Resources, Links, Research

Interesting “Stuff”

A great way to end 2012 with some interesting resources including links to articles, research on arts education, podcasts and other types of resources. Enjoy!

• Make a Difference – an old story but worth seeing over and over. http://www.makeadifferencemovie.com/.
• Art (& Science) Talk with Kerry Tribe by Whitney Dail, December 4, 2012 from Art Works Podcast. http://artworks.arts.gov/?p=15592
• Dear Mr. President: Children Invited to Offer Obama Advice by Erik Robelen, Education Week, November 27, 2012. http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2012/11/if_president_barack_obama_had.html?cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS2
• Podcast: Pete Seeger remembers his good friend and fellow folk icon Woody Guthrie.
• A site devoted to providing resources and tools for those working with students with disabilities. There is a segment devoted to integrating the arts and technology which covers a lot of really outstanding information that you can access by clicking here.
• Art for the Elementary School Teacher Workshop. Online course, next one starts January 7, 2013. FMI: http://www.artmuseums.com/teach.htm
• RSAnimate- Sir Ken Robinson talk, animates through drawing what he is talking about so you get both aural and a visual experience. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U&feature=youtu.be
• National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Rocco Landesman announces a new strategy for arts education at the NEA at the national forum of the Arts Education Partnership. His speech is here http://www.arts.gov/news/news12/Chattanooga-speech.html.
• Art Works blog: Taking Note: Skills + Knowledge = 21st-Century Competencies http://artworks.arts.gov/?p=14236.
• The Arts and Achievement in At-Risk Youth: Findings from Four Longitudinal Studies http://www.arts.gov/research/Arts-At-Risk-Youth.pdf.
  This report examines arts-related variables from four large datasets — three maintained by the U.S. Department of Education and one by the Department of Labor — to understand the relationship between arts engagement and positive academic and social outcomes in children and young adults of low socioeconomic status (SES).
• The NEA published The Arts and Human Development: Framing a National Research Agenda for the Arts, Lifelong Learning, and Individual Well-Being http://www.arts.gov/pub/TheArtsAndHumanDev.pdf in November 2011. Over the next year, the NEA convened a series of webinars including:    Interagency Task Force on the Arts and Human Development: September 19, 2012 Webinar http://www.arts.gov/research/TaskForce/Sept19-2012.html.
  The September 19, 2012, Task Force webinar focused on the question “Can the arts play a role in transforming struggling schools and improving student outcomes?”
  Interagency Task Force on the Arts and Human Development: August 1, 2012 Webinar http://www.nea.gov/research/TaskForce/August1-2012.html.
  The August 1, 2012, Task Force webinar focused on how arts educators can reach youth who are immersed in today’s interconnected, multimedia environment.
• 1-to-1 Computing Movement Suffers Recent Setbacks by Mike Bock from Education Week, Nov. 16, 2012. http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/DigitalEducation/2012/11/la_tablets_rejected.html?cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS2
• Art Works
• Revitalizing Arts Education Through Community-wide Communication. The link will lead you to this Rand research written by Susan J. Bodilly Catherine H. Augustine with Laura Zakaras and can be found by clicking here w.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2008/RAND_MG702.pdf.
• Website with “box” information: http://www.auntannie.com.
• “Creativity is like falling in love… there’s this incredible urge to discover potential.” Jake Barton on vimeo at http://exp.lore.com/post/36897991378/creativity-is-like-falling-in-love-theres-this.

Thanks to the National Endowment for the Arts for some of the above language.

Student Artists Recognized

First Lady Ann LePage met with students and families

Grade 7 student from RSU78, Rangeley Eva Jacot-Descombes chats with First Lady Ann LePage about skiing her favorite trail (in the drawing) at Saddleback

First Lady Ann LePage invited the 867 students who submitted artwork in grades K-8 to attend one of two receptions that were held recently.

December 16, 2012 at the University of  New England in the George and Barbara Bush Center from 10:00 -12:00 pm for a display of student artwork from Androscoggin, Kennebec, Cumberland and York counties.

December 20, 2012 at the Maine Discovery Museum in from 4:00-6:00 pm for a display of all student artwork from Aroostook, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, Lincoln, Waldo, Franklin, Knox and Somerset counties.

Grade 8 student Kevin Duplessie from Caribou Middle School w/ his lighthouse drawing and the First Lady

Thirty two pieces of art were selected for the Maine is ME Student Art Challenge. Selected artwork will be featured in the First Lady’s upcoming new family friendly Love.Read.Learn!™ Baby Journal, produced in partnership with the Barbara Bush Foundation. The journal is a scrapbook-style booklet to promote literacy and health to families of newborn babies in Maine. The baby journal will be provided at no cost to parents of newborns in 2013.

First Lady Ann LePage stated: “I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to every child who participated in the Maine is ME art challenge. Congratulations to the selected artists. Maine children are enthusiastic and creative, and certainly made this a tough decision,” continued the First Lady.

Abigail Bennett, grade 7 student from Brewer Community School and First Lady Ann LePage point to Abigail’s self-portrait which includes her kayak and dog

A rubric was used based on the AP Studio Art rubric to select the 32 pieces which will be included in the book. The rubrics included the use of elements and principles of design, engagement of the viewer, and competence and skill in the use of the selected medium.

I was happy to be able to attend the reception at the Maine Discovery Museum and meet some of the young artists and their families. It was great to hear the personal stories behind the images they created. The parents, of course, were very proud of their children.

Grade 5 Bucksport Middle School student, Zoe Olson with her family and the First Lady

Niles Parker, Executive Director of the Maine Discovery Museum with his children and First Lady Ann LePage

UMaine Museum of Art

Benefactor Extends Free Admission at UMaine Museum of Art

BANGOR – The University of Maine Museum of Art will extend its free admission policy for the public in 2013 as a result of a generous gift from Penobscot Financial Advisors.

George Kinghorn, museum director and curator, expressed gratitude for the gift. Penobscot Financial Advisors has been a longtime sponsor of UMMA’s Community Partners Program, which provides support for education and exhibition programs, according to Kinghorn.

“We are grateful for Penobscot Financial Advisor’s generous sponsorship and ongoing support over the years,” he says. “The Museum of Art is a vital community outreach resource of the University of
Maine and we are delighted to once again offer free admission so that all citizens may enjoy the museum’s
collections and changing exhibitions.”

James E. Bradley, CEO of the financial advisory firm formerly known as Bradley & Johndrow, notes that the arts play an important role in the community and region.

“We are pleased to provide access so that all may enjoy the exceptional art on display at the museum. We are delighted to support UMMA’s efforts,” Bradley says.

Kinghorn adds that the museum’s continued growth would not be possible without the support of corporations like Penobscot Financial Advisors, “who see the arts as an essential component of a healthy and lively community. Above all, this sponsorship allows individuals to visit often and have meaningful
experiences viewing original works of art by nationally recognized artists,” he says.

The art museum is located at 40 Harlow Street in Bangor.

WERU: Maine Arts Alive

With Michael Donahue

Julie Richard, Peter Alexander, and Michael Donahue

“Arts in Education” was the topic of the “MAINE ARTS ALIVE” radio program on WERU on November 27, 2012.  The host of the program, Michael Donahue, invited myself and Julie Richard, Director of the Maine Arts Commission and Peter Alexander, Director of the Maine Alliance for Arts Education.

I viewed this as an opportunity to discuss Maine arts education and to provide a chance for the listeners to learn more about what arts educators across the state are doing.

You can listen to the archived show by clicking here or you can get there on the WERU site by following these directions: Go to the WERU web page and look for the “Listen On Line” box on the right side of the page. Click on the “Public Affairs Audio Archives” listing. This will take you to the “categories” box where you will find Maine Arts Alive show listed alphabetically. click on that. Our show will be the first one in the list.

There were several community phone calls in the second half of the hour that added to the interesting show.

Jeff Beaudry

Leadership Team member

Jeff Beaudry has served as a valuable member of the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative (MAAI) since the initiative was launched in January of 2011. Jeff teaches at the University of Southern Maine (USM) in the Educational Leadership program. He joined the USM staff in 1995 and has a Ph.D. in Public Policy Analysis.

Jeff provides a unique perspective and contributes his knowledge in curriculum and assessment having had much experience over the years in education.

Jeff has lots of energy and enthusiasm, always questioning, digging deeper, and encourages others to do the same.

He is an incredible COLLABORATOR and he keys in to the needs of the MAAI teacher leaders and leadership team members. I am grateful for Jeff’s contributions to the MAAI.

Recently Jeff wrote a piece for his Department’s newsletter. You can check it out (on page 3) by clicking here.

Complexity of Music

Music is a good thing, yes and…

The creators of this vimeo understood that music was a good thing but until the research began to create this vimeo they didn’t realize that music was also very complex. They created this animation with the hope of learning about the bits and pieces of music. Emotions, relationship about frequency and pitch, the auditory system, neurobiological relativity, music in advertising, rhythm and much more. I hope you enjoy the vimeo at this link.

 

MAAI and MLTI Partner

Mega-regional workshops offered

The Maine Arts Assessment Initiative (MAAI) is partnering with the Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) to offer all-day Mega-Regional workshops. Over 36 sessions will be offered at the four locations; Farmington, Portland, Ellsworth, and Presque Isle. These are FREE all day arts education workshops for elementary, middle, high school, and higher ed educators.

The workshops are provided FREE and contact hours are available. Workshop facilitators are the MAAI teacher leaders (phase 1 and 2) and MLTI technology integrators. At least one workshop included at each location will have an integrated co-facilitated session that connects at least one arts discipline and technology. In addition MLTI staff will be offering sessions. All participants must pre-register. Join us for this unique opportunity! Each participant can select two 1-hour morning workshops and one 2-hour afternoon MLTI session. You will need to bring a computer that has the MLTI image.

These workshops are in response to the feedback from arts educators requesting more professional development opportunities. Also happening all over the state are Regional workshops being presented by the arts education teacher leaders from the second phase of MAAI.

The Mega-Regional Workshops

• Monday, January 14, 8:00 to 3:30, University of Maine at Farmington
• Friday, March 1, 8:00 to 3:30, University of Southern Maine, Portland
• Friday, March 22, 8:00 to 3:30, Presque Isle High School, Presque Isle
• Friday, March 29, 8:00 to 3:30, Ellsworth High School, Ellsworth

Workshop descriptions are located here. Please click here to learn more and to REGISTER for one or more of the workshop sessions.

Skyping With the Artist

Art Students at Boothbay Region High School Interview a Industrial Designer Via Skype

The Intermediate/Advanced Art classes at Boothbay Region High School interviewed industrial designer, Alex Williams (2001 graduate of BRHS) via Skype.  The classes composed probing questions for Alex about the creative process, entrepreneurship and collaboration. In preparation, Manon Lewis, their art teacher sent these questions to Alex ahead of time, via email.

Alex Williams is a young entrepreneur who attended Rhode Island School of Design and is presently living and working in New York City. Alex and two of his classmates from RISD formed a lighting and furniture design company that they call, Rich Brilliant Willing. The company’s name is a clever combination of the three designer’s last names: Richardson, Brill and Williams. Rich Brilliant and Willing have had their product designs featured in such publications as: Elle Décor, Dwell, Surface, Architectural Digest and the New York Times.  Recent honors include the 2011 International Contemporary Furniture Fair “Best New Designer” award and Forbes Magazine’s “30 under 30” working in Art & Design.

Students in Intermediate/Advanced Art are in the process of designing chairs creating 3 dimensional prototypes from clay. Seeing and speaking to an industrial designer working “in the field” gave students an invaluable, “real life” opportunity.

Shared Delivery of Arts Education

Createquity blog

In a December 3rd blog writer Talia Gibas describes the model called “shared delivery” that provides students with an excellent arts education. This involves three parties:

1. generalist elementary school teacher
2. arts specialists, and
3. teaching artists and/or community arts organizations.

In this model the three entities collaborate to provide a visual and performing arts education. It is a great read that provides an in-depth explanation of the model and the benefit to all students.

Once you read the post at http://createquity.com/2012/12/unpacking-shared-delivery-of-arts-education.html#comment-17302 be sure and read Ayanna N. Hudson, Director of Arts Education at the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) comment at the bottom of the post. I recently posted (on the “Prof Dev Opps” page) the grants being offered from the NEA.

In Today’s News

Will you marry me?

At the conclusion of the music concert at Piscataquis Community Elementary School last week music teacher Michelle Figg was asked to close her eyes. Trenton Elementary School music teacher and Michelle’s boyfriend Seth Brigg’s surprised her with a proposal to be married. Yes, in front of the students and parents and community members attending the concert. Evidently it was a surprise to almost everyone. Physical education teacher Sheryl Allen received a phone call from Seth only 30 minutes before the concert started and was asked  to help pull off the surprise.

Mr. Briggs got down on one knee to propose and Ms. Figg jumped for joy and emphatically said “Yes!” And, you can watch the scene since it is on YouTube. You can read the article written by Alex Barber for the Bangor Daily News and posted on December 14th with the description and the YouTube embedded by clicking here.