for hands-on experiential learning. The Artology program enables children to have an artistic and educational experience through field trips to local parks and museums, drumming circles, a biology lab, poetry, visual arts, and journaling.