Show IArio Arlo Johnson follows his dreams II Continued from last issue J Jeri eri Grigg Treadwell Staff Writer Johnson an ARLO A graduate credits his new artistic life to the influences of his schooling Following his dream he designed a workshop which he has now presented to hundreds of young Salt Lake students T he first portion of the workshop includes a brief history of art rules of perspective tools used by artists artists artists ar- ar and elements of landscape Using the information information information mation presented students brainstorm to come up with plans for a painting During the second portion the proposed painting is started and completed Johnson demonstrates the use and mixing of colors as previously previously previously pre pre- discussed in the first portion then the rules and tools are put to use Students Students Students Stu Stu- dents suggest the subject colors and other major factors factors factors fac fac- fac- fac tors that determine how each painting will look After completion the paintings paintings paintings paint paint- ings are hung in the halls of the school where students can view them with pride In an article from a Granite School District newsletter Principal Cal Poulson of Hillsdale Elementary stated This has to be one of the finest opportunities a young person could experience in elementary school Susan A. A Turner principal of Sprucewood Elementary said Arlo is not only a talented artist but he teaches children with extraordinary extraordinary extraordinary ex ex- ex- ex skill and patience He has such a positive way of working with the students Both students students students stu stu- stu- stu dents and teachers gave rave reviews of the activity Halfway through May this year Johnson was contacted contacted contacted con con- by Principal William Geist of Bellevue Elementary Elementary Elementary Elemen Elemen- tary Jordan School District Geist had heard of Johnsons Johnson's workshops and wanted to know if Johnson could paint two m murals urals via a new 1000 OBE outbound educational grant the school recently received The murals would be hung outside on the perimeter fence Johnson told Geist that tha t he had never done murals before but would love to do so After contemplating contemplating contemplating con con- the subject matter matter matter mat mat- ter of the murals Johnson and Geist decided to base them on childrens children's litera litera- ture For the older children they used as many of the Newberry Medal Winners as possible For the younger children their favorite books were used The Newberry Newberry Newberry New- New berry Award dating back as asfar asfar asfar far as the early is an annual childrens children's literature award The project was accomplished accomplished accomplished ac ac- ac- ac as follows 15 3 i f If R y s sR sr ii iJ r rk R h r r b s N h z A y 3 t s 's Y d dd i d E z f before going to the school Johnson contacted the teachers and told them to work with all the students to come up with ideas for what they wanted in the mural Specifically they had to choose which books they wanted portrayed and what characters they preferred Also important was the subject subject subject sub sub- matter This would be bethe bethe bethe the key for them to remember remember remember ber which book was in the mural The end result was a giant collage of characters and scenes from numerous books gathered into one painting and the students actually helped paint the murals However before any painting was done the composition was sketched on the chalkboard including the names of all the books to be used Johnson then proceeded to draw the initial initial initial ini ini- sketch on the canvas with charcoal A spray was applied afterwards afterwards' to seal the canvas and the paints were mixed One by one the students approached the huge canvas and donated their strokes students painted for approximately 10 days Upon completion each student put a signature on the back of the mural The kindergarten through third grade mural consisted of 14 different books The fourth through sixth grade mural was made from 19 books When the principal saw the finished product he was extremely impressed The superintendent of the district district district dis dis- dis- dis came to the school and the paintings were presented to him on behalf of the school He stated that the paintings were notto not to be hung outside but would be framed and put inside inside inside in in- side the school He also told Johnson to return at least every other year After such sucha a positive response Johnson Johnsonis is planning on the programs program's permanent growth and expansion Johnson is always donating donating donating donat donat- ing his precious time to a good cause Another artist received a grant to paint animals on the outside of the West Valley City Animal Shelter two Seventy-two artists were invited to help and Johnson was assigned to paint a buffalo herd He did that plus all of the textured grass and water going across the building Johnson also had a major showing at the Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City for two weeks in July Later he traveled to Alpine Junction Wyo to sell for a week then on to Evanston for their Cowboy Days celebration After that he will start his workshops again with the schools Johnson estimates that he stays extremely busy six days out of the week I live art artI committed myself totally totally totally to to- tally to watching television with the family I will sit with a sketch pad and just sketch Johnson does indeed live all types of art In addition to the Army of Band which he has been a member member member mem mem- ber for almost 22 years and andis is the artistic he director also plays with the Rocky Mountain Symphony in Ogden the Great Basin Concert Symphonic Band and the Jordan Wind En En- |