2008-2009 Reflections
Program
An Arts
Recognition and Achievement Program for Students
Theme: "WOW"
The National
PTA
Reflections Program began in Colorado
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Reflections Founder Mary
Lou Anderson
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“Without the Arts, education
is paltry indeed!” So stated Mary Lou
Anderson, Colorado, a leading
PTA
arts education advocate and the founder of
Reflections, National
PTA
’s long-running arts in education program.
The Reflections Program, an arts recognition and
achievement program, was established in 1969 by National
PTA
Board member and past Colorado
PTA
President, Mary Lou Anderson (1964-1966).
Mary Lou needed to come up with a title for her proposed program. It was
during a lunch shared with her dear friend, Colorado Springs artist Don
Green, in which he noticed upon leaving the restaurant the many reflections in the puddles on the streets and
that he suggested the name “Reflections.” It seemed to fit the concept of children’s art, the
images of themselves and their surroundings.
Since its inception, more than
10-million students have participated in the program; its longevity and
participation figures attest to its strength. The excitement and enthusiasm that
the program generates for children, parents, schools, and communities is
unmatched. The goal of the Reflections Program is to celebrate all children’s
gifts and talents, and to give children who have never tried creating a work of
art a chance to experiment. The Reflections Program also offers the opportunity
to showcase the importance of the arts in education. The program can also
enhance a school’s arts program by giving students a big sense of achievement
and recognition.
Mary Lou would take the Colorado
PTA
winners’ entries to her home and place them all over her house and look at
them for several days. She would play the musical compositions, read and reread
the literature pieces, and study each visual arts and photography entry until
she chose a Mary Lou Anderson winner. Mary Lou would personally contact the
student and let them know that she had chosen their entry for the Mary Lou
Anderson Award. At the state awards ceremony, Mary Lou would present one of her
watercolor paintings to the student she thought best demonstrated the finest
interpretation of the Reflections theme. A plaque was awarded to the winner that
remained at their school until the following year.
Reflections
is an arts recognition and achievement program for students
based on the belief that all children deserve a quality arts education.
When children express themselves through words, pictures, music, and other
art forms, they grow intellectually and increase their self-confidence. They
learn to analyze their thoughts, feelings, and ideas. They learn to look
at things, people, and experiences in a fresh and exciting way, and they
become more interested in the ideas and works of others.
Students enter
the Reflections
Program through their local PTA/PTSA. Awards are given at the local,
council, state, and national levels. Gold medal winners at the state level
are sent onto National PTA in every category.
Participation
is organized by school grade. Student works are critiqued
against others in the same grade division. This allows recognition
and judging of artworks by appropriate developmental age and skill
levels.
Participating
in the Reflections Program is an opportunity for students to
explore and learn about various art forms. It does not matter whether an
entry created for the Reflections Program has been created
as a classroom assignment or independently at home. Each
student may enter in any of the six arts areas: literature, visual
arts, photography, music, dance, and film/video production. Students may submit
more
than one entry in any or all of the six arts areas.
Visual Arts
A visual arts entry
must be an original print, drawing, painting, collage, photographic collage,
metal etching or punch work, fiber work, or computer-generated artwork that
relates to the theme.
Whether an entry uses a variety of techniques or a simple approach, it will be
judged primarily on how well the student uses his or her artistic vision to
portray the theme. A well-developed concept is more important than technique.
Music
A musical composition entry
may be for voice, instruments, or a combination of voice and instruments. Lyrics
may or may not be included in vocal compositions. The composition is not to
exceed five minutes.
The use of composition
software is permitted. Students are strongly discouraged from submitting highly
edited
MIDI
sequences or audio files. The
recording submitted must capture performers in real-time. The entry may not
include imported
MIDI
or other source files, or use
algorithmic composition software.
Use of notation software
for the purpose of creating scores and printed parts is permitted. Whether the
score is handwritten or computer-generated, appropriate instrumentation and
voicing are required for the performance.
Whether
an entry uses a variety of techniques or a simple approach, it will be judged
primarily on how well the student uses his or her artistic vision to portray the
theme. A well-developed concept is more important than technique.
Literature
Literature entries may
be works of fiction or nonfiction. Prose, poetry, and drama are all accepted.
Whether an entry
uses a variety of techniques or a simple approach, it will be judged primarily
on how well the student uses his or her artistic vision to portray the theme. A
well-developed concept is more important than technique.
A photography
entry must be an original black-and-white or color image, or a group of images,
produced by a photographic process. The entry must relate to the theme.
Photography
The
entry may incorporate such techniques as montage, multiple exposure, negative
sandwiches, and photograms. Images may be manipulated conventionally or
digitally. Images should demonstrate the student’s proper use of photographic
techniques such as depth of field and exposure. The images may be created using
various lenses, filters, and light sources. Photographs with added graphics over
the image, including lettering, are not acceptable.
Whether an entry uses a
variety of techniques or a simple approach, it will be judged primarily on how
well the student uses his or her artistic vision to portray the theme. A
well-developed concept is more important than technique.
Dance Choreography
Dance choreography
entries must be original choreographed dance composition works recorded on a VHS
videotape or DVD. The choreography must be the work of one student and must
demonstrate creativity and interpretation of the theme.
There may be up to three dancers performing the choreography. The choreographer
may be the performer or one of the performers, but does not have to be. Costumes
are not necessary. If costumes are used, however, the choreographer must also
create the costumes.
Whether an entry uses a variety of techniques or a simple approach, it will be
judged primarily on how well the student uses his or her artistic vision to
portray the theme. A well-developed concept is more important than technique.
Film/Video
Production
Film/video production
entries must be original works of fiction or nonfiction relating to the current
Reflections Program theme. The entries may be with or without sound.
The student submitting the entry must be the director, screenwriter, and
cameraperson. If using a computer, the student must do all of the work. If the
student chooses to appear in the production, a camera on a tripod may be used.
All storyboarding, editing, etc., must be done by the student.
Whether an entry uses a variety of techniques or a simple approach, it will be
judged primarily on how well the student uses his or her artistic vision to
portray the theme. A well-developed concept is more important than technique.
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