Painter and Art Educator

Translated art lessons

Erin McGee Ferrell is a Contemporary Maine Oil Painter and Art Educator. She is a graduate from Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, and the University of the Arts Philadelphia. Erin has spent 28 years as a visual artist in the gallery world and as an art educator. She is a member of the National Organization for Arts in Health and an advocate for visual arts in medical environments.

During the pandemic Erin translated her in-studio art classes to lessons online. She has allowed herself to act goofy through interactive and non-interactive art history experiences. Each week she dresses up as a famous artist or sometimes just surrounds herself with accessories that the artist is associated with. For example, this next week will be on the Gee’s Bend Quiltmakers. Her studio will be full of quilts with art exercises having to do with pattern and storytelling.

In June Erin is stepping outside with a new series of the online classes. The Spring theme of famous artists will shift to “outdoor environments”.  Each week will focus on a subject in nature or in the city. One week she will talk about techniques for drawing and painting trees, another week will be learning perspective to draw architecture. The interesting part is that she now has students across the world participating and so each students’ surroundings will be different.

Erin’s teaching name is EMcGee and her professional chef friend in Chicago, is Chef LaRee (Larry). Each week, Chef LaRee offers a short cooking demonstration related to the featured artist. During Monet’s week, he showed how to soak and cook dried beans. Monet ate lots of beans during his early painting years.

Join the fun!

https://www.artistamerican.com/art-lessons

https://www.facebook.com/EMcGeeArtLessons/

5 More Videos

Making art during the pandemic

Artists have come together all over the world to create art that is being shown through the video format. From individuals to large groups of artists, with little technology to complex equipment. It all works for those creating them and bring joy for each of us viewing them. I hope you find these as uplifting as I have. I’ve included several in blog posts during the last 2 months. Thank you to those who have sent me links to videos! If you have others please don’t hesitate to share them in the ‘comment’ section below or email the links to me at meartsed@gmail.com so I can continue to share with others.

God Bless America

Not Getting Covid

All Day Long (The Coronavirus Song)

How Can I Keep from Singing – NYC Virtual Choir and Orchestra

La Scala presents Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra

Gray-New Gloucester High School

Zoom connection

Carol Clark, Instrumental Music Director at Gray-New Gloucester High School, recently shared a wonderful story about a zoom meeting that she arranged with someone many of you music educators may know. Below is the exciting story in Carol’s own words. Thank you Carol for sharing!

World renown composer, conductor and lecturer, Dr. Bruce Pearson, joined the Gray-New Gloucester High School Concert Band via Zoom. Although he lives in Minnesota, Dr. Pearson has had considerable impact on our students’ musical development, as many learned from his instrumental music methods. In our high school band, we typically began our class sessions with his Technique & Musicianship exercises and chorales. Now, during remote learning, they continue to work with this method at home. Dr. Pearson spent an hour talking to our students, answering questions about his life, music and the creative processes of composing and arranging. We all had a great time learning from such a kind, knowledgeable and creative teacher!

Here is a link to his website:  http://brucepearsonmusic.com/about-bruce/

From our students:

*  It was good to be able to hear Dr. Pearson’s answers to our questions. I think hearing his story and a bit of his composing process was helpful. It was also just really cool to be able to hear what he had to say, since he wrote the books that we’ve been using in band since 5th grade. Thank you.

*  I found this class interesting and informative, and I’m so glad we could do it! It was fun to hear from someone on the other side of the music we play in band, and to have some ideas and direction for approaching composing, which is something I have been interested in recently. Thank you for the opportunity!

Call for MALI Teacher Leaders

You’re invited!

Visual, Performing and Literary Arts Teacher/

Teaching Artist Leader SEARCH: MALI – Phase 20-21

APPLICATION DEADLINE: MONDAY, JUNE 1Join us for a GREAT opportunity! The Maine Arts Leadership Initiative invites YOU, with other selected Maine teachers and teaching artists, to be part of a year-long exploration in leading your school communities and the profession in effective teaching and learning in the arts.  If you are selected, you will be expected to attend the 2020 Summer Institute, taking place virtually June 15, July 24, and in-person August 5, pending state policy.   

This year’s Institute will explore Leading with Resilience; Embedding Social and Emotional Learning in our Teaching, Ourselves, and Our Communities; and Arts Advocacy.  

If you are selected, there is no cost to attend the Institute; however the expectation is that you integrate your learnings in your classroom, your school community, and share with other educators in your region of Maine and beyond.  Full participants will receive documentation of up to 35 contact hours.   

If interested, please complete the online application form, linked here and below, by June 1.

Questions? Contact Martha Piscuskas, Director of Arts Education at the Maine Arts Commission, Martha.Piscuskas@maine.gov  207-287-2750

Year-long Expectations for Teaching Artist/Teacher leaders (TA/TAL):

• Attend New Teacher/TA introduction cohort zoom on Monday June 15
• Complete pre-reading/viewing and participate in online discussion (on google classroom) 
• Attend and participate in 2 virtual discussion meetings on Wednesdays – June 24 & July 15 – (w/mixed cohorts and breakout rooms)
• Attend August 5, Wednesday in-person day in Waterville (tbd) if possible
• Commit to two reflection sessions as a MALI TA/TAL one with cohort, one with “thought partner”
• Develop a personalized Growth Plan for the coming year, and practice/learn ways to share it with others
• Engage in Fall “thought partner” one-on-one check in 
• Attend winter retreat – tentatively February 28, 2021.  Will include update on personal goal and/or action plan 
• Author a guest blog post on the Maine Arts Ed daily blog

JOIN US!  Become a Teacher Leader and Change Lives 

APPLY TODAY!

Questions on the Application:

Name/contact information

Administrator Name/contact information (if classroom teacher)

Paragraph of Interest — Selected individuals will be expected to be active leaders in helping to develop and support excellence in teaching and learning in Maine. A full commitment to the Institute timeline is expected as seen in the online information sheet.  Please attach a brief overview of your interest and current/past experience (if any) in Leadership. Include your experience collaborating with other arts educators and experiences relevant to the initiative.  (Please no more than ~ 500 words, about 1 page.) 

Resume/CV —  If you are a Teaching Artist, please also include websites or documentation of your teaching work.  

Letter of Reference – CLASSROOM TEACHERS: This should be from your administrator.  TEACHING ARTISTS: This should be from a school or community  organization with whom you have worked.   Please attach a Letter of Recommendation in which the person includes comments and/or examples reflecting your leadership potential and your ability to work collaboratively.  Selected individuals will be responsible for sharing their newly developed expertise and related classroom experiences with other arts educators.

Maine Arts Leadership Initiative 

Background Information

MALI MISSION

MALI’s OVERALL OBJECTIVES 

• Create and implement a statewide plan for teacher leadership in arts education. This includes professional development opportunities, locally, regionally and statewide, which will expand on the knowledge and skills of teachers to better prepare them to teach in a student-centered and proficiency-based learning environment.
• Develop and implement standards-based high quality teaching and learning statewide for Visual and Performing Arts 
• Continue to build on expanding the team of arts educators and teaching artists representing all regions of Maine
• Provide workshops and other professional development opportunities for educators 
• Founded in 2011
• 108 teacher leaders and teaching artists leaders have attended summer institutes on assessment, leadership, technology, creativity, proficiency-based standards-based and student-centered teaching and learning
• Teacher leaders have presented workshops at three statewide arts education conferences, with over 600 educators attending
• Teacher leaders facilitated regional workshops across Maine and 15 mega-regional sites across Maine
• Maine Arts Ed Blog — 78 teachers profiled in Another Arts Teacher’s Story series 
• Arts assessment graduate courses offered by New England Institute for
  Teacher Education
• Nine arts education assessment webinars for Maine educators facilitated by Rob Westerberg and Catherine Ring – archived
• Video stories of seven teacher leaders that demonstrate a standards-based arts education classroom located on Maine ARTSEducation YouTube channel
• Teacher Leader Resource Team development of items for resource bank
• Maine Arts Assessment Resources website
• Partners have included MDOE, USM, MAEA, MMEA, University of Maine Performing Arts, and New England Institute for Teacher Education, Bates College

For More Information

• MALI information – Maine Arts Commission website https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Programs/MAAI 
• Maine Arts Assessment website http://www.maineartsassessment.com/ 
• MALI Resource Bank http://www.maineartsedresources.org/

APPLY TODAY TO BECOME A MALI TEACHER LEADER

Patti’s COVID Teaching Story

Music teacher

Thirty eight year veteran music teacher Patricia Gordan teaches in two schools in RSU#14; Raymond Elementary and Windham Primary. Patti is a Maine Arts Leadership Initiative Teacher Leader. Almost a month ago now Patti shared that this has been the most difficult time in her teaching career. In this blog post Patti shares some of the work she has been doing with her students during this time – ‘schooling away from school’. Thank you Patti for sharing your story!

She read Janie Snider’s story from April 27 and when Janie said, “I am their resource!” Patti yelled, “YES!” Her story really resonated with Patti and perhaps that will be the same for others when you read what Patti’s story and what she misses most.

“I want to hold hands and play a circle game with my Kindergarteners. I want to teach a folk dance to my 3rd graders. I want to sit next to a 4th grader and actually help her cover the finger holes correctly on her recorder so that she can produce a pleasant sound. I want to be the audience in front of twenty students on Orff instruments and thrill to their beautiful music, and see their faces light up when I enthusiastically compliment them. And I miss, miss, desperately MISS the angelic voices of my 3rd/4th grade chorus. I hope I can do the virtual choir with them on their favorite song that we’d been working on, “Send Down The Rain.”

Patti had just tried to play all four of the students’ “instrument parts” by herself.

IN PATTI’S WORDS

My chorus at Raymond Elementary is made up of 3rd and 4th graders and a few invited 2nd graders. “Send Down The Rain” is one of five songs we began practicing in January for a May concert which will not happen now. This song was their favorite and they sang it with such feeling, even at the beginning of March when it was not yet polished. 

I always put lyric sheets and practice tracks on the Raymond Elementary music website for them so they can practice at home and that was already done when we left. What I’m looking into is to have them perform that one song as a virtual choir.

A 4th grader emailed me this morning after she’d sent me videos, two different times, of herself playing recorder and I’d sent her back some tips. She said she was trying her hardest but that she was “bad at recorder.” (We play recorder third trimester and had had ONE recorder lesson before we were sent home.) It broke my heart because I wasn’t there to help her and it’s very difficult to teach a nine year old how to play the recorder by email, even though they can watch the recorder instruction videos on the website. Of course I told her she was not bad at recorder and that I admired her tremendously for her perseverance.

The lyrics to “Send Down The Rain, which help Patti and her students! 

Send Down The Rain

I live in the desert, only trouble comes my way as I try to make a living off the land. All the trees have withered, and the birds have flown away,
And my shattered dreams have gone with the shifting sand.

(Arias) Send down the rain.
(Cantos) To wash the dusty sky.

(Arias) Send down the rain.
(Cantos) To water the thirsty land.

(Arias) Send down the rain.
(All) To soothe my burning soul (Cantos-again) (Arias-my burning soul again) Send down the rain.

Lord I’ve had it with trouble, disappointment, broken dreams, And I long to see the lightnin’ flashin’ ‘round.
You know I’m a believer, and you know I’m prayin’ hard
To hear the rollin’ thunder’s mighty sound.

(Arias) Send down the rain.
(Cantos) To wash the dusty sky.

(Arias) Send down the rain.
(Cantos) To water the thirsty land.

(Arias) Send down the rain.
(All) To soothe my burning soul (Cantos-again) (Arias-my burning soul again) Send down the rain.

(Arias) Send down the rain.
(Cantos) Oh, Lord, I see the lightnin’,

(Arias) Send down the rain.
(Cantos) Oh, Lord, I hear the thunder.

(Arias) Send down the rain. (All) hoooo.

In Today’s News

Broadband improvement, Principles call for arts return, Let’s pause

Here are three important items in this weeks news that impact the arts, arts education and most importantly arts educators!

Mainers hope COVID-19 pandemic is catalyst for statement broadband improvement

Yesterday Governor Mills announced that “All Maine students will have access to the internet.”  Sadly Maine rates third for slowest internet service. Sedomocha School music educator, 2018 Maine Teacher of the Year and MALI Teacher Leader Kaitlin Young spoke to NewsCenter on the topic. Kaitlin said: “Connection is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity”. Missionbroadband.com – complete a survey anonymously to give your opinion and join Kaitlin in using your voice to make a difference. Thank you Kaitlin for advocating for Maine students!

COVID-19 coronavirus: Principals call for the arts to return to the classroom

In his May newsletter, New Zealand Principals’ Federation president Perry Rush argues for greater arts education in schools that goes beyond dance groups, school productions or instrumental music lessons. He says it means using the arts to prompt expressive language and creative endeavour in ways that integrate with other subjects and parts of the curriculum.

Rush, the principal of Hastings Intermediate, says in a world where alternative facts and fake news abound, the importance of the skills the arts teach – critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, insight and empathy, among them – is self-evident.

“Any society that strips its education system of what it means to be human and denies its young citizens the opportunity to explore and celebrate human expression, should be concerned about how this affects a healthy functioning democracy. There has never been a time to be more vigilant and protective of the humanities and artistic expression than now.”

National Council of Teachers of English Blog

Mandie B Dunn is assistant professor of English education at the University of South Florida in Tampa. She sites the importance of taking time to pause and think about what we’ve lost and consider what that loss means for our well-being and for our relationships with students. We’re looking ahead to what school may look like in September rather than taking time to take care of ourselves.

Pandemic Postcard Project

Bangor Public Library

CREATE A POSTCARD

Calling all artists, all ages! Spread the word! Be part of a community conversation! Share your ideas! This is a great project for ‘end of year’ assignments.

Create a postcard image in response to one or more of the following prompts. 

1. After six weeks (or more) of this pandemic, what do you appreciate?
2. What has been an unexpected benefit of quarantine?
3. What is something you have learned about yourself as a result of the pandemic?
4. Create an image about a day in the life of a quarantined person.
5. Imagine what you will be doing in 6 months that is different from what you were doing 6 months ago.

DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 1, 2020

DIRECTIONS

Cut heavy weight paper to postcard size – 4″ x 6″

Use pencil, pen, colored pencil or any non-smudgy medium. 

Be sure to indicate which prompt you are depicting. 

Please sign your name and city or town where you live.

SHARE WITH OTHERS

And be sure to share the information about this project with friends and relatives. We hope to have a large number of postcards to display!  The postcards will be part of a time capsule, reflecting ideas and opinions about our experiences during this unique time. 

Send your postcards to: Pandemic Postcard Project – c/o Candis Joyce

Bangor Public Library

145 Harlow Street

Bangor, ME 04401

Any questions? Contact candis.joyce@bangorpubliclibrary.org

Don’t wait! Create your postcard image today!!!

Document the Planet

Global Oneness: Student Photography

Dates: April 1, 2020 – June 1, 2020

Inspired by our film Earthrise by Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee, we challenge and encourage teens to enter a student photography contest to celebrate the 50-year anniversary of Earth Day. The Earthrise photograph was an impetus behind the environmental movement and the founding of Earth Day, which was created 50 years ago on April 22, 1970.

The Earthrise photograph had an everlasting impact on the astronauts and humanity, offering a powerful perspective that transcended national, political, and religious boundaries. It helped humanity to see our Earth as one ecosystem and has become one of the most iconic and widely reproduced and distributed images in history. How does the Earthrise photograph challenge us to consider our relationship to the Earth and provide a context for what it means to be a global citizen? How does the Earthrise photograph reflect the shared fate of humanity on the earth today?

We are all sheltering in place as we experience the coronavirus pandemic taking place around the world. How might we consider this moment in time and history? How might we reimagine and redefine the meaning of home?

Guidelines and Rules

1. Start by filling out this simple submission form.
2. Students (13 years and older) will submit one photograph in response to one of the following prompts:
   • What is your relationship to our planet?
   • How are we all interconnected?
   • In what ways is your community protecting the environment?
   • How can we change our perspective to see our planet as one home?
3. Photo entries must be accompanied by a short photographer’s statement (2-3 paragraphs) which responds to all of the following questions:
   • Which question/prompt did you choose to answer? Why?
   • How did the film Earthrise and/or the Earthrise photograph inspire and inform the decisions you made in taking your photograph?
   • If your photograph captures the place in which you live, why is this place important to you?
   • What would you like your place in the world to be remembered for?
4. Each contestant can submit only one entry—one photograph and one photographer’s statement.
5. Each photograph and response must be original and previously unpublished. Images do not have to be of the natural world but should help to express students’ human relationships (to their home, family, and/or community) as well as their perspective of the living world. Students can turn the camera on themselves, on their family members, or on their homes. Be creative!
6. The photograph submitted must take into consideration the Global Oneness Project platform and mission statement: Planting seeds of resilience, empathy, and a sacred relationship to our planet.
7. Visit the full Earthrise curriculum guide for discussion questions and ideas and to explore the following themes: the power of perspective, bearing witness, exploration, and reverence for the environment.
8. Your submitted photograph should be a JPEG that is no larger than 5mb. The photograph should not be a photo collage or photoshopped image. If your photograph contains a person, you will need to fill out and return the Photo Subject Release Form.
9. Eligible entries will be judged by a qualified panel consisting of professional filmmakers, photographers, and authorized personnel from the Global Oneness Project.
10. Prizes. Winners will be awarded $200 USD each and photographs will be published on the Global Oneness Project website.
11. Contestants must be ages 13 and up in the U.S. and 16 and up globally. Check our Submission Guidelines and Rules and our Terms of Service for more details.
12. All entries must be accompanied by this signed Parental Permission Form.
13. Ready to send your forms, photograph, and photographer’s statement?First, send your completed forms to info@globalonenessproject.org. Then we will email you an invitation to upload your photo and photographer’s statement to our Dropbox. Please include your name in the subject line so we can keep track of your submission.
14. All entries must be received by June 1, 2020 at 5pm/PST.

The Muppet Guys

Honoring Jim Henson

Whether you’re old enough to remember Jim Henson hopefully you know his legacy of The Muppets  you are old enough to remember Jim Henson. Jim’s been gone for 30 years on May 16 and his colleagues, The Muppet Guys: Brill, Dave Goelz, Bill Barretta and Frank Oz are going to do a livestream Q&A session in honor of Jim Henson on Saturday, TODAY, May 16, 2020, 4:00 p.m.. They will be sharing insights and memories of Jim. This opportunity is FREE with hopes that this gathering will lift spirits. Everyone is invited! In order to participate you will need to REGISTER. They will include a way to donate to a Covid-related cause which supports the frontline workers battling the virus.

REGISTER!

CONGRATS Rob!

York County Teacher of the Year!

When a visual or performing arts teacher is nominated for Maine Teacher of the Year it is an honor that all arts educators share! The person represents our profession first and foremost as a teacher, and specifically as an arts teacher. This year one of our own was nominated and has been selected as the 2020 York County Teacher of the Year – CONGRATULATIONS Rob Westerberg! Rob has been Choral Director at York High School since 2000 and has been teaching since 1998. He has been representing all of us in our profession for many years on a variety of levels. He has taken on leadership roles at the classroom, school, district, state and beyond Maine.

Like many of you he has an impressive resume from his 32 years in the music classroom. There are to many items to include in this blog post. His wide array of experiences have led him to many opportunities to work with colleagues throughout New England, assisting them as they work to refine their craft as well. Rob believes that “every student can achieve high academic standards in choral/vocal pedagogy and technique. Consequently, engaging them in a dynamic environment of best practices that allows them to do so is a lifelong journey and joy for me.” Rob has been recognized and celebrated by his students, parents, administrators, and his colleagues. His voice is strong and his ‘forever learning’ and ‘evolving attitude’ towards education is the foundation for this recognition.

I am proud to know and work with Rob for many years, he and Catherine Ring and I traveled to Plymouth University in August 2010 where the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative idea was hatched. Now nine years old, the initiative thrives thanks to the work of Rob and the many teacher leaders in Maine arts education.

SOME OF ROB’S BELIEFS

I am an educator with a demonstrated passion for education and progressive educational issues in Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment and student achievement. For 32 years, this dedication has been applied in the public school setting as a music teacher. Yet my accumulated professional experiences have led to many opportunities to work with colleagues throughout New England, assisting them as they work to refine their craft as well. I believe that every student can achieve high academic standards in choral/vocal pedagogy and technique. Consequently, engaging them in a dynamic environment of best practices that allows them to do so is a lifelong journey and joy for me.

The Maine County Teacher of the Year announcement, 14 May 2020. Rob second from right. On left is Kate Smith.

IN THE CLASSROOM – “Working with my Freshman is to begin analyzing who they are as people and what they need in order to become the best selves they can possibly be.”

COLLEAGUES AND COMMUNITY– Rob has facilitated professional retreats and workshops, developing curriculum and innovative approaches to assessment practices for the Visual and Performing Arts. His work impacts educators and even administrators in how they approach what they do. He empowers them to make a difference in their own settings and bring each of them to a new place in their craft. At York High School Rob led the work implementing the first public High School graduation requirement for music in the northeast. In 2010 the school  completed a $2.3 million music instructional space added to YHS, and in 2017 the Community Auditorium was opened and it has already become the cultural and creative center of the entire community.

CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT – One of Rob’s many strengths is his ability to break  down instruction and assessment practices in ways which truly accommodates those of us in the arts. He has felt for many years that all around us there are well intentioned but flawed arts programs which are really co-curricular activities “cleverly disguised” as academic programs. He believes that the fault lies in pre-service teacher training, where the emphasis is to further our craft as performers and artists, rather than as educational specialists. “The missing piece has been authentic and viable approaches to instruction and assessment which connect the two together.”

Rob and Argy at Maine Music Educators Association conference, UMaine 2010

STATE CONTRIBUTIONS – Rob co-founded the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative (MAAI) in 2010 with this in mind: “to work with colleagues, allowing them to re-design their own assessment practices so that student growth is furthered, instructional practices are strengthened, and new connections of learning are created.” Bringing added integrity to arts education while “keeping it real” by designing assessment strategies which are both manageable and authentic continues to be a strength of mine.

EDUCATION – Master of Music Degree, Choral Conducting, UMaine 1996 and Bachelor of Music Degree, Music Education, Keene State College 1987

MAINE TEACHER OF THE YEAR PROGRAM

I will keep you posted on the Maine Arts Ed blog and periodically share Rob’s adventures during the next year. Rob’s recognition is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to celebrate what is ‘right’ and ‘wonderful’ for education.

Rob in his classroom, 2014

Other arts educators have been recognized by the Maine Teacher of the Year program which was established in 1954. Over the years the program has changed and the county teacher of the year program started in 2014. Below are those honored by the program. (My apology if I missed someone – please let me know)!

• Bobbi Tardif – 2019 Piscataquis County Teacher of the Year, visual arts
• Shawn Rice – 2019 Androscogin County Teacher of the Year, visual arts
• Kaitlin Young – 2018 Maine State Teacher of the Year, music educator
• Anthony Lufkin – 2018 Knox County Teacher of the Year, visual arts educator
• David Coffey – 2018 Waldo County Teacher of the Year, music educator
• Christine Del Rossi – 2018 Sagadahoc County Teacher of the Year, visual arts educator
• Christi Goosman – 2017 Waldo County Teacher of the Year, theatre educator
• Andrew Forster – 2016 Kennebec County Teacher of the Year, music educator
• Susan Beaulier – 2015 Aroostook County Teacher of the Year, visual arts educator
• Kate Smith – 2014 York County Teacher of the Year, music educator
• Bill Buzza – 2011 Finalist Maine Teacher of the Year, music educator
• Jayne Quinn Sawtelle – 2010 Semi-Finalist Maine Teacher of the Year, music educator
• Charlie Johnson – 2008 Finalist Maine Teacher of the Year, visual arts educator
• Marguerite Lawler-Rohner – 2004 Maine Teacher of the Year, visual arts educator
• Doug Clapp – 1995 Finalist Maine Teacher of the Year, theatre educator
• Argy Nestor – 1995 Maine Teacher of the Year, visual arts educator
• Charles Seymour – 1986 Maine Teacher of the Year, music educator