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Immersion in ancient traditions

By Sandy Mouat
CORRESPONDENT

The artistry and intrigue of Ancient Egypt are brought to life for all sixth grade students at Stanley Middle School, through an expansive expedition into learning. Each student is assigned a Famous Egyptian, either a king, queen, god, goddess or warrior. The students research their Famous Egyptian and demonstrate their knowledge through several projects. As a complement to this comprehensive curriculum, the art instructors of the Lafayette Arts & Science Foundation present an engrossing project during which the students create a replica of an elaborately decorated sarcophagus.
       The Egyptian project was first created by Annette LaRue, then LASF art instructor for the sixth grade classes at Springhill Elementary School, before all of the 6th grades were moved to Stanley. LASF art instructors Donna Lamson and Sarah Leonard were instrumental in bringing the project to Stanley, and working out the logistical details of incorporating the project into the new 6th grade's many CORE classes.
       "The students enjoy this fabulous experience which enables them to tap into their creativity and assists their journey into the past," said teacher Iris Schultz.
       LASF instructor Gail Riordan begins the first of five sessions with a slide presentation about the mysterious burial rituals of the ancient Egyptian civilization. The slides are just part of the materials and information gathered through extensive, behind the scenes research by Riordan and the other art instructors. Always keeping their students in mind over the years, the art instructors have gathered slides, photographs, and information from their travels. Some of the slides were acquired during a trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, while others were part of information packets for teachers from the San Diego Museum of Man.
       During the second classroom session, students and parent volunteers build the actual sarcophagi boxes, using mat board, tag board, masking tape, wood, and foam. The boxes are papier mâchè'd and spray painted gold. This aspect of the project has evolved over the nine years it has been taught at Stanley. The mat board pieces used to be painstakingly cut by hand. Now that the 6th grade student body has grown to eighteen CORE classes, the pieces are professionally die cut.
       As the papier mâchè and spray paint dry during the week, the students work on the designs for the outside of the sarcophagi. They study hieroglyphics and ancient decorative motifs. They first draw their ideas on a paper pattern, researching books and photographs for the correct markings to match the sarcophagus of their subject Egyptian. To depict the sacred cat goddess, Bast, for instance, the top of the sarcophagus is designed to look like the goddess by having a cat's head and a human body. According to ancient tradition, the outside of the coffin had to resemble the person inside in order for the spirit, or "Ba", to return and find it.
       To begin the decoration Riordan gives the students very precise, step by step directions. "One great thing about this project is that it is for everyone, not just the "class artist" or the kids who already love art. Because the designs are mostly simple patterns, repeated over and over, everyone can make very ornamental and exquisitely designed projects," said Riordan.
       In Iris Schultz 6th grade class, students were deeply involved in the design process, referring back constantly to research materials. Students Sophie Evans and Lauren Zampa remarked that the project helped them to learn the facts about their Egyptian because of the extra research to find the correct symbols. Carissa Solari's extremely intricate drawing, meant for King Tutankhamen's sarcophagus, was evidence of her interest and attention to detail. Melissa Wilcox mentioned that her drawing for Queen Nefertiti required researching several different bird symbols.
       LASF instructor Carrie Klein-Chorak led the students in Sue Applin's class through the final stages of decorating the sarcophagi. The designs had been drawn on the boxes, and were now being enhanced with colored pencils, hieroglyphic stamps, markers, and applied beads and "jewels". Some students chose to do three-dimensional designs, such as the sarcophagus of the god Anubis, with the head of a jackal.
       Students Matt Boone and Malgosia Kostecka agreed the whole Egyptian unit is very interesting and fun to learn, and that this art project helps to bring all of the facts together.
       "This has been a very fun experience," commented student Alex Mallonee. "It requires creativity and attention to the Egyptian symbols. I totally enjoyed doing this project." Jessica Bruns added, "This art project helps us think about Egyptian languages, hieroglyphics, and gives us a better understanding of the facts we are studying." Riordan noted that the students get very adept at translating the hieroglyphics phonetically. Riordan, Klein-Chorak, and LASF art instructor Jeanne Gabiati continue to work closely with the CORE teachers to ensure that the projects are appropriately challenging.
       "I love the Egypt project because it feeds the fascination that the students already have for Ancient Egypt," said Applin. "Each sarcophagus begins to take on a personality and as they stand around our classroom, they seem to watch over us as we continue on with our exploration of worlds gone by. They add to the sense of history that we try to create for the students as they try to imagine civilizations that lived thousands of years ago."

12/01 Reprinted with permission. Visit the Contra Costa Times on the web at www.contracostatimes.com.

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