At the early childhood campus, preschool classes explore color and various media as art is integrated into daily activities. Through instructional activities and independent exploration, children develop an awareness of space and form. The Early Childhood Campus is transformed into an art gallery for the ECC Art Show that is held one evening in April.
The elementary visual art curriculum emphasizes the process of creation, as well as the created product. The goals for students in the visual art program include enjoyment of the creative process, use of art media for self-expression, and communication, and an appreciation of fine art and crafts. The IB Units of Inquiry are an integral part of the art program and are integrated into many of the art lessons throughout the year, providing an opportunity for students to make connections and further their understanding of concepts presented in the units of study.
In the spring, each student selects pieces of his or her artwork to display at the annual art show.
The Middle School Visual Arts Studio is a place for middle schoolers to build their artistic skills and explore their unique creative voice. We want focus on building studio habits and artistic behaviors to best serve their individual creative goals and bring original ideas to life. Just like artists, we find inspiration by exploring contemporary artworks and engaging in the process of making with a variety of mediums: drawing, painting, sculpture, mixed media, and printmaking. Students will explore their interests through the lens of an artist while developing an artistic practice, ensuring they work with intention and purpose to explore the many ways they can transform an idea into a polished work of art.
Upper School Art: A selection of fine arts courses are offered as electives.
Upper school students can elect to participate in the Visual Arts program at CDS, which not only provides students with a studio experience in painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, printmaking, mixed media, and the digital arts, but it also focuses on developing their problem solving and critical thinking skills, while engaging them in art history, current events, and contemporary artistic trends. Students throughout the program are encouraged not only to display their work on the walls of CDS but throughout the greater community as well by entering various art shows and competitions.
For those students who are passionate about the visual arts, CDS offers a two year IB Diploma Programme course in 11th and 12th grade. This course is a synthesis of both teacher-directed and student-initiated assignments designed to encourage the student's development of ideas and inquiry, as well as allow each student to progress through their own exploration and experimentation of concepts and mediums. The IB Diploma Programme course stresses the acquisition and development of techniques and skills; the sophisticated evolution of ideas and concepts; and the understanding of art in its different social, cultural, and historical contexts.
CDS prides itself on the excellence of its IB DP Visual Arts program. Our results are consistently above the world average and our graduates have obtained acceptances and scholarships to some of the world's best art schools.
