Dara Kane

Shadows, A New Series of Photographs

2012-05-23T20:51:00.004-04:00

For the past few months I have been exploring shadows. I love the graphic quality that I have been able to capture. I also like how some of the shadows have been abstracted. It is a new series that I hope to develop over time into a collection.

Click on the photo above to get to the album, then click slide show.

Pop-Up Photo Album

2012-05-04T17:23:00.003-04:00

BASC Spring 2012: Pop-Up Class

The Bronxville After School Club (BASC) concluded their Spring classes this week and my students and I have made our last pop-ups together. They learned a variety of pop-up techniques and created their own pop-up book. I documented the class each week by photographing the children's work. Click on the photo above and it will take you to the pop-up photo album. I hope you enjoy their pop-ups!

BASC Spring '12: Fasteners

2012-03-30T21:35:00.001-04:00

"A bee's legs fold-up when they fly," explained a boy in my pop-up class. His bee is attached to the paper with fasteners so he can manipulate the body and head. The sun rotates as well. Students were eager to use the fasteners but struggled to come up with ideas. They eventually came up with some very interesting moving parts. One student made a dog flip around; another created a movable roof on a house; and several others had twirling flowers. The best part for me, after the teaching, was giving them the freedom to imagine and the tools to bring their ideas to life.

BASC Spring '12: Slides

2012-03-23T19:37:00.000-04:00

These are not playground slides but pop-up slides! Pop-up slides are images that move up and down or side to side on a strip of paper that is woven through another paper (inserted between slits in the paper to be exact). Images can be of anything. It's fun to use images that some how alter the scene on the page. For example, the slide could be a hat that moves on and off a person's head. Another idea for a slide is a dog that looks like it is going for a walk as the slide moves back and forth. It is important to use heavy weight paper like card stock so the slide works smoothly. Tabs at the end of the slide that say "push" or "pull" in a different color from the slide are a nice detail to add.

MYLAR

2012-03-14T23:39:00.000-04:00

MYLAR, a poetry collection, by Eric Wertheimer is now published and can be ordered directly from BlazeVOX

I designed the book cover for this little gem. It is exciting to know that my creative efforts will be a part of Eric's writing legacy.

BASC Spring '12: Pop-Ups

2012-03-09T17:40:00.000-05:00

After teaching my students how to make pop-up mouths and noses I showed them how to make a Vase. Basically, a Vase is an upside down nose. I reviewed with the students how to make the cut and folds. Once they made a Vase I asked them what they were going to put in their Vase. Some students turned their Vase into a cone and added scoops to the top. Other students had an animal like a dog (above) or rabbit coming out of the top of their Vase. And, a few had Easter eggs popping up. Whatever the students chose they made it their own by adding distinguishing details and color.

BASC Spring '12: Pop-Ups

2012-03-02T21:16:00.000-05:00

Teaching pop-ups can be challenging when you are working with children who are on different levels developmentally. Every time I teach a pop-up lesson I think a lot about how I am going to teach. Today, I had the kids follow along with me step-by-step as I demonstrated how to make pop-up mouths and noses. I felt this teaching strategy has been the most successful so far. All the children were engaged in the learning and fewer children needed one-on-one assistance. In between teaching I quickly moved around the room to check in with my students. All of them did a mouth and some a mouth and a nose. The children's art work is evidence of their learning. A few folds and a cut produce mouths and noses that are then transformed by the children into incredible characters.

Gallery Exhibit: Piecing it Together

2012-02-18T13:54:00.001-05:00

Piecing it Together at the Mount Vernon Public Library

February 9 - March 27, 2012

Artists:

Natalya Aikens

Michael Albert

Dara Kane

Luis Perelman

Piecing it Together is an exhibition of works by four Westchester artists who exemplify the range of this quintessentially modernist medium in the 21st century. Their pieced-together art works challenge the expected and the everyday.

Mount Vernon Public Library
28 South First Avenue
Mount Vernon, NY 10550
http://www.mountvernonpubliclibrary.org/home

Art work credit: "Brillo Flag" by Michael Albert

BASC Spring '12: Flaps

2012-02-17T22:21:00.001-05:00

During my pop-up class I introduced four different types of flaps - regular flaps, hinge flaps, any shape flaps and fold out flaps. Flaps are made out of paper and are affixed to another support. They can cover an illustration, text or movable illustration. When the flap is lifted it reveals an image or word. I demonstrated how to make each type of flap; I used a pop-up book to show examples of each type of flap; and gave students a handout on flaps to use as a visual aid. The students who are older and more confident sat together to work on their flaps. At another table I worked one-on-one with a smaller group of students who needed my guidance. Once students mastered making the flaps they set to work on drawings that would give their viewer the biggest surprise. I think they showed a lot of creativity with the designs they put on and under their flaps. Yum, yum!

BASC Spring '12: Pop-Ups

2012-02-06T20:56:00.001-05:00

The Bronxville After School Club (BASC) started Spring Classes last week. I am teaching a new art class that focuses mostly on pop-ups. Pop-ups have always intrigued me, so I am excited about learning and teaching students how to create all types of pop-ups. During the first class students learned how to make a Step. Although it was difficult at first to cut and fold the paper properly to create a crisp Step many students quickly got the hang of it. I was impressed that some students even took the time to create a scene around their pop-up. Each student got a blank book which they will fill weekly with the pop-up they learned that day. By the end of the course each student will have made their very own pop-up book.

Connections: The Teaching Artists of Westchester

2012-01-05T18:55:00.001-05:00

View four of my original collages in a group show

at the ArtsWestchester Bank Building, White Plains, NY

Please join me on

January 13th for the opening reception

from 6 - 7:30pm

CONNECTIONS: THE TEACHING ARTISTS OF ARTSWESTCHESTER

Friday January 13, 2012 - Saturday February 11, 2012

Artists from ArtsWestchester’s teaching artist directory present their work of painting, sculpture, digital art, photography, film-making and acting in an all media exhibition

DATE(S):

Friday January 13, 2012 - Saturday February 11, 2012

DAYS:

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday

TIMES:

Tues-Sat, 12-5pm;

Opening Reception: 1/13, 6-7:30pm

WEBSITE:

www.artswestchester.org

BASC Fall 2011: Sculpture Class Photos

2011-12-16T22:29:00.003-05:00

BASC Fall 2011: Sculpture Class

Click on photo to access photo album then select slideshow

Selected Person of the Week on Patch.Com

2011-12-15T06:57:00.002-05:00

Proud to be selected Person of the Week by my local Patch.Com. Writer Monica Orbe does a great job capturing the essence of what I do in her feature article. I am very thankful to everyone who has supported me over the past few years. I love teaching art to young people in Southern Westchester and hope to continue doing this for many years to come!

http://bronxville.patch.com/articles/person-of-the-week-dara-kane

BASC Fall 2011: Wooden Sculptures

2011-12-02T22:42:00.005-05:00

I opened the plain, brown cardboard box and I was immediately excited by what I saw - hundreds of odd shaped wood pieces! Lumber stores and online school suppliers often sell inexpensive bags of left over wooden pieces. It is a great way to recycle wood bits that might otherwise get thrown away. In addition, the wood bits provide children with a very open-ended activity. Each child got about 25 pieces of wood. Some children liked the round shapes while others stuck with traditional Popsicle sticks and a few interesting shapes. Everyone came up with unique ways to put the pieces together on their support. As each sculpture evolved the children saw an apple, people, a castle, or a tea party. One girl decided to make a pleasing design using the assorted shapes. Wood Glue and Tacky Glue dried fast and held the wooden pieces together well. Next week the children will paint their wooden sculpture.

BASC Fall 2011: Recycled Sculptures

2011-11-18T17:33:00.008-05:00

A cereal box, yogurt containers and toilet paper rolls are transformed when they are joined together with masking tape and painted orange. Other interesting shapes also emerged from cracker boxes, egg containers and water bottles. Seeing waste turned into art felt good. Materials for creative projects can be found everywhere even in your recycling bin.

Free Arts Day in Westchester

2011-11-07T20:58:00.012-05:00

http://www.artswestchester.org/freeartsday/

Free Arts Day

www.artswestchester.org

Things to do for free in Westchester at arts organizations and attractions.

BASC Fall 2011: Sculpture Class

2011-11-04T19:54:00.010-04:00

Recently I taught my students how to create Soft Sculptures (also called "paper stuffings" or "paper sculptures"). Students quickly came up with their ideas: an owl, a girl, a pumpkin, a spaceship, a sword, the planet and a football. Students brought their ideas to life using brown butcher paper, staples and newspaper strips for stuffing. Paint helped to add more detail. It was exciting to watch the children turn ordinary materials into realistic looking 3-D objects.

BASC Fall 2011: Sculpture Class

2011-10-23T18:38:00.007-04:00

I am excited to be teaching a sculpture class at the Bronxville After School Club. Each week I introduce new materials and guide the children on how best to use them to create their own unique objects. The first week we used gluey string and balloons to create bowl like objects. No two were alike. Children got messy while they were dipping string into glue and placing it on the balloon. A week later most of the ballons had deflated but left behind the string molded in a concave shape. The swirls the string made created interesting designs. During the second class children used Dots and mini marshmallows to connect toothpicks. We learned that the toothpick structures with square foundations or that used multiple triangles were the strongest.

Book Cover Design

2011-10-14T14:09:00.010-04:00

Honored to have designed the cover of MYLAR, a collection of poetry, which is being published by BlazeVOX. MYLAR will be available on Amazon and Kindle.

The author, Eric Wertheimer, Ph.D., is a Professor of Humanities Arts & Culture at Arizona State University in Phoenix. Eric has published poetry in Exquisite Corpse, Perihelion, Diagram, Shampoo, Adirondack Review, Muse Apprentice Guild, among other journals.

http://www.blazevox.org/

http://www.amazon.com/

Graduate Student Art Show

2011-08-22T15:59:00.003-04:00

Join me on September 7th at

Manhattanville College

for the Graduate Student Art Show

View two of my original collages as well as other student artworks

Hoff-Barthelson Preschool Teacher

2011-07-31T21:29:00.011-04:00

I have accepted a full-time teaching position at Hoff-Barthelson Preschool, a private preschool in Scarsdale, NY. I am looking forward to teaching children ages 3 & 4. The first day of school is September 12th, but I will begin working in late August to prepare for the upcoming school year.

Hoff-Barthelson Summer 2011

2011-06-28T20:34:00.006-04:00

I am teaching elementary art from June 27th - July 29th at Hoff-Barthelson Summer Arts Program in Scarsdale, NY. Hoff-Barthelson is the largest community music school in the country and known for its excellence in music training as well as the arts.

http://www.hbms.org/summer-arts-program.php

Photo Album of Mt. Vernon Public Library Artist Residency

2011-06-28T20:08:00.007-04:00

Mount Vernon Public Library Artist Residency

Click on photo to access photo album then click on slideshow

Artist Residency: Mount Vernon Public Library

2011-06-28T19:07:00.005-04:00

Children collaged with brightly colored tissue paper on wooden frames at the Mount Vernon Public Library. Using glue thinned with water and sponge brushes to apply the tissue the children quickly got to work. When the wooden frames ran out the children continued collaging using white paper as a surface to collage.

This artist residency is funded by a grant from ArtsWestchester, a nonprofit programming organization.

Artist Residency: Mount Vernon Public Library

2011-06-21T20:49:00.006-04:00

The 3rd collage workshop in a month long artist residency at the Mount Vernon Public Library focused on mosaic collage. Children collaged patterns of small pieces of colored paper on stencils and white paper. Children chatted with each other about their lives while carefully cutting and gluing small pieces of paper to their canvas. They steadily worked through the workshop and produced beautifully designed collages.

This artist residency is funded by a grant from ArtsWestchester, a nonprofit programming organization.

Dara Kane

Shadows, A New Series of Photographs

Pop-Up Photo Album

BASC Spring '12: Fasteners

BASC Spring '12: Slides

MYLAR

BASC Spring '12: Pop-Ups

BASC Spring '12: Pop-Ups

Gallery Exhibit: Piecing it Together

BASC Spring '12: Flaps

BASC Spring '12: Pop-Ups

Connections: The Teaching Artists of Westchester

BASC Fall 2011: Sculpture Class Photos

Selected Person of the Week on Patch.Com

BASC Fall 2011: Wooden Sculptures

BASC Fall 2011: Recycled Sculptures

Free Arts Day in Westchester

Westchester will hold its annual Free Arts Day on December 4, 2011. Throughout the county arts organizations and cultural institutions will offer free admission and activities. To learn more about Free Arts Day click on the link http://www.artswestchester.org/freeartsday/

BASC Fall 2011: Sculpture Class

BASC Fall 2011: Sculpture Class

Book Cover Design

Graduate Student Art Show

Hoff-Barthelson Preschool Teacher

Hoff-Barthelson Summer 2011

Photo Album of Mt. Vernon Public Library Artist Residency

Artist Residency: Mount Vernon Public Library

Artist Residency: Mount Vernon Public Library

http://www.artswestchester.org/freeartsday/