Microcosmos

We recently went to watch Microcosmos (not high, despite many who claim it as the only way  to experience this movie) on the big screen at the BYU International Cinema. It's an award-winning french film entirely of insects in their element-up close and incredible.

Initially our whole family was watching it, but Canary (just learning to talk) kept narrating for everyone, "Bu-fly"  "Wa-er" "Big!" She loved it, but afraid others wouldn't, Mr. Owl chivalrously walked campus for the duration of the film. At home Kingfisher was adamant about not wanting to go watch it, but it took 4 taps and a jerk to wake him from his cinematic trance and leave too.

It was gorgeous. To the point where I was totally entranced by an ethereal fairy emerging from her mystic lagoon, only to later realize it was a mosquito! Ugh! I hate mosquitoes. But it wasn't emotional manipulation--so I had no one to blame but my eyes and nature's own beauty.

In fact, what sets this film apart from most, and what I loved about it, was the absence of a sentimental storyline voice-over by some celebrity. It also lacked anthropomorphizing and editing to aid the stupid viewer in grasping some straw of connection with the natural world. This film expects more of its audience and doesn't tamper with perfection. No talking, minimal music, and no obvious fancy editing.
Just magnified clips of life happening; relentless fighting (stag beetles of course), meticulous working (ants), endless eating (caterpillars), and some unabashed loving (snails, yes...snails). The film is rated G, despite the revolting love scene between two snails set to opera music. I'm sure the filmmakers got just the response they wanted from our audience's snickers and head shaking. Opera music. Snails. I'll never see them the same again...

Art Class: Ceramics 3

Ceramics 3: Slab Containers

Up-side down slab container by 9y/o Bowery Bird

Slab construction instructions  I didn't read the instructions, but the pictures helped.

• I cut cardstock in squares and rectangles to help them. The key is for the walls to just be the same height. Snakes of clay were "caulked" into seams of corners for reinforcement.
• Some made impressions in their walls before attaching, some after (branches, buttons, beads)
• Some wanted to do circular walls, which worked well for the careful craftschild (yes, that's a word). Just make a rectangle, roll and seal it. Stand it on top of a pancake of clay and use it like a pattern to cut the bottom.
• Walls needed to be 1/4" thick at least to stand.

Half a box by a 9y/o girl

 

Box container by 7y/o Mockingbird

Artist 2012-3013

Mary Cassatt
quick intro video

biography
a few other works in the National Gallery


Winslow Homer
biography
quotes, works, etc.


Gilbert Stuart
biography
National Gallery tour (paintings & explanations)




John Singleton Copley
biography
huge gallery of works

BFSU Vol 1 Thread D Lesson Links

D-1 Gravity: The Eath's Gravity; Horizontal & Vertical

D-2 Day and Night and the Earth's Rotation

D-3 Reading and Drawing Maps

D-4 Land Forms and Major Biomes of the Earth

D-5 Time and the Earth's Turning  you tube Day and Night and Earth's rotation

D-6 Seasonal Changes adn the Earth's Orbit

D-7 Gravity II; Rate of Fall; Weightlessness In Space, and Distinction Between Mass & Weight

D-8 Rocks & Fossils

D-9 Resources; Developing an Overview  Magic Schoolbus Holiday Special on recyclin- Hanukkah

BFSU Vol 1 Thread C Lesson Links

C-1 Concepts of Energy I; Making things Go

C-2 Sound, Vibrations, and Energy  Magic Schoolbus & the Haunted House on youtube

C-3 Concepts fo Energy II; Kinetic & Potential Energy

C-4 Concepts of Engergy III; Distinguishing Matter and Energy

C-5 Inertia

C-6 Friction Magic Schoolbus Plays Ball on youtube

C-7 Push Pushes Back