Editor's note.

Editor's note. Come with us and experience the many shades of Noun 1. shades of - something that reminds you of someone or something; "aren't there shades of 1948 here?"reminder - an experience that causes you to remember something clay. Whetherit's the vibrant pieces created by seventh-graders in "FaceVessels: Original African-American Folk Art folk art,the art works of a culturally homogeneous people produced by artists without formal training. The forms of such works are generally developed into a tradition that is either cut off from or tenuously connected to the contemporary cultural mainstream. " (page 18) or theterra-cotta, black and white figures in "A Story to Remember:Southwest Indian Storytellers" (page 22), colorful clay projectsabound in this issue. An excellent article to motivate your students is our Cover Story,"Learning From Exhibitions: Shades of Clay" (page 24). Thisexhibit is a "Multi-Cultural Look at Contemporary Clay," anddemonstrates how artists are inspired or influenced--directly orintuitively--by culture and ethnicity. Works by artists who areAfrican-American, Afro-Cuban, Thai, Chinese, Moorish, Chicano, Latino,American Indian and Cuban are featured. Clay remains one of the mostaccessible materials throughout the world, and is still a significantpart of most of our lives. "A Dinner Party of Their Own: Tribute to Judy Chicago Judy Chicago (born Judy Cohen on July 20, 1939) is a feminist artist, author, and educator.Judy Chicago is a feminist artist who has been making work since the middle 1960s. "(page 20) is a project high-school students will get into. Afterlearning about the women represented in and the message ofChicago's often controversial work, "The Dinner Party,"students were ready and able to make their own statements in what theycalled "autobiographical plates." (Note: If all goes asplanned, in March 2007 The Brooklyn Museum The Brooklyn Museum, located at 200 Eastern Parkway, in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, is the second largest art museum in New York City, and one of the largest in the United States. Arnold L. Lehman is the museum's Director. will become home to thepermanent installation of Judy Chicago's "The DinnerParty," made possible through a generous gift from Museum Trustee,Dr. Elizabeth A. Sackler.) Art ideas for all levels also abound in this issue. "DigitallyRomare" (page 32) is a wonderful way to celebrate Black HistoryMonth. First, children are made aware of Romare Bearden's collagework and how it often represented the African-American life thatsurrounded him. They then move on to create self-portrait collages usingdigital photos of themselves and their classmates. Middle-school students make visual statements about our dailyreliance on inanimate objects in "Animistic an��i��mism?n.1. The belief in the existence of individual spirits that inhabit natural objects and phenomena.2. The belief in the existence of spiritual beings that are separable or separate from bodies.3. Appliances" (page34), where the primitive concept of animism animism,belief in personalized, supernatural beings (or souls) that often inhabit ordinary animals and objects, governing their existence. British anthropologist Sir Edward Burnett Tylor argued in Primitive Culture is applied to modernhousehold items. "Integrating the Curriculum: LiteraryBeasties" (page 36) combines writing and art for elementary-schoolchildren, as they learn about the creative process ofauthor/illustrators, asking themselves, "What comes first--thepaintings or the story?" Leaving a legacy is the goal for the students whose work isfeatured in "Put It on the Ceiling" (page 38). Throughdesigning and creating ceiling art for their school, fifth-gradersexperience cooperation and learn about the planning, process and timechallenges that Michelangelo experienced when he painted the ceilings inthe Sistine Chapel. And, to round things up, "Clever SportsCartooning" (page 40) is an enjoyable lesson on caricatures thatmiddle-school artists will enjoy. The many shades of clay invite you to involve your students in thispervasive and accessible medium. With the variety of project ideascontained herein, there is no question that your art room will soonabound with creative and positive clay experiences. Maryellen Bridge, Editor in Chief