Trees, Timber and Tradition

Cameras in action

Potter Liz Proffetty recently borrowed the digital cameras from the Maine Department of Education to teach a really interesting technique to the Pre-K -6 students at Southport Central School.

The school was asked to participate in an installation in the Children’s Garden at the Boothbay Botanical Gardens. The theme was “Trees, Timber and Traditions.”  Though each grade (pre K-6) used the theme of a clay leaf shaped tile, each grade approached the theme slightly differently. The pre-school class used stamps and pressed objects from nature into their clay leaves to create texture. Grades 1-3 drew and painted various landscapes onto their clay tile. Grades 4-6 first created the clay leaf, painted and glazed them and then used photos that they took at the Boothbay Botanical Gardens during a field trip. The photos were transferred to the clay tile using a relatively new technology that allows the ink from the laser printer to bond with the glaze on the clay leaf.

The students enjoyed using and combining modern technology of digital photography, editing and laser printing and the ancient medium of clay to create a collaborative public art piece. The work will be on view at the Botanical Gardens in the Drawing Cottage throughout the summer.

If you are interested in borrowing the digital cameras to use with students please contact me argy.nestor@maine.gov.

Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts

Newcastle, Maine

Ever wonder what they do at the Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts in Newcastle? This blog post provides you with information on the mid-coast facility. Watershed was established in 1986 with a dual purpose: to provide time and space for clay artists and to promote education and awareness regarding ceramic arts among the general public.

Twenty-six years later, over 1,200 artists from across the nation and abroad have experienced residencies at Watershed. During their 2-week residencies, artists live on our 32-acre facility in rural, mid-coast Maine, with room, board and 24/7 access to studio space provided. Without the distractions of day-to-day living, they are able to focus on their art and allow their creative energies to explore the medium anew.

Traveling clay program

Maine art teachers in Maine may know about Watershed through our “Mudmobile” programs.  The “Mudmobile” is a traveling ceramics resource center in a van that provides engaging experiences working in clay to schools, community centers and senior citizen facilities.  Thousands of young people and adults around the state have experienced clay through Mudmobile programs, including public events such as the Common Ground Fair, for over 15 years!

Mudmobile instructors are professional artists who share their joy of working in clay with students and community members. Watershed instructors partner with the host site to create a lesson plan that ties into the needs of each program.  The focus is on process not just product, with clay lessons that connect to science, math, history or cultural studies.

Our fun and educational ceramic projects are designed to introduce children and adults to historical uses of clay, current art making in clay, Maine’s geology and environmental stewardship. The materials used in Mudmobile classes make use of Maine’s natural resources. Students use glacial marine clay with food-safe, nontoxic glazes.

If you are interested in having the Mudmobile visit your school contact Watershed to reserve a program by contacting Fran Rudoff, Executive Director of Watershed by emailing her at director@watershedceramics.org.

Community Presentations: Upcoming Events and Opportunities

Watershed also strives to provide opportunities for Maine residents and visitors to experience and appreciate ceramic art in all its forms.  Resident artists share and demonstrate their work in public venues during the summer and fall months.  Our annual “signature” summer event, Salad Days, gives local residents the chance to enjoy a variety of pottery, incredible local food, lively music, conversations with neighbors and resident artists, and a lot of good fun.

Salad Days: July 13 – Visit Watershed and learn about programs first-hand.  Join us for Salad Days 2013!  Relax to live music while eating lunch under a shady tent at flower-laden tables.  A $35 donation to Watershed (which supports our programming!) entitles you to a handmade salad plate created by ceramic artist Tess Stilwell and the chance to enjoy a buffet of salads (locally grown produce, prepared by Watershed artists and local restaurants). After eating, visit resident artists’ studios and explore Watershed’s thirty-two acres of art-filled meadows, woods, gardens, and the neighboring sheep farm.  Potters and ceramic artists will be on-site performing demos and visitors of all ages may try working with clay.

Concurrent with Salad Days, Watershed will also be hosting our annual Invitational Pottery Sale, along with a Serving Bowl Exhibit. Shop for unusual and lively works of art made by ceramic artists from around the country.

Finally, appraiser Jane Prentiss, of Skinner Auctioneers and Appraisers, will be at Watershed providing appraisals for consignment.  Find out what your antiques, art, and collectables are worth.  For details, visit our appraisal event page.  Please note that advance sign up is necessary.

Artist Presentations: June 19 and July 30 – Watershed is partnering with the Harlow Gallery in Hallowell (and the Kennebec Valley Arts Association) to host public presentations and receptions for ceramic artists who are in residence at Watershed this summer!

June 19 features Patti Warashina, Carol Guthro and Peter Olsen from Seattle, who will be sharing their distinct styles and aesthetic perspectives.

July 30 features Eva Campagne from Montana and Amanda Small from North Carolina.  Their session is entitled, “N.E.W.”  Nature. Eight. Ways.  While at Watershed, they will be investigating repetition and patterns in the natural world and how it inspires, influences and forms the way they work with clay.

Fall Workshop: September 27-29 -  Join Thaddeus J (TJ) Erdahl for a beautiful weekend at Watershed! You can explore creating figurative sculptures that imply a sense of personal history. The technical focus will be on developing rich surface layers. Demonstrations will deal with the entire surface process from leather-hard slip and engobe application techniques to post bisque water erosion, sanding procedures, and wash application. Pieces will be finished with post firing heat set encaustic and wax procedures. Test tiles and pinched mini test “heads” will be used for further surface experimentation. Participants need to bring a small leather hard sculpture. Work will be fired to 04. All levels are welcome!!

To learn more about registration and details please go to: http://watershedceramics.org/artists/workshops/.

The End of the School Year

How to prepare

Thanks to Charlie Johnson, MAAI teacher leader and MDI High School art teacher for sending me this blog post from Tales from the Traveling Art Teacher blog posted on May 22, 2013. The blogger is Heidi O’Hanley who has some wonderful ideas on her blog. This one might be very useful to those of you who are organized and starting to think about the end of the school year and the classroom/management tasks it involves. Heidi presented a session at the National Art Education conference in Fort Worth, Texas in March called Art on a Cart Research. Yes, you guessed it, Heidi teaches from a cart in three schools. Check out Heidi’s blog and find the post called How Do you Prepare for the End of the School Year? at http://talesfromthetravellingartteacher.blogspot.com/.

Share Your Expertise

GREAT opportunity

Southern Kennebec Child Development Corporation (SKCDC)-Child Care Options is searching for professionals who work in the early childhood, school-age, or other related fields and would like to share their expertise and experience in the arts (theatre, music, painting, arts & crafts, games, etc.). SKCDC-Child Care Options is sponsoring a one-day conference focused on the arts on Saturday, November 16, 2013 at the Augusta State Armory and are looking for presenters for this event. The audience will be child care professionals who care for children birth-13 years old. Workshops will have approximately 30-50 participants.

SKCDC-Child Care Options is seeking presenters to do a 1.5 hour workshop and deliver it twice (3 hours).  Presenters will receive a $150.00 stipend.

If you are interested in submitting a workshop proposal for this event contact, Rita Fullerton, SKCDC-Child Care Options Director at rita@skcdc.org or 1-800-525-2229 ext. 27.

This is a great opportunity to connect with child care providers who are educating young child – your expertise is needed!

Another Arts Teacher’s Story: Suzanne Southworth

This is the 36th in a series of blog posts telling arts teacher’s stories. The first 19 were told last year by the phase I Maine Arts Assessment Initiative teacher leaders. The series continues with the stories from the phase II teacher leaders. These posts contain a set of questions to provide the opportunity for you to read educators stories and to learn from others.

Suzanne Southworth started teaching in NY where she grew up and has now taught for 15 years in Maine Public Schools. Currently, Suzanne is at Camden Hills Regional High School where she has been for the last 6 years. The courses she teaches change up from year to year but she always teaches the Jewelry classes and usually teaches the Advanced Art Portfolio class. This year the IA teacher and  Suzanne piloted a course that they call Metal Sculpture where students learn basic welding techniques and learn to use those skills to design beautiful metal sculptures.

“The thing I like best about being an art teacher is that it gives me the opportunity to help students learn to work with their hearts, hands, and minds together as well as the ultra focus it takes to be a successful artist. In today’s busy world it is so important to teach subjects that engage students this way. I also really like the ever-changing subject matter and the excuse to constantly search for my own inspiration in order to share the joy of the art making process with my students.”

What do you believe are three keys to ANY successful visual and performing arts education?

It doesn’t take much to run an art program but if you want a really good successful program you need to have organization, dedicated art professionals who work hard in the classroom, advocate for the program and exhibit student work, and a community who supports.

I was involved in the MAAI this year and found that after learning so much I realized how much I still need to learn. In my short career everything has changed so much and I find myself digging my heels in, refusing to update my way of thinking. I think I still do to some degree but the change is happening. What it has done for me is to see how the arts have never been more important to the well being of our next generation. As a parent and a teacher there is not so much of a buffer from a child’s environment to do what is right so, it is up to us to arm ourselves with the knowledge to protect and educate our youth at the same time.

How have you found assessment to be helpful to you in your classroom?

I feel that through well crafted assessments we can engage students and make learning personal and relevant. My favorite assessment is a written reflection. I find that having regular assessments in the classroom to be a useful tool in keeping both teacher and student in check. I also like the idea of keeping teachers accountable for good teaching practices and students engaged in their own learning process.

What have been the benefits in becoming involved in the arts assessment initiative?

Being a part of the Arts Assessment Initiative has made me so much more visible in my school and Regional area. It has been so nice to really know what the new ideas in education are and not be left in the dark during staff meetings and workshops. The best thing I got out of it though was the networking. Art Educators are generally pretty dynamic people. Just being around other conscientious Art teachers is a real boost to my attitude toward teaching and provides me with a lot of inspiration.

What are you most proud of in your career?

I am most proud of the results I see in my students work and being there when they make a breakthrough in their work and their individual ideas and watching them go through the stages from directed work to independent.

What gets in the way of being a better teacher or doing a better job as a teacher?

The thing I find most difficult about my teaching is the number of hours outside of the school day needed to do a good job and the multitude of other aspects of my teaching assignment.

What have you accomplished through hard work and determination that might otherwise appear at first glance to be due to “luck” or circumstances?

One of the things about teaching art that looks easy from the outside but takes a great deal of skill is to create an environment in the classroom that is conducive to “thinking” and creativity. Where there is a balance of “free thinking” and guided structure. I think this is a gift that you either have or you don’t but that it can be developed and improved regardless of the level of talent in this area.

Look into your crystal ball: what advice would you give to teachers?

If I were to give advice to other teachers I would say to keep updated on what is going on in art education. It is amazing how much voice we have here in Maine and we are fortunate to have people watching our backs at every level. Those people need our help in understanding the concerns of the classroom. Without our everyday art teacher input the decisions and initiatives won’t work to cater to the needs of our very real programs.

If you were given a $500,000.00 to do with whatever you please, what would it be?

If I were given $500,000 I would hire a team of top-notch educator’s who would write curriculum complete with the core standards, assessments, and technology and any other requirements. The team would write curriculum and build a library of lesson plans and boxes filled with non-consumable tools and materials to support the lessons that could circulate per request of the teacher throughout the State of Maine.

Imagine you are 94 years old. You’re looking back. Do you have any regrets?

Years from now I think I would look back and be really proud of the number of students who went on to continue with creative pursuits but I would also think that perhaps I did not get the concept of “Don’t sweat the small stuff so well and that I had a darn good job!

Thank you Suzanne for sharing your story!

 

 

 

 

 

MEA Art Exhibit

Maine Education Association art exhibit

The Maine Art Education Association (MAEA) and the Maine Education Association (MEA) partner by having a student art exhibit at the MEA building in Augusta. The work is beautifully exhibited and on display for the next several months. This partnership has been underway for several years thanks to the work of MAEA board member and Lewiston Middle School art teacher Kay Allison.

Below is a photograph with Mount Desert Island art teacher (and Maine Arts Assessment teacher leader) Charlie Johnson’s grade 10 student Kathleen Murphy and members of her family. Left to right is Kathleen’s cousin, Kathleen, grandmother, mother, and cousin.

Stop by the MEA building when you are in Augusta to see the marvelous exhibit!

Bangor High School

MAEA Fall Conference

Haystack registration is open

If you are planning on attending the fall Maine Art Education Association fall conference, it is time to register! Please go to http://www.mainearted.org/MAEA/Register_Now.html to register and for more information. The conference is being held at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Stonington on September 13, 14, 15th.

Workshop Choices
1. Creative and Useful Bookmakin with Sally Allen
2. Alabaster Carving with Anne Alexander
3. Encaustic Painting with Diane Bowie Zaitlin
4. Animal sculptures with clay using enclosed forms and additions  with Tim Christensen
5. Plein Air Painting with Cooper Dragonette
6. Responding to ­ Photography in Europe with Brenton Hamilton
7. Knifemaking with Tim McCreight

Conference Fees
Conference including room and meals: $250.00
Conference including only meals (day participants):$200.00
New 2013-14 MAEA membership is required for registration.  Online registrants will be able to make a single payment.

• On Campus (+ Student Membership) $270
• Off Campus  (+ Student Membership) $220
• On Campus (+Full Membership) $280
• Off Campus  (+Full Membership) $230
• On Campus (+Retired Membership) $260
• Off Campus  (+Retired Membership) $210

For more information and details on the MAEA fall workshop please go to http://www.mainearted.org/MAEA/Haystack.html

Another Arts Teacher’s Story: Danette Kerrigan

This is the 33rd in a series of blog posts telling arts teacher’s stories. The first 19 were told last year by the phase I Maine Arts Assessment Initiative teacher leaders. The series continues with the stories from the phase II teacher leaders. These posts contain a set of questions to provide the opportunity for you to read educators stories and to learn from others.

Danette Kerrigan is a Visual Arts Teacher at Sacopee Valley Middle School. She has been teaching in the district for seven years, initially as a traveling elementary teacher in four schools, for two years. Danette then moved into the middle school and currently teaches grades 5-8, approximately 360 students. Her main responsibilities include those grades and she also assists in Response to Intervention (RTI) services in grade six.

What do you like best about being an art educator?

There are moments of such clarity when students gain insight, learn a new skill; experience the joy of success in the shadow of a failure.  It is a privilege to be apart of those moments.

What do you believe are three keys to ANY successful visual and performing arts education?

1. The passion and commitment of the teacher.
2. A well thought curriculum that is multidimensional, interdisciplinary and accountable.
3. Students!

How have you found assessment to be helpful to you in your classroom?

Assessment has been monumental in my ability to provide a rich and individualized experience for students. It has informed my instruction and helped me understand the impact of that instruction.

What have been the benefits in becoming involved in the arts assessment initiative?

Getting involved with the Arts Assessment Initiative came at a crucial time in my career. That 5-6 year period where the shine has come off a little bit, where the politics of education seems to bite a little harder. I was beginning to languish and was primed for being re-energized as a teacher. Being involved in the initiative has re-ignited my passion for the quality of my students’ experience, a renewed energy to reach beyond the school day and explore the possibilities of things I haven’t even yet thought of. It has informed my learning and supported my work as a National Board candidate. It has pushed me to reach out and network with others so that I can be reminded of all the reasons we do what we do.

What are you most proud of in your career?

I am most proud of the experiences with my students. Our district is one of the districts working with teacher evaluation and we are constantly reflecting on goals and outcomes. One of the reflections I have been working with this year has been…”What do I want them to learn?”

As a test, I asked a student…”What do you think you learn in this class? ”  She responded, “I learn to think for myself.  I learn to try something I haven’t tried before. I learn that even if something doesn’t work out, I can get something from it.”

It made my day.

What gets in the way of being a better teacher or doing a better job as a teacher?

My inability to say “no”.

What have you accomplished through hard work and determination that might otherwise appear at first glance to be due to “luck” or circumstances?

I have truly put much hard work into creating an environment in my classroom where students can have respite in their day, whether it is during the art class, or recess, or free time. I believe we all need a place to go where the work we do is valued and that we are appreciated. We all need a safe and welcoming space to create, and not simply art; middle school students create friendships, character and sometimes a little chaos. It is work, it isn’t just circumstances or class lists or the luck of the draw that creates an environment that students can grow, I have to facilitate it.

Look into your crystal ball: what advice would you give to teachers?

Take care of yourself financially. Put 10-15% of your money away every paycheck and after a few months, you’ll never miss it. Plan ahead. Advocate every chance you get.

If you were given a $500,000.00 to do with whatever you please, what would it be?

Pay off my daughter’s student loans; they are just starting off in their lives and already in so much debt. Then mine. Set up a charity. Invest the rest.

Imagine you are 94 years old. You’re looking back. Do you have any regrets?

I certainly hope not, I’m working on the bucket list now!

Thank you Danette for telling your story!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Google Art Contest

Falmouth Middle School 8th grader one of top 5 in country

Joseph Han, 14, was already among the 50 state winners in the “Doodle 4 Google” contest for his colorful drawing, “Late-Afternoon Bliss” answering the call for artwork under the theme of “Coming Home”. He learned recently that his work was selected as one of 5 from 130,000 submitted.

“Han’s doodle was a colorful painting of a boy sitting on the bank of a river with the Google name subtly spelled out by trees and a footbridge. Han receives a $5,000 scholarship for his selected artwork.”

Read the entire article from the Portland Press Herald written by Jason Singer where the information above and image below came from by clicking here.