Change is good. That sounds much more definitive and sage like than I have felt over the past years. But really, change is good. I have moved to three different jobs over the past seven years. Yes. Every job has taught me something. Yes. I was happy in each position.
And, I was searching. Searching for a new challenge. Searching for a way to engage in art making with students that was different. I had taught every other level from Pre-K to Higher Ed.
When the position that I am currently in became available I was so excited! The position is 4th-8th grade. I understand teaching 4th and 5th graders pretty well. But middle schoolers were a new landscape. Like all children, they are trying to understand themselves in a world that is new and familiar and their ideas are so rich and interesting. It has also been a journey( that I am still on) to find ways for them to engage in art that is their choice and their avenues.
It is never simple to create ways for students to hold themselves accountable and for them to learn the discipline that is art making. I am hopeful always:) I have some really great students too!
So, to share some things here and today, one piece is the value of inviting artists into the classroom. My 7/8 Drawing students LOVED working with visiting artist Kate O’Donnell ( http://katewoodliffodonnell.com). With Kate, we created step by step drawings of candy using color pencil. Nicole Banowetz (http://www.nicolebanowetz.com) and Ink Lounge with Nikki Alden (http://inklounge.com/) are two other artists the students have worked with this year. With Nicole and Nikki, students in our Wearable Sculptures Intensive silk screened and created wearable sculpture from the fabric they screen printed.
The art world is big. The students can look up, watch, read about artists ( which we do!) and working side by side with these artists has been so beneficial for them as learners as well as for me in my practice as a learner and artist.