Mixing art and science

Ashley Fredrickson

 

Biology labs, frogs, and scalpels usually come to mind when most Marian students think of Mrs. Kris Sandall.

 

She now invokes visions of crayons and paintbrushes.

 

Sandall, who has a biology and art degree from UNL, will be using her artistic talents by teaching an Honors Advanced Art II class along with her six biology classes.

 

Sandall, who has been teaching biology for six years, enjoys the new role at Marian as well as her new students. “It’s exciting to be working with seniors, I enjoy working with this highly specialized group especially since some of these girls are thinking about art as a career,” said Sandall.

 

Having Sandall as an art instructor has made the students all the more anxious to attend art class. “This is a totally new experience, having her incorporate biology into art. Right now we are drawing the bone structure so we are learning about the body and art at the same time. She has a different point of view from the other teachers so that makes art class more fun,” said senior Sarah Brown.

 

This year she uses her own ideas for the class’ curriculum. The girls are currently working with drawing, printmaking, and the study of anatomy and will move on to linear perspective. “The projects are a lot different from last year, she is introducing us to things we have never done before, so this is a nice change,” said senior Amy Prentis. Further into the semester they will focus on the three main art theories.

 

Having Sandall as a new addition to the art staff has excited and inspired the other art teachers. “It is very unusual for someone to be so versatile with their right and left brain activities. She is a great addition to our department because she can incorporate scientific subject matter into artistic medium,” said Mrs. Kathy McPherson, veteran art teacher.