Grade 2 students participated in a walking field trip to the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) in La Jolla, where they encountered Yayoi Kusama’s captivating Dreaming Pumpkin. Led by Art Teacher Susan Walters, the students were impressed by the pumpkin's size and its reflective stainless steel surface which inverted their image upon approaching its indentations.
At Gillispie, we believe in connecting learning experiences by encouraging our students to "connect the dots." Prior to the walk, the students read Yayoi Kusama: Covered Everything in Dots and Wasn't Sorry by Fausto Gilberti, which gave them insight into Kusama’s life and her unique, dot-covered creations. Dubbed the “princess of polka dots,” Kusama’s work inspired our young artists.
The students are now finishing their very own Kusama-inspired pumpkins, covered in colorful polka dots. These artistic creations will go on to play a central role in the "Runaway Pumpkin" project, currently in progress in their Science and Design class. Stay tuned for the November issue of the Gem, where we’ll reveal what happens next with these polka-dot pumpkins!
