Art Explorers is an interactive educational program created by Karen Binkow in 1997 as a means to foster art education for 1st through 5th grade students at Sherman Oaks Elementary School. Mrs. Binkow has taught the program for the past eleven years while Robyn Williams has taught for the past five years.  They will welcome Homeira Jalali who begins teaching in September, 2008.

The program encompasses both art history as well as art techniques, taught through age appropriate lessons.  From October through May, each class receives a weekly hourly lesson during school.

A wide variety of art genres are covered ranging from ancient times (prehistoric art, early Egyptian art, Mayan, Aztec & Byzantine mosaics, Javanese Batiks, etc.) through the Renaissance and up to the present day.  Students are exposed to a variety of artistic movements like Cubism, Impressionism, Pointillism, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, Realism, Outsider Art, Photography, Sculpture and Fiber Arts, among others.

Students learn about many artists including Michelangelo, Van Gogh, Picasso, Rembrandt, Monet, Dali, Pollack, Warhol and others.  During their time at Sherman Oaks Elementary, students will be exposed to over 125 different artists and artistic styles!

Each Art Explorers class includes a hands-on, creative art project in a variety of styles utilizing various mediums.  Recent examples include drawing a hand in the style of Michelangelo in chalk, drawing a horse in the style of Frederic Remington using oil pastels, creating Papel Picado (Mexican Paper Punching) in the style of Chicana artist Carmen Lomas Garza, junk sculpting in the style of Leo Sewell and quilting in the style of the Gee's Bend Quilt artists.

Kindergarten students enjoy a lesson at the end of the year, introducing Art Explorers and exciting them for next year. Kindergarten is so art intensive, as well as receiving specialized science enrichment with twice-weekly art projects, that our Kindergarteners' year is steeped with visual arts, as well.

Our Art Explorers program continues to flourish and grow each year and is fully funded through SOPA.