Not many middle schoolers can say that they have designed their own home goods product line, but the ArtEsteem students at West Oakland Middle School (WOMS) can proudly add that feat to their list of accomplishments. Teaching Artist Etty Alberto led students on a journey of native ethnobotany, geometric compositions, and designing their own showrooms.
With the support of volunteer Julia Gamble’s expertise as a home product designer at Room Creative, students used this knowledge to create nature-inspired pattern designs. These original pieces will be curated in a home goods collection, “WOMS Living”, available for purchase starting on Apr 28, 2023. The samples from the collection can also be viewed in a showroom at the 25th Annual ArtEsteem Exhibition on May 6, 2023!
Students began this semester learning about the environmental significance of California native plants. While studying the physical differences of each plant, they learned to recognize radial designs and symmetry in how they grow. For their first project, they brought leaf cuttings from their neighborhoods to be used in a leaf relief pattern print. Learn more about the process here.
At City Slicker Farms, students had the chance to have a hands-on approach to their lessons in native ethnobotany. CSF educators engaged students in the cultural significance of native plants and environmental factors currently threatening them. Students planted native milkweed and California poppies to bring back home and encourage native pollinators. Ms. Etty then led them through a lesson on silhouette impressions using crayons and floral plants such as pineapple sage and rosemary. This lesson would inform their understanding of positive and negative space in art.
Shifting towards the design process of their nature-inspired art, WOMS students visited the ArtEsteem Gallery to observe patterns and composition in the artwork of previous ArtEsteem students. The class was joined by Lead Teaching Artist Angel Perez to complete their geometric design screenprints. The positive and negative space of their prints highlighted their original color palette. Learn more about their visit here.
Hear what one student, Zaniya Watts, had to say about her screen printing piece titled Color: “This piece represents my mood and how they change in the process. I learned how to paint and how to mix different materials together. I really enjoyed making this piece.”