What is TAG?
TAG (Traveling Art Gallery) is a program to help our students learn about various artists and their styles through short presentations and hands-on activities. Parent volunteers give the presentations, which are provided through slides projected on the classroom smart boards. Each presentation features one artist per grade, with consideration given to diversity (gender, race, genre, media, geography, etc.).
When is TAG?
TAG runs four times in the school year. TAG runs for a month to give teachers and volunteers flexibility in scheduling the program (October, December, February and April).
How will TAG work this year?
For the health and safety of our school community, TAG will likely be held virtually or suspended until parent volunteers are able to return to the Hartwood classroom.
What artists are featured in TAG?
Artists vary for each session and grade – see this page for the artists featured.
What is involved?
Parents who sign up for TAG need to schedule with the classroom teacher to come in for approximately 30 minutes, run the presentation through a laptop that is projected on the smartboard, and generate a very basic discussion with the children. Discussions include observation and description of the piece (colors, textures, materials), interpretation of the piece (thoughts/emotions of the artist and student) and evaluation (judgment). The students then are engaged in a hands-on exercise. The slides are available from the HPTO website and the materials and plan for the hands-on activity can be picked up at the Hartwood office on the day of your presentation.
It’s important to know that no experience is necessary, and you don’t need to be an art history major to volunteer! The presentations are very simple, and the activities are easy and fun.
How do I sign-up?
When we are able to have parents teach TAG, a sign-up link will be posted here.