Sabino Visual Arts Teacher Michael Speirs and Theatre Arts Teacher Kristian Kissel collaborated on a project designed around The Raven and other works by Edgar Allen Poe. They subdivided passages of text in Poe's writings and assigned passages to their Visual Arts and Theatre Arts students to either record readings or create illustrations based on those passages.

Michael Speirs states, "Coordinating all aspects of this project proved difficult in the remote learning format while the final project is still a work in progress. When completed, the readings and illustrations will be combined into a video. The illustrations for The Raven are however completed and are shared within."

Allina White

Ashley Helberg

Bailey Williams

Garrett Wallace

Giada Mendoza

Mariah Cox

Mason Cade

Rudy Kaipat

Sophie Estrada

Vincent Enos

The Pima County Superintendent's Office and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Art Institute presented a Desert Landscapes Art Competition for all Pima County Schools, Grades K-6th. Over 300 works of art, from students across Tucson, were displayed at The Pima County Super Intendent's Office last March of 2020. 16 were selected to be featured by the Desert Museum by a panel of three judges. Six of these talented artists were from our very own TUSD Schools. The students' artwork can be viewed through a virtual art gallery the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Art Institute, https://www.desertmuseumarts.com/pima-county-schools. Our students' work is featured below.

Jasmine Silva, Tolson Elementary

Leylani Puentes, Erickson Elementary

Olyvia Pannel, Valencia Middle School

Neveah Owens, Erickson Elementary

Marsela Espinoza, Warren Elementary

Elena Ash, Warren Elementary

Students became familiar with the purpose of Medieval illuminated manuscripts, and how they told stories through text and illustration. They also learned how the artisans, scribes, and artists combined their skills and imagination to create Illuminated Manuscripts in Medieval times. Students analyzed examples of Medieval illuminated initials to see how the artists used visual balance, emphasis, layered space, and textural detail, and craftsmanship effectively. Then, they went through an iterative process to create their own "Illuminated Initials", creatively illustrated with their chosen theme.

STEM Practices: obtain, evaluate, and communicate information; define problems, develop and use models, plan and carry out investigations (iterative process), persevere through problem solving, design solutions, use tools strategically, construct explanations.

Emily Calle

Leonard Williams

Bella Ortega

Emmanuel Marquez-Salcido

Maya Jaramillo-Jaimes

Nicole Rodriguez

Students learned about the fascinating history of Botanical Illustration and how it combines both scientific and artistic practices. Students began their creative process by using their iPad camera to photograph several plants, cacti, or weeds from different angles and perspectives. After choosing a plant they were interested in, they used an inquiry process to generate their own questions and gain a deeper connection to their plant. They used the iNaturalist app to identify the plant they photographed, and online resources to further research its botanical/scientific name and interesting facts. Finally, students created their own botanical illustration of their specific plant species, to convey scientific information about its life in a way that helps us also appreciate its beauty.

STEM Practices: argue from evidence; observe and ask questions; obtain, evaluate, and communicate information; plan and carry out investigations (iterative process); define problems; attend to precision.

Emily Calle

Persephone Hunt

Sasha Leyva

Jordan Cabrera

Leonard Williams

Presley MacGregor-Rodriguez