Saturday, July 1, 2017

2017 Dream Rocket Project

Two classes of grade 7 students participated in the Dream Rocket project in 2017. This was the first time for F.M.S. to get involved in this unique art exhibit!

Sponsored by the Dream Rocket project and the Untied States National Parks Departments across the country, our students art work will be on display at New Bedford Whaling Historical National Park from August 1 to September 30, 2017 and then will be incorporated into a giant art work to be wrapped around the "NASA Dream Rocket". This rocket will eventually be put on display at sites all around the U.S.

This year's theme for participating students in the New Bedford Area was "Strength in Diversity". We were asked to consider our community's past and present and how diversity makes us stronger.

Questions for informing our art included:
  • What is Acushnet’s legacy of diversity?
  • How will that diversity alter the future of Acushnet from this point on?
  • Will our diversity strengthen our future or divide us?

Our students took images of Acushnet historical landmarks and incorporated flags from all of the nationalities of the students in each group. Other symbols of inclusion and diversity were used to show that we will all stand together. These students came together as 4 teams and created their visions of our town's future and past.

Hope you will stop by the local exhibit this summer at the New Bedford Whaling Historical National Park Visitor's Center:



And check out the FMS page on the official Dream Rocket Project site http://www.thedreamrocket.com/2017/07/02/albert-f-ford-middle-school-acushnet-ma/

on Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/thedreamrocket/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/thedreamrocket/sets/72157678760553940/

& on Facebook



 Team work!! Our art in progress...










Congratulations to our awesome Dream Rocket Teams!!


Team Acushnet Sawmill: Brendan T., Logan S., Ava P.
Holly P., Cassandra S.

"The Acushnet Sawmill Preserve Fish Ladder with Flags"




Team White's Mill: Kaci B., Cam G., Devin M., Luke M.

"White's Mill with Symbols of Diversity and Freedom"




Team Acushnet-New Bedford Bridge: Allyssa A., Christian C., Ben L., 
Alaiysha R., Krystal D., Isaiah B. (not pictured)

 "Acushnet-New Bedford Bridge with Symbols of Heritage and Diversity"




Team Long Plain: Ryan P., Jacob L., Sophia L.,
Tyler Y., Jazlyn G., Layla A.

 "Long Plain Museum with Flags and Symbols of Our Diversity"


2017 Venetian Carnivale Masks

2016-17 Grade 8 art students studied the enduring art of traditional Venetian mask making and its use in the past and present.

This challenging long-term project takes us from our minds' visions all the way through to making the mask a reality!

Students created their masks based on original sketches inspired by traditional designs and themes of the mezzo-volto Columbina style used for centuries to celebrate Carnivale in Vencie, Italy. When creating designs, students were encouraged to create unique designs while considering functionality and construction limitations, use of the entire surface space, concept or theme, color scheme, and more.

When the design plan was in place, students built the 3-D mask form from plaster craft (plaster-soaked gauze) by hand, unmolded the forms, then painted the design work with acrylics.

The final touches were textural elements and embellishments added to the surface to complete the final work.


Abby B. 

Abby B. (detail view)

Abby B. (detail view)




Abigail D.

Abigail D. (detail view)




Aiden M.



Aiden R.



Alex D.



Alice M.




Allyson G.

Allyson G. (detail view)

Allyson G. (detail view)




Alyssa C.



Alyssa S.

Alyssa S. (detail view)

Alyssa S. (detail view)




Allyson M. 

Allyson M. (detail view)

Allyson M. (detail view)




Amelia M.

Amelia M. (detail view)

Amelia M. (detail view)




Ariel C.




Audra S. 

Audra S. (detail view)

Audra S. (detail view)




Bailey K.



Ben D.




Breanna M.

Breanna M. (detail view)

Breanna M. (detail view)




Breanna R.

Breanna R. (detail view)




Caitlyn L.

Caitlyn L. (detail view)

Caitlyn L. (detail view)




Caroline B.

Caroline B. (detail view)

Caroline B. (detail view)




Charlie F.




Chase P.

Chase P.  (detail view)

Chase P. (detail view)




Christina S.




Colin L.

Colin L. (detail view)




Courtney L.

Courtney L. (detail view)



Devin D.




Emma R.

Emma R. (detail view)

Emma R. (detail view)




Emma P.

Emma P. (detail view)

Emma P. (detail view)




Ethan G.




Felicity C.

Felicity C. (detail view)

Felicity C. (detail view)




Gabrielle H.

Gabrielle H. (detail view)

Gabrielle H. (detail view)




Grace S.

Grace S. (detail view)

Grace S. (detail view)




Isabelle P.




Jaeli S.

Jaeli S. (detail view)

Jaeli S. (detail view)




Kaitlyn T.




Kaylyn B.

Kaylyn B. (detail view)




Kaitlyn P.

Kaitlyn P. (detail view)

Kaitlyn P. (detail view)




Kate B.



Krystal D.

Krystal D. (detail view)

Krystal D. (detail view)




Leah F.

Leah F. (detail view)

Leah F. (detail view)




Madeline D.

Madeline D. (detail view)




Nathan S.



Novalye A.



Olivia C.

Olivia C. (detail view)

Olivia C. (detail view)




Peter R.




Alyssa L.

Alyssa L. (detail view)

Alyssa L. (detail view)




Riley D.




Riley M.

Riley M. (detail view)




Sam R.




Sarah L.




Savanna H.




Seth H.




Seth M.




Sophia B.

Sophia B. (detail view)

Sophia B. (detail view)




Sophia M. 



Sydney L.



Tahlia S.



Tahlia V.

Tahlia V. (detail view)




Teddy L.




Victoria L.

Victoria L. (detail view)

Victoria L. (detail view)





Victoria V.

Victoria V. (detail view)

Victoria V. (detail view)



Xavier J.

Xavier J. (detail view)




Zacharie B.

Zacharie B. (detail view)

Zachary B. (detail view)