Classes Duo
Paris / Knoxville
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One of the programs that has emerged from the Beauford Delaney: Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color exhibition is an amazing collaboration called Classes Duo Paris/Knoxville.
Classes Duo is an international program of extracurricular exchanges for elementary schools set up by the Paris City Council. These exchanges are implemented via digital tools and the Internet.
The objective of this program is to arouse the curiosity of young children about foreign cultures and give them the desire to discover other countries, interact with the children who live there, and learn foreign languages.
The Classes Duo Paris / Knoxville program evolved from WIF’s desire to create a “Sister City” relationship between the cities of Paris, France and Knoxville, Tennessee based on the life and art of painter and Knoxville native, Beauford Delaney.
Participating Schools:
- The Arts at Jean Zay Elementary School in Paris, France
- The Arts at Nature’s Way Montessori School in Knoxville, Tennessee
Student participants in Paris and Knoxville follow lessons and create art inspired by Delaney’s interests, Paris haunts, and artistic styles.
Exchanges between the two schools are done by email, video conferences, or through a blog powered by content (videos, photos, texts …) produced by children. The use of images, videos, and drawings can bypass the language barrier when it exists. The educational project and the tools are defined beforehand by the two educational teams.
Bilingual speakers animate these exchanges, which can complement language courses that take place during school hours.
Participants met in person for the first time when students from Nature’s Way Montessori School in Knoxville, Tennessee came to Paris in October 2018 to spend eight days discovering the city and meeting their French counterparts at the Jean Zay Elementary School.
Photo Gallery of Classes Duo Sessions
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Jean Zay students proudly display their first works and their research on Beauford Delaney
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Nature’s Way students at 1st video conference
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Nature’s Way student’s vision of travel to Paris
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Nature’s Way students creating art depicting modes of travel
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A Jean Zay student peruses a book in the library where the conference is held
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Nature’s Way students as viewed on screen by Jean Zay students
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Jean Zay self-portraits expressing sentiments about 1st video encounter
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Jean Zay student’s portrait of Josephine Baker
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Nature’s Way student’s portrait of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Jean Zay students’ portraits of Rosa Parks, Josephine Baker, and MLK for Black History Month
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Nature’s Way student molds Tennessee red clay
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Slide from a Nature’s Way science lesson on the composition of Tennessee red clay soil (STEAM education)
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Jean Zay clay sculptures of Josephine Baker and Chiquita
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Nature’s Way glazed clay sculptures of Josephine Baker and Chiquita
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Nature’s Way students creating copies of Beauford Delaney’s “Greece” (1967)
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Detail of Nature’s Way student’s rendition of Beauford Delaney’s “Greece” (1967)
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Jean Zay student creates a copy of Beauford Delaney’s “Greece” (1967)
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Jean Zay students work with water-based and oil-based paints (STEAM education)
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Jean Zay – result of mixing oil- and water-based paints (STEAM education)
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Jean Zay student’s work made from emulsion of water- and oil-based paings
Jean Zay Mixed Media Abstract (oil pastel and watercolor) 2 – Batch 1
Jean Zay mixed media abstract inspired by Beauford Delaney’s Les Embruns (1963)-1
Jean Zay Abstract Oil Pastel and Watercolor 2 – Batch 4
Jean Zay mixed media abstract inspired by Beauford Delaney’s “Les Embruns” (1963) – 2
Beauford Delaney catalog and street art by Iris on covered table (450 x 600)
Beauford Delaney catalog and “street art” by Jean Zay student
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Nature’s Way kids create Curvy Trees
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Curvy Trees by Nature’s Way student inspired by Beauford Delaney’s “Untitled (Trees)” (ca. 1945)
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Curvy Trees by Jean Zay student inspired by Beauford Delaney’s “Untitled (Trees)” (ca. 1945)
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Jean Zay student’s script for asking a Nature’s Way student a question in English
Crispin has a question for Simon
Nature’s Way student asks Jean Zay student about his recent trip to NYC
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WIF Founder & CEO Monique Y. Wells at 1st Classes Duo video conference
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Façade of Nature’s Way Montessori School
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Façade of Jean Zay Elementary Public School in Paris
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Portrait of Beauford Delaney by Carl Van Vechten (1953)