Beyond Teaching to the Test

Display of some of my work in at the art room of Mary Ann Uhle at

Kennett Middle School for Career Day.

Just noticed that the student works behind my table are of Butterflies, and Rabbits.
Serendipity at its best!

 

Last week I was at Kennett Middle School for Career Day.  I brought samples of my studio work including my children's book Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings- When someone you love has cancer... a hopeful, helpful book for kids, shared my website and blogs with the students. We also did a quick and easy printmaking project- creating personal stamps, using foam shapes with adhesive backing, small pieces of cardboard cut in 2" squares for the stamp backing and water soluable markers to "ink" them up.

Using water soluable markers to "ink" up their
personal stamps

I learned that last week was also Teaching Artist Appreciation Week.  As a teaching artist, I have worked with Arts Horizons, Young Audiences of New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania,  and the DCCA Contemporary Connections program, and numerous other organizations to bring art to our schools with projects that integrate their art practice with school curriculum.

Sample print made from a personal stamp

It is a great way to enhance, engage and expand the classroom- and get beyond teaching to the test!

Grounds for Success at Grounds for Sculpture

Chakaia Booker

Chakaia Booker

Mid Atlantic Grand Prix, New Castle, DE


Earlier this month, the NJSCA hosted along with the the Artists-in-Education Consortium, Perkins Center for the Arts, and Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey a multi- day Artist Training for AIE Artists at the Johnson Center for Arts at Grounds for Sculpture. It's always energzing to meet and share experiences working in various teaching situations with other artists of all disciplines.

I was a presenter/panelist for the workshop titled Successful Strategies for Challenging School Environments

along with percussionist, Rudy Bird, and poet, writer Andy Hoffmann and moderated by Aysia Souder from the Playwrights Theatre. We have all been in challenging school environments, presenters and attendees alike, and collectively we came up with some suggestions and strategies, that upon reviewing can be helpful in and OUTSIDE of the classroom (kind of like, yoga off the mat!)

Here is what our break out group came up with:

1.In planning meeting, LISTEN to what the expectations are of all participants, and then

look at how you can meet their needs

2. Address their expectations.

3. Set clear boundaries/ ground rules before residency begins. How much time does

your art form require. Set up time? Clean up time? One of our workshop participants

- Steven provides a handout of his guide for a successful workshop. On it he also

provides all his contact info so he can present the written

guidelines within a positive framework.

4.Know what you can offer- and BE ABLE TO SELL WHAT YOU DO. Remember they

hired you for who you are. Be professional. Be confident.

5.How do you define success in a challenging environment? Set realistic goals for

school.

6. Remember to make friends with school secretary so you are aware of unexpected

changes in school calendar (school closings, half days, testing, fire drills, etc.) and of

course, the Custodian.

Following the session I took the opportunity spend some time at Grounds for Sculpture http://www.groundsforsculpture.org/ in an absolutely beautiful September day.

Featured in the main gallery is Chakaia Booker's sculptures from her Eminent Domain series. The work is truly unique with her use of rubber inner tubing and tires. The pieces are fluid, flowing and very powerful.

I love when I see an artist find a medium that is utilitzed and manipulated in such a way that you can never look at the material even in its 'common use state' again without seeing it's possibilities. note the tire shots from Mid Atlantic Grand Prix, that were taken this past weekend from my sons birthday party!

Go Big or Go Home!

I did a second On Site Evaluation for NJ State Council on the Arts in April. This time it was to evaluate a residency in its 3rd year. Teaching artists Julie Deery and Baily Cypress is this amazing team of mosaic artists- neighbors and friends they have collaborated over the years in schools and public spaces. This was the first opportunity to see their work and wow! Working with art teacher Heather Hackl these 3 women are a trio of creativity and hard work that can blow your socks off. Here are some images from Heather's camera that I just have to share with everyone. What is possible, or even what is impossible. But as my friend Jeff Russell said in his speech to his son Isaac at his bar mitzvah these past Saturday- "Impossible is an opinion, not a fact."!

Something to remember as my intention is to tackle new projects in the next few months - Go Big or Go Home! (a quote from Maple Shade H.S. principal Scott Amauer speaking about Heather to me, but hey I am gonna steal that one!)