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On Monday evening, the Firehouse Arts Center continued its Arts Through the Decade series with an engaging Art Nouveau session for 1st-4th grade students.

Mary Alice Long, Student Art Teacher, introduced the Art Nouveau movement, explaining that it aims to elevate craftsmanship to the level of fine art. Emerging in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Art Nouveau is characterized by organic forms, curvilinear lines, and the fusion of art and architecture. Long emphasized that the style spanned multiple artistic mediums, including furniture, ceramics, textiles, paintings, and sculptures.

For their hands-on project, students created paper mosaic collages inspired by Gustav Klimt’s masterpiece, Adele Bloch-Bauer. The activity encouraged young artists to explore shape, composition, and creativity. Students first recreated the painting using paper, then cut out their own organic shapes in colors of their choosing, collaging them onto their artwork. Once complete, they added the image of the woman from Klimt’s painting, arranging their designs thoughtfully around her figure.

Each student personalized their creation, designing unique patterns for the dress. Boys who preferred a different approach had the option to craft a draped trench coat, mirroring Klimt’s artistic style in a fresh and imaginative way.

The session not only introduced young artists to Art Nouveau but also encouraged them to express themselves through vibrant shapes and colors, fostering both creativity and artistic confidence.