How We See Now

Brunswick High School Exhibit

How We See Now, New Dimensions of Photography is an exhibit of works by Brunswick High School photography students hosted by Brunswick Public Art and Merrymeeting Plaza. The work seeks to question how photography can be used to visualize new realities. Students worked with the Portland artist Justin Levesque, One Dynamic System, in a virtual visiting artist residency sponsored by a grant from the Maine Department of Education with support from the Maine Arts Commission. Deconstructed and reconstructed photographic images allowed students to question our perception of reality. Photographs become manipulated into new imagery utilizing digital tools such as Googles Poly and Photopea. Come drive by this window exhibit in Brunswick at 147 Bath Road next to Peppers Landing. The work will be on exhibit from June through August.

 

Ashley Bryan

Visit with the artist

Artist Ashley Bryan is a Maine treasure and visiting him in his Maine home and studio is an enormous treat! Music teacher Kate Smith and I had the opportunity in 2018 just before the school year got underway. Ashley was such an inspiration and continues to be, at age 97. Ashley is a writer and illustrator of dozens of children’s books. This Maine Arts Commission video provides you insight on Ashley. You can read the blog post I wrote after our visit in 2018.

Poetry Out Loud

Blog post 3 of 6 – Poetry

Read about the national event and details at THIS LINK. If you teach at a Maine high school and would like your school to participate during the 2021-22 school year you can get started now by reading about the details of the program. There are many components and planning ahead will help you prepare. The program is administered at the state level by the Maine Arts Commission.

American Rescue Plan

Afterschool Arts Education can Benefit from American Rescue Plan

Thanks to the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Congress passed in March, a fantastic opportunity is available for cultural non-profits and teaching artists to partner with schools to provide after-school or summer camp enrichment programs for students.  This latest round of COVID relief for education, ESSER III (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) calls for 20% of funds to go towards learning.  This is new.  In ESSER I and II, funds mostly covered direct prevention measures such as sanitation, air quality upgrades, facility/ space restructuring, and technology.  Also, ESSER III offers at least twice as much funding as before.  For Maine, this means over $82 million, 20% of our State’s allocation, needs to address “learning-loss.”

Dance education program Central School, South Berwick

We know that students have suffered in many ways from the COVID disruption to their learning, and the loss of opportunities for creative self-expression may be amongst the hardest.   In-person singing or making music, collaborating on art pieces, performing dance, theater or spoken word — together – has been non-existent or greatly altered this year, despite teachers’ best efforts.

Studies show that the arts inherently provide social and emotional learning, so critical at this time.

Now is the time to reach out to your local schools.  They are crafting programs themselves, arranging to bring subcontractors in, or a combination and welcome partnering to address students’ learning needs. 

The Maine Department of Education is also providing a webinar on the subject on Tuesday, April 20^th at 2 pm.  To learn more about this event and to register, click here.   More information can also be found here from EdNotes or here from the Afterschool Alliance.  Readers are also invited to contact Martha Piscuskas, Director of Arts Education at the Maine Arts Commission to discuss further: martha.piscuskas@maine.gov

Scholastic Art Awards

Maine College of Art

The 2021 Scholastic Art Award Ceremonies are archived at THIS LINK. Maine College Art is proud to be sharing this wonderful event with you. Included is a welcome and congratulations from Portland Mayor Kate Synder who honors Margaret Maxwell, recipient of the Scholastic 2021 Art Educator Excellence Award, David Greenham, Director of the Maine Arts Commission, and Christopher Wisniewski, Executive Director for the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers.

Students across the state are being recognized for their outstanding achievements in the 2021 Scholastic Art Awards. Maine is home to such an impressive generation of young artists! Special recognition goes to Della Huntley from Baxter Academy for her video liminal space received Maine’s American Visions Medal and a National Gold Medal in Film and Animation! Her teacher is Matthew Barnes. You can download Della’s Film, LIMINAL SPACE at THIS LINK.

Lilly Arbelo is from Wells High School and received a National Gold Medal in Photography for GENTLE SUFFOCATION. Her teacher is Emily Knight.

Lilly Arbelo, Wells High School, grade 11, Teacher: Emily Knight

The table below includes all of the Maine High School students who are receiving recognition this year by Scholastic for their amazing contributions of art work. In addition, the student school, grade, teacher, art work title, award, category and title of the art work. CONGRATULATIONS to all 200+ who participated!

Thank you to Pamela Moulton from Maine College of Art who is the coordinator for the Maine Regions Scholastic Art Awards.

Please be sure and scroll to the right to view all of the information about each student.

First Name	Last Name	Student Grade	School Name	Individual Awards	Work Category	Work Title	Educator1 First	Educator1 Last
Lilly	Arbelo	11	Wells High School	Honorable Mention |	Photography	Her Space	Emily	Knight
Lilly	Arbelo	11	Wells High School	Gold Key | Gold Medal	Photography	Gentle Suffocation	Emily	Knight
Lilly	Arbelo	11	Wells High School	Silver Key |	Painting	Bunny Hill	Emily	Knight
Dena	Arrison	12	Freeport High School	Silver Key |	Digital Art	Stay Safe	Kimberly	MedskerMehalic
Dena	Arrison	12	Freeport High School	Gold Key |	Art Portfolio	How does environment influence the mood?	Kimberly	MedskerMehalic
Alanna	Bachelder	11	Kents Hill School	Silver Key |	Drawing & Illustration	Avocado	Dylan	Gifford
Lexi	Bachelder	11	Rangeley Lakes Regional School	Honorable Mention |	Digital Art	Just a girl	SONJA	JOHNSON
Emma	Barry	12	Freeport High School	Honorable Mention |	Art Portfolio	Out of Place	Kimberly	MedskerMehalic
Emma	Barry	12	Freeport High School	Silver Key |	Digital Art	Cliffhanger	Kimberly	MedskerMehalic
Emma	Barry	12	Freeport High School	Honorable Mention |	Art Portfolio	Common Phrases	Kimberly	MedskerMehalic
Julia	Bell	10	Baxter Academy Tech & Science	Gold Key |	Digital Art	You’re still here	Matthew	Barnes
Elwen	Bernard	12	Baxter Academy Tech & Science	Honorable Mention |	Drawing & Illustration	Passport Photo	Matthew	Barnes
Elwen	Bernard	12	Baxter Academy Tech & Science	Gold Key |	Mixed Media	Tinful of Tales	Matthew	Barnes
Elwen	Bernard	12	Baxter Academy Tech & Science	Gold Key |	Mixed Media	Tide Clock	Matthew	Barnes
Sophia	Blanco	8	Winthrop High School	Gold Key |	Painting	Newport	Kristen	Kaiser
Sophia	Blanco	8	Winthrop High School	Honorable Mention |	Painting	Clouds at Quoddy Headlight	Kristen	Kaiser
Sophia	Blanco	8	Winthrop High School	Gold Key |	Painting	Sisterly Love	Kristen	Kaiser
Sophia	Blanco	8	Winthrop High School	Honorable Mention |	Sculpture	Pearl	Kristen	Kaiser
Dorcas	Bolese	10	Yarmouth High School	Silver Key |	Painting	Appropriate	Melissa	Sylvester
Alaina	Bonis	10	Hebron Academy	Silver Key |	Painting	Sunrise	Gabe	Miller
Alaina	Bonis	10	Hebron Academy	Honorable Mention |	Ceramics & Glass	Self Portrait	Gabe	Miller
Alaina	Bonis	10	Hebron Academy	Honorable Mention |	Drawing & Illustration	Tim	Gabe	Miller
Alaina	Bonis	10	Hebron Academy	Silver Key |	Drawing & Illustration	Self Portrait 2	Gabe	Miller
Zara	Boss	12	Thornton Academy	Silver Key |	Drawing & Illustration	Coffee On The Brain	jennifer	merry
Zara	Boss	12	Thornton Academy	Honorable Mention |	Mixed Media	By A Thread	Jodi	Thomas
Zara	Boss	12	Thornton Academy	Silver Key |	Mixed Media	Mind Painter	Jodi	Thomas
Zara	Boss	12	Thornton Academy	Honorable Mention |	Art Portfolio	Identity	Jodi	Thomas
Obi	Boucher	12	Sacopee Valley High School	Honorable Mention |	Printmaking	DUTY	Shaelin	Shields
Obi	Boucher	12	Sacopee Valley High School	Silver Key |	Art Portfolio	Textural Works	Shaelin	Shields
Andrew	Bouvier	12	Berwick Academy	Gold Key |	Painting	A Balanced Earth	Raegan	Russell
Elizabeth	Bove	12	Thornton Academy	Honorable Mention |	Art Portfolio	Charcoal Study	Jodi	Thomas
Hayden	Braun	10	Mount Desert Island High School	Honorable Mention |	Comic Art	Colorful Menagerie	Charlie	Johnson
Hayden	Braun	10	Mount Desert Island High School	Honorable Mention |	Digital Art	Cityscape	Charlie	Johnson
Breydon	Brough	11	Oxford Hills Tech School	Honorable Mention |	Design	Reclaiming your World	Virginia	Valdes
Celia	Buetens	11	Orono High School	Gold Key |	Painting	Mirror, Mirror	Jessica	Barnes
Valentina	Capri Arroyo	12	Thornton Academy	Gold Key, American Visions Nominee |	Photography	Como el agua	Jodi	Thomas
Erik	Carson	9	Edward Little High School	Gold Key |	Comic Art	Watch Out!	Diana	Carson
Sophia	Carson	12	Edward Little High School	Honorable Mention |	Drawing & Illustration	Idle Hands	Diana	Carson
Nora	Castonguay	10	Kents Hill School	Honorable Mention |	Sculpture	Refugee Mask	Dylan	Gifford
Annie	Chapman	12	Thornton Academy	Silver Key |	Painting	Brother	Jodi	Thomas
Annie	Chapman	12	Thornton Academy	Honorable Mention |	Painting	Self Portrait in Still Life	Jodi	Thomas
Camden	Chase	12	Berwick Academy	Honorable Mention |	Digital Art	Changing Home	Raegan	Russell
Camila	Ciembroniewicz	12	Mt Ararat High School	Silver Key |	Drawing & Illustration	Joseph and His Camera	Christine	Del Rossi
Zoe	Clark	12	Wells High School	Gold Key |	Photography	Flight	Emily	Knight
Zoe	Clark	12	Wells High School	Honorable Mention |	Photography	Stars	Emily	Knight
Zoe	Clark	12	Wells High School	Honorable Mention |	Photography	Reflect	Emily	Knight
Emma	Comparato	10	Brunswick High School	Honorable Mention |	Photography	She’s on the door	Jennie	Driscoll
Riley	Coron	11	Kennebunk High School	Honorable Mention |	Photography	Sweet Sorrow	Katie	Mooney
ChloeViolet	Corral	12	Baxter Academy Tech & Science	Honorable Mention |	Digital Art	Complex Savior	Matthew	Barnes
ChloeViolet	Corral	12	Baxter Academy Tech & Science	Silver Key |	Film & Animation	Surprise Encounter	Matthew	Barnes
Caroline	Couperthwait	10	R W Traip Academy	Honorable Mention |	Sculpture	The Shape of Nature	Kimberly	Burke
Grace	Courtney	12	Thornton Academy	Honorable Mention |	Ceramics & Glass	Sculpture of a Barn Owl	Dana	Altman
Grace	Courtney	12	Thornton Academy	Gold Key |	Mixed Media	Self-Portrait	jennifer	merry
Anavi	Curtiss	11	Wells High School	Honorable Mention |	Comic Art	Eating Fish	Emily	Knight
Emma	Dawson-Webb	11	R W Traip Academy	Silver Key |	Mixed Media	Left Behind	Kimberly	Burke
Emma	Dawson-Webb	11	R W Traip Academy	Gold Key |	Painting	Rich Loneliness	Kimberly	Burke
Isla	Day	9	George Stevens Academy	Honorable Mention |	Film & Animation	Girl Versus Nature	Melissa	Rioux
Aynslie	Decker	12	Freeport High School	Honorable Mention |	Mixed Media	Natural Chickadee	Kimberly	MedskerMehalic
Kaylee	Demers	11	Falmouth High School	Gold Key |	Painting	Climate Change: How Much Longer Can We Hang On To Our Burning Home?	Nancy	Goldstone
Kaylee	Demers	11	Falmouth High School	Silver Key |	Comic Art	Thinking Outside The Box	Nancy	Goldstone
Holly	Dowling	11	Mt Blue High School	Honorable Mention |	Drawing & Illustration	Television Head	Pamela	Chernesky
Emily	Eastlack	11	Rangeley Lakes Regional School	Silver Key |	Mixed Media	Humanity	SONJA	JOHNSON
Alexia	Fasano	11	Oxford Hills Tech School	Silver Key |	Photography	Skewed	Virginia	Valdes
Alexia	Fasano	11	Oxford Hills Tech School	Honorable Mention |	Photography	Teenage Mind	Virginia	Valdes
Alexia	Fasano	11	Oxford Hills Tech School	Silver Key |	Photography	Abandoned in Maine	Virginia	Valdes
Alexia	Fasano	11	Oxford Hills Tech School	Honorable Mention |	Photography	Fierce Lioness	Virginia	Valdes
Brianna	Flanders	11	Kennebunk High School	Gold Key |	Digital Art	Dehumanizing Despair	Brendan	Roddy
Anna	Franks	11	Wells High School	Honorable Mention |	Painting	Grayscale quarantine	Emily	Knight
Owen	Gallo-Wagoner	12	Cheverus High School	Gold Key |	Photography	Mom	Christina	Metcalf
Lillian	Gaudiano	10	Bonny Eagle High School	Gold Key |	Drawing & Illustration	Spring Hike	Margaret	Maxwell
Lillian	Gaudiano	10	Bonny Eagle High School	Gold Key, American Visions Nominee |	Drawing & Illustration	Growing Resilience	Margaret	Maxwell
Lillian	Gaudiano	10	Bonny Eagle High School	Honorable Mention |	Mixed Media	The Twins	Margaret	Maxwell
Lillian	Gaudiano	10	Bonny Eagle High School	Silver Key |	Drawing & Illustration	Tessa	Margaret	Maxwell
Daphne	Giampietro	12	Mt Blue High School	Gold Key |	Digital Art	Transition	Pamela	Chernesky
Alek	Gideon	11	Freeport High School	Silver Key |	Drawing & Illustration	Reality Against Will	Kimberly	MedskerMehalic
Phebe	Grant	12	Kennebunk High School	Silver Key |	Photography	Knife Edge	Katie	Mooney
Elaina	Hammond	11	Kennebunk High School	Silver Key |	Photography	Pooches on Gooches	Katie	Mooney
Elaina	Hammond	11	Kennebunk High School	Silver Key |	Photography	Family Walks	Katie	Mooney
Natalie	Hanagan	12	Wells High School	Honorable Mention |	Photography	Joy	Emily	Knight
Lily	Hansen	11	Kennebunk High School	Honorable Mention |	Mixed Media	Fire on Fire	Brendan	Roddy
Caton	Hazard	11	Falmouth High School	Honorable Mention |	Painting	Media: How does it Influence your Perception?	Nancy	Goldstone
Taylor	Hemenway	12	North Yarmouth Academy	Honorable Mention |	Painting	Finning	Colby	Myer
Taylor	Hemenway	12	North Yarmouth Academy	Honorable Mention |	Drawing & Illustration	Hiding Octopus	Colby	Myer
Addaline	Hemingway	10	Rangeley Lakes Regional School	Honorable Mention |	Drawing & Illustration	Blue	SONJA	JOHNSON
Shaylee	Herrin	12	Marshwood High School	Honorable Mention |	Digital Art	Curiosity	Rebecca	Poliquin
Hope	Hoffman	12	Kennebunk High School	Silver Key |	Painting	The Off-Season	Katie	Mooney
Hope	Hoffman	12	Kennebunk High School	Silver Key |	Painting	Sunday Evening	Katie	Mooney
Hope	Hoffman	12	Kennebunk High School	Silver Key |	Digital Art	Of Course	Katie	Mooney
Sadie	Holland	11	York High School	Silver Key |	Comic Art	Corvus	David	Shenett
Aniela	Holtrop	12	Freeport High School	Honorable Mention |	Digital Art	Dianthus – Scarlet Carnations	Kimberly	MedskerMehalic
Mia	Hornschild-Bear	10	Freeport High School	Honorable Mention |	Drawing & Illustration	A Self Portrait	Kimberly	MedskerMehalic
Mia	Hornschild-Bear	10	Freeport High School	Gold Key |	Drawing & Illustration	Building Blocks	Kimberly	MedskerMehalic
Mia	Hornschild-Bear	10	Freeport High School	Silver Key |	Editorial Cartoon sponsored by The Herb Block Foundation	Donald and His Shadows	Kimberly	MedskerMehalic
Mia	Hornschild-Bear	10	Freeport High School	Silver Key |	Photography	Infinite	Kimberly	MedskerMehalic
Mia	Hornschild-Bear	10	Freeport High School	Silver Key |	Photography	Momentaufnahme	Kimberly	MedskerMehalic
Mia	Hornschild-Bear	10	Freeport High School	Silver Key |	Drawing & Illustration	Manifesting the Mind	Kimberly	MedskerMehalic
Natalie	Howard	11	Falmouth High School	Gold Key |	Drawing & Illustration	Goody Bag	Nancy	Goldstone
Natalie	Howard	11	Falmouth High School	Honorable Mention |	Drawing & Illustration	Mystical Garden	Nancy	Goldstone
Natalie	Howard	11	Falmouth High School	Silver Key |	Painting	Down the Rabbit Hole	Nancy	Goldstone
Natalie	Howard	11	Falmouth High School	Honorable Mention |	Drawing & Illustration	Burning Out	Nancy	Goldstone
Natalie	Howard	11	Falmouth High School	Silver Key |	Drawing & Illustration	Bernese Sanders	Nancy	Goldstone
Della	Huntley	12	Baxter Academy Tech & Science	Gold Key, American Visions Nominee | Gold Medal, American Visions Medal	Film & Animation	liminal space	Matthew	Barnes
Della	Huntley	12	Baxter Academy Tech & Science	Honorable Mention |	Mixed Media	What Lies Below/RMS Kamtschatka	Matthew	Barnes
Della	Huntley	12	Baxter Academy Tech & Science	Gold Key |	Printmaking	In A Fog	Matthew	Barnes
Della	Huntley	12	Baxter Academy Tech & Science	Gold Key |	Drawing & Illustration	Tarot of the Blinded Eye	Matthew	Barnes
Annika	Huntress	12	R W Traip Academy	Silver Key |	Sculpture	Vivid Dreams	Kimberly	Burke
Madison	Hurley	12	Portland High School	Silver Key |	Drawing & Illustration	Coty and Winnie	Barbara	Loring
Dabria	Hyman	11	Falmouth High School	Gold Key |	Fashion	Wildnight	Susan	Morse
Tallulah	Im	11	North Yarmouth Academy	Honorable Mention |	Drawing & Illustration	Still Life	Colby	Myer
Zoë	Iobst	12	Bangor High School	Honorable Mention |	Photography	winds of change	Susan	Bryand
Zoë	Iobst	12	Bangor High School	Honorable Mention |	Digital Art	am i broken	Susan	Bryand
Colby	Jackson-Parise	12	Scarborough High School	Honorable Mention |	Drawing & Illustration	Elliot & Louis	Erin	Landry-Fowler
Colby	Jackson-Parise	12	Scarborough High School	Honorable Mention |	Drawing & Illustration	Grandma’s Attic	Erin	Landry-Fowler
Ian	Jacobs	9	Kennebunk High School	Honorable Mention |	Digital Art	Ian’s 4th of July	Katie	Mooney
Leah	Jarochym	7	York Middle School	Silver Key |	Comic Art	Hide-and-Seek	Alexis	Kochka
Ethan	Jason	8	–	Silver Key |	Architecture & Industrial Design	Volunteer Stadium, Home of The Nashville Notes	Allison	Jason
Ethan	Jason	8	–	Gold Key |	Photography	Skyscraper	Allison	Jason
Fiona	Jason	9	Baxter Academy Tech & Science	Honorable Mention |	Sculpture	The House of Blues	Matthew	Barnes
Fiona	Jason	9	Baxter Academy Tech & Science	Honorable Mention |	Photography	Headspace	Matthew	Barnes
Amelia	Jerlach	10	Portland High School	Silver Key |	Drawing & Illustration	Pepper the Pug	Barbara	Loring
Hayley	Kennagh	12	Oxford Hills Tech School	Silver Key |	Design	What makes a horse, a horse.	Virginia	Valdes
Isabel	Kesselhaut	11	Cape Elizabeth High School	Honorable Mention |	Photography	Guanaco	Rosamond	Gross
Isabel	Kesselhaut	11	Cape Elizabeth High School	Gold Key |	Photography	Take Off	Rosamond	Gross
Isabel	Kesselhaut	11	Cape Elizabeth High School	Honorable Mention |	Photography	Ice Tree	Rosamond	Gross
Isabel	Kesselhaut	11	Cape Elizabeth High School	Gold Key |	Photography	Beautifully Bleak	Rosamond	Gross
Gabriel	Kirmani	8	–	Honorable Mention |	Design	B1uest Logo	Allegra	Kirmani
Emma	Knowles	11	Kents Hill School	Honorable Mention |	Ceramics & Glass	Acorn Vessel	Dylan	Gifford
Saffron	Labos	11	Freeport High School	Honorable Mention |	Painting	Queen of the Night	Kimberly	MedskerMehalic
Saffron	Labos	11	Freeport High School	Silver Key |	Digital Art	I Told You I’m Fine	Kimberly	MedskerMehalic
Sophia	Lambert	11	Falmouth High School	Honorable Mention |	Painting	When the Body Sleeps, a Storm Rolls In	Nancy	Goldstone
Mischa	Landgarten	10	Berwick Academy	Silver Key |	Drawing & Illustration	Broken Portrait	Raegan	Russell
Mischa	Landgarten	10	Berwick Academy	Silver Key |	Drawing & Illustration	eye portrait 2	Raegan	Russell
Winnie	LaRochelle	10	Rangeley Lakes Regional School	Honorable Mention |	Drawing & Illustration	Covered Up	SONJA	JOHNSON
A.	Larrabee	12	Kennebunk High School	Silver Key |	Digital Art	2020 Earth Day	Brendan	Roddy
Abby	Lemieux	12	Kennebunk High School	Honorable Mention |	Digital Art	Falling With Style	Brendan	Roddy
Celia	Linderoth	8	Cape Elizabeth Middle School	Honorable Mention |	Editorial Cartoon sponsored by The Herb Block Foundation	Fast Fashion	Marguerite	Lawler-Rohner
Isabelle	Liu	11	Scarborough High School	Silver Key |	Drawing & Illustration	A Dreary Reflection	Erin	Landry-Fowler
Jenny	Ma	12	Berwick Academy	Honorable Mention |	Painting	A Cruel Crazy Beautiful World	Raegan	Russell
Jenny	Ma	12	Berwick Academy	Silver Key |	Drawing & Illustration	Me: Praying and Blaming —— A Reflection of Coronavirus Pandemic	Raegan	Russell
Jenny	Ma	12	Berwick Academy	Gold Key |	Art Portfolio	Me	Raegan	Russell
Natalie	Malone-Berry	12	Baxter Academy Tech & Science	Silver Key |	Printmaking	Conscientia Autem Ludibriis	Matthew	Barnes
Natalie	Malone-Berry	12	Baxter Academy Tech & Science	Honorable Mention |	Printmaking	Street Harmony	Matthew	Barnes
Natalie	Malone-Berry	12	Baxter Academy Tech & Science	Honorable Mention |	Drawing & Illustration	Representing Personal Spirituality: Tarot	Matthew	Barnes
Daniel	Mereness	12	Kennebunk High School	Honorable Mention |	Comic Art	Quarantine	Katie	Mooney
Isabella	Mezzapelle	11	Freeport High School	Gold Key |	Design	You Won’t Need It, Someone Else Will	Kimberly	MedskerMehalic
Isabella	Mezzapelle	11	Freeport High School	Honorable Mention |	Drawing & Illustration	The Pain and The Power	Kimberly	MedskerMehalic
Isabella	Mezzapelle	11	Freeport High School	Honorable Mention |	Drawing & Illustration	Falling	Kimberly	MedskerMehalic
Alexis	Milem	11	Thornton Academy	Gold Key |	Photography	I Can’t Breathe	Jodi	Thomas
Kaleigh	Miller	12	Thornton Academy	Honorable Mention |	Photography	Food FlatLay	Jodi	Thomas
Kailyn	Minoty	12	Gardiner Area High School	Honorable Mention |	Digital Art	A distant embrace	Debra	Butterfield
Teagan	Moon	12	Portland High School	Gold Key |	Comic Art	Floating Head	Barbara	Loring
Austria	Morehouse	12	Mount Desert Island High School	Silver Key |	Photography	Finding Myself	Charlie	Johnson
Austria	Morehouse	12	Mount Desert Island High School	Honorable Mention |	Photography	Atlas	Charlie	Johnson
Austria	Morehouse	12	Mount Desert Island High School	Silver Key |	Photography	The Sea is On Fire	Charlie	Johnson
Austria	Morehouse	12	Mount Desert Island High School	Silver Key |	Photography	Gravity	Charlie	Johnson
Sydney	Morrison	12	Freeport High School	Honorable Mention |	Drawing & Illustration	Look Ma’ No Hands	Kimberly	MedskerMehalic
Sydney	Morrison	12	Freeport High School	Silver Key |	Sculpture	Stradivarius	Kimberly	MedskerMehalic
Gracie	Morse	12	Freeport High School	Honorable Mention |	Painting	Stress Relief	Kimberly	MedskerMehalic
Saren	Moseley	12	Rangeley Lakes Regional School	Honorable Mention |	Art Portfolio	Cast of Characters	SONJA	JOHNSON
Sara	Murray	11	Lewiston High School	Honorable Mention |	Painting	Lean on Me	Kyna	Pitula
Scout	Nasse	10	Thornton Academy	Honorable Mention |	Painting	Self Portrait	jennifer	merry
Culiandra	Nero	12	Oxford Hills Tech School	Silver Key |	Editorial Cartoon sponsored by The Herb Block Foundation	Who’s Afraid of Winnie the Pooh?	Virginia	Valdes
Culiandra	Nero	12	Oxford Hills Tech School	Honorable Mention |	Photography	Exiled Rebel	Virginia	Valdes
Culiandra	Nero	12	Oxford Hills Tech School	Honorable Mention |	Design	An Exploration of Maine in Type	Virginia	Valdes
Culiandra	Nero	12	Oxford Hills Tech School	Silver Key |	Digital Art	Who’s Afraid of Winnie the Pooh?	Virginia	Valdes
Culiandra	Nero	12	Oxford Hills Tech School	Silver Key |	Art Portfolio	Memories of March	Virginia	Valdes
Culiandra	Nero	12	Oxford Hills Tech School	Silver Key |	Art Portfolio	The Magic of the Wandering Witch	Virginia	Valdes
Rosemary	Norton	11	Wells High School	Honorable Mention |	Comic Art	3 Space Cadets	Emily	Knight
Maysa	O’Connor	12	–	Honorable Mention |	Painting	Hubris	Mary	Pennington
Naomi	Obenhaus	12	Maine Virtual Academy	Silver Key |	Art Portfolio	Fall and Rise	Alicia	Uth
Ryan	Ocampo	11	Scarborough High School	Gold Key |	Ceramics & Glass	Creepy Carl the Camel	Erin	Landry-Fowler
Ryan	Ocampo	11	Scarborough High School	Gold Key |	Painting	Locked Down, Looking Out	Erin	Landry-Fowler
Ryan	Ocampo	11	Scarborough High School	Silver Key |	Ceramics & Glass	Patrice Lumumba	Erin	Landry-Fowler
Josi	Palmer	12	Kents Hill School	Honorable Mention |	Photography	Focus	RJ	Jenkins
Hannah	Parsons	12	Kents Hill School	Silver Key |	Painting	roles switched	RJ	Jenkins
Lucas G.	Perez	8	Lyman Moore Middle School	Honorable Mention |	Painting	Andalucia	Rachel	Branham
Lucas G.	Perez	8	Lyman Moore Middle School	Honorable Mention |	Comic Art	The Pandemic	Rachel	Branham
Lucas G.	Perez	8	Lyman Moore Middle School	Gold Key |	Painting	The Stranger	Rachel	Branham
Whitney	Perkins	10	Lewiston High School	Gold Key |	Photography	Curious	Sarah	Stocker
Xochitl	Pope	8	Bonny Eagle Middle School	Silver Key |	Photography	girl on fire	Katherine	Thompson
Bristol	Quimby	11	Rangeley Lakes Regional School	Honorable Mention |	Drawing & Illustration	Imaginary Friends	SONJA	JOHNSON
Kailynn	Reynolds	11	Oxford Hills Tech School	Silver Key |	Design	2020 vote poster	Virginia	Valdes
Mae	Richardson	11	Kennebunk High School	Honorable Mention |	Ceramics & Glass	Icarus fell	Marnie	Rollerson
Mae	Richardson	11	Kennebunk High School	Honorable Mention |	Ceramics & Glass	Midnight Meadow	Marnie	Rollerson
Elaina	Rioux	11	Kennebunk High School	Silver Key |	Drawing & Illustration	Curvy Citrus	Brendan	Roddy
Kai	Rosenberg	12	Wells High School	Honorable Mention |	Ceramics & Glass	Hungry Sofa	Emily	Knight
Mallory	Roy	11	Falmouth High School	Honorable Mention |	Fashion	Save the Sea	Susan	Morse
Kaitlyn	Sawicki	12	Freeport High School	Gold Key |	Painting	Don and Gunner	Kimberly	MedskerMehalic
Arzou	Sayed	11	Gorham High School	Honorable Mention |	Drawing & Illustration	Horse Rider	Sarah	Dolley
Kellie	Scott	12	Kents Hill School	Honorable Mention |	Sculpture	Anxiety Mask	Dylan	Gifford
Ella	Shaffer	11	Rangeley Lakes Regional School	Honorable Mention |	Drawing & Illustration	Lily	SONJA	JOHNSON
Anna	Sharp	10	Falmouth High School	Gold Key, American Visions Nominee |	Drawing & Illustration	Target	Nancy	Goldstone
Hannah	Slone	11	Kennebunk High School	Silver Key |	Photography	Makers of Fashion	Katie	Mooney
Hannah	Slone	11	Kennebunk High School	Silver Key |	Fashion	Slow Fashion	Brendan	Roddy
Hannah	Slone	11	Kennebunk High School	Honorable Mention |	Fashion	Recycled Fashion	Brendan	Roddy
Anita	Smith	10	Scarborough High School	Gold Key |	Drawing & Illustration	Tita	Erin	Landry-Fowler
Anita	Smith	10	Scarborough High School	Honorable Mention |	Digital Art	Memory	Erin	Landry-Fowler
Anita	Smith	10	Scarborough High School	Gold Key |	Digital Art	Mistakes	Erin	Landry-Fowler
Jacob	Smith	12	Winthrop High School	Honorable Mention |	Photography	Climbing the Fire Tower	Tiffany	Shaw
Jacob	Smith	12	Winthrop High School	Honorable Mention |	Digital Art	Exist Loudly	Tiffany	Shaw
Paige	Spears	12	Winslow High School	Honorable Mention |	Drawing & Illustration	Dreamscape	Suzanne	Goulet
Paige	Spears	12	Winslow High School	Honorable Mention |	Art Portfolio	Vivid Imagination	Suzanne	Goulet
Charles	Spencer	10	Portland High School	Honorable Mention |	Photography	The Mountains	Barbara	Loring
Ellena	Stepp	9	Thornton Academy	Honorable Mention |	Photography	Trapped	Jodi	Thomas
Ellena	Stepp	9	Thornton Academy	Honorable Mention |	Photography	Into the Mirror	Jodi	Thomas
Ellena	Stepp	9	Thornton Academy	Silver Key |	Photography	Books and Bubbles	Jodi	Thomas
Amelia	Stokes	10	Rangeley Lakes Regional School	Honorable Mention |	Mixed Media	breath of fresh air	Sonja	Jhonson
Caroline	Straw	8	Cape Elizabeth Middle School	Silver Key |	Jewelry	Necklace	Marguerite	Lawler-Rohner
Caroline	Straw	8	Cape Elizabeth Middle School	Honorable Mention |	Photography	First Day Of Spring	Marguerite	Lawler-Rohner
Sally	Stronge	10	North Yarmouth Academy	Honorable Mention |	Painting	Brothers	Colby	Myer
Sally	Stronge	10	North Yarmouth Academy	Honorable Mention |	Mixed Media	Catching a Miracle	Colby	Myer
Viktoria	Sugars	12	Oxford Hills Tech School	Honorable Mention |	Design	Hairstyles for a Black Christmas	Virginia	Valdes
Viktoria	Sugars	12	Oxford Hills Tech School	Honorable Mention |	Comic Art	Safe or Sink	Virginia	Valdes
Viktoria	Sugars	12	Oxford Hills Tech School	Honorable Mention |	Art Portfolio	Black Girls Represent	Virginia	Valdes
Viktoria	Sugars	12	Oxford Hills Tech School	Honorable Mention |	Design	Zoom Alternate Universe	Virginia	Valdes
Viktoria	Sugars	12	Oxford Hills Tech School	Honorable Mention |	Digital Art	Afralien	Virginia	Valdes
Audrey	Swasey	12	Oxford Hills Tech School	Honorable Mention |	Design	Wizard of Oz	Virginia	Valdes
Hailey	Talbert	10	Falmouth High School	Honorable Mention |	Sculpture	Cardboard Clogs	Nancy	Goldstone
Hailey	Talbert	10	Falmouth High School	Honorable Mention |	Painting	August Fishing in Maine	Nancy	Goldstone
Megan	Thibeault	12	Thornton Academy	Honorable Mention |	Drawing & Illustration	Still Life	Jodi	Thomas
Megan	Thibeault	12	Thornton Academy	Gold Key |	Art Portfolio	My Artistic Journey	Jodi	Thomas
Nina	Thompson	11	Baxter Academy Tech & Science	Honorable Mention |	Painting	The Congregation of Four Witches	Matthew	Barnes
Maggie	Thyer	11	Bangor High School	Honorable Mention |	Mixed Media	Where Have you Been?	Susan	Bryand
Alden	Timm	12	Oxford Hills Tech School	Gold Key |	Photography	Changing Of Roles	Virginia	Valdes
Alden	Timm	12	Oxford Hills Tech School	Silver Key |	Photography	Look Up	Virginia	Valdes
Quinn	Tremblay	12	Wells High School	Honorable Mention |	Drawing & Illustration	Backstage at Burlesque	Emily	Knight
Caroline	Van Hemel	11	Kennebunk High School	Honorable Mention |	Photography	Forgotten Attic Window	Katie	Mooney
Grace	Ward	12	Wells High School	Honorable Mention |	Drawing & Illustration	Graphite Woman	Emily	Knight
Caleb	Weinstein	11	Berwick Academy	Gold Key |	Ceramics & Glass	Copper Ruby Cylinder with Iris Vanilla Weaving	Raegan	Russell
Caleb	Weinstein	11	Berwick Academy	Gold Key |	Ceramics & Glass	Black Wavy Bowl with Enamel White Weaving and Lipstick Red Lip Wrap	Raegan	Russell
Jiazheng	Wen	12	Kents Hill School	Honorable Mention |	Sculpture	Breaking the Wall	Dylan	Gifford
Lily	West	9	Freeport High School	Silver Key |	Drawing & Illustration	A Walk with Wallace	Kimberly	MedskerMehalic
Jillian	Wight	10	Freeport High School	Silver Key |	Editorial Cartoon sponsored by The Herb Block Foundation	How To Be a Classy Lady	Kimberly	MedskerMehalic
Jillian	Wight	10	Freeport High School	Honorable Mention |	Drawing & Illustration	Trippy Chickens	Kimberly	MedskerMehalic
Jillian	Wight	10	Freeport High School	Silver Key |	Drawing & Illustration	Dreamland	Kimberly	MedskerMehalic
Autumn-Skye	Williams	12	Rangeley Lakes Regional School	Silver Key |	Mixed Media	Ignorance 2020	SONJA	JOHNSON
Francine	Wilson-Charuk	12	Bangor High School	Honorable Mention |	Photography	Harry and Maayan	Eric	Hutchins
Francine	Wilson-Charuk	12	Bangor High School	Honorable Mention |	Photography	Mom	Eric	Hutchins
Ben	Wuoristo	12	Bangor High School	Honorable Mention |	Digital Art	Novelty Negatives	Susan	Bryand
Ben	Wuoristo	12	Bangor High School	Gold Key |	Photography	Surroundings	Susan	Bryand
Coco	Xu	10	Falmouth High School	Honorable Mention |	Photography	Puzzled	Susan	Morse
Coco	Xu	10	Falmouth High School	Silver Key |	Photography	Masked Reflection	Susan	Morse
Coco	Xu	10	Falmouth High School	Honorable Mention |	Photography	Haze	Susan	Morse
Ruoxuan	Zhang	12	Lee Academy	Gold Key |	Drawing & Illustration	City Still Life	Monica	Liaw
Ruoxuan	Zhang	12	Lee Academy	Gold Key |	Drawing & Illustration	Turmoil	Monica	Liaw
Ruoxuan	Zhang	12	Lee Academy	Gold Key |	Drawing & Illustration	Freedom	Adrien	Lanfranchi
Ruoxuan	Zhang	12	Lee Academy	Silver Key |	Painting	Memories through an Old Town	Monica	Liaw
Ruoxuan	Zhang	12	Lee Academy	Silver Key |	Painting	Self Portrait with Heat Gun	Adrien	Lanfranchi
Ruoxuan	Zhang	12	Lee Academy	Gold Key |	Drawing & Illustration	War Landscape	Adrien	Lanfranchi
Ruoxuan	Zhang	12	Lee Academy	Honorable Mention |	Drawing & Illustration	Ink Figure Drawing	Monica	Liaw
Ruoxuan	Zhang	12	Lee Academy	Gold Key |	Sculpture	Reality Check	Adrien	Lanfranchi
Ruoxuan	Zhang	12	Lee Academy	Gold Key |	Painting	Oil leak	Adrien	Lanfranchi
Julian	Zhu	10	Fryeburg Academy	Gold Key |	Photography	Graduation 2020-Under COVID-19	Jennifer	Bartlett
Celia	Zimba	12	Freeport High School	Honorable Mention |	Drawing & Illustration	Her Own Little World	Kimberly	MedskerMehalic

Arts Ed Advocacy Day

Documentation of the day – February 17

If you were able to attend the virtual plenary sessions on February 17 in recognition of Arts Education Advocacy Day you are aware of the outstanding opportunity the 2 hour session provided. If you were not there, you’re in luck. All of the sessions were recorded and embedded below. The day was organized by the Maine Alliance for Arts Education (MAAE) in collaboration with the leaders of the ABC – Arts Are Basic Coalition.

The first one below actually took place during the last part of Arts Education Advocacy Day, the ABC Student Advocacy Initiatives. We know at the heart of providing quality arts education programs and access to it are students! I salute all the Maine students who care deeply for the arts and are afforded an excellent curriculum. And, to all the arts educators striving to provide access to these programs, thank you!

ABC Student Advocacy Initiative

Governor Janet T. Mills Arts Ed Advocacy Message

Remarks from Maine Arts Commission Arts Education Director Martha Piscuskas

Conversation with Maine Art Education Association President Lynda Leonas and Argy Nestor

Visual Art Advocacy Video Maine Minds

Conversation with Maine Educational Theatre Association leader Kailey Smith and Beth Lambert

Maine Department of Education – Kellie Bailey, Social/Emotional Learning and Trauma-Informed Practices Specialist, Commissioner Pender Makin, and Jason Anderson, Visual and Performing Arts Specialist

Conversation with Maine Dance Educator representative Thornton Academy Dance Educator Emma Campbell and MaryEllen Schaper

Conversation with Maine Music Educators Association President Sandra Barry and Kaitlin Young

Music Advocacy Video

Thank you to Susan Potters, Executive Director of MAAE and Melissa Birkhold MAAE Advocacy Coordinator for the plenary session for Maine Arts Ed Advocacy Day and making these individual videos available. The videos are also available on the MAAE website at THIS LINK.

Happy Arts Education Month

Celebrate!

On Wednesday, February 17 Arts Education Advocacy Day was celebrated during a zoom a plenary session provided by the Arts are Basic Coalition (ABC) and the Maine Alliance for Arts Education (MAAE) working with the Maine Department of Education and the Maine Arts Commission. All of Maine’s professional arts education organizations leaders are members of ABC and presented along with amazing student voices. I’m sure many of the Maine Arts Education blog readers attended.

Commissioner of Education, Pender Makin, participated in the event and I think her message is a great place to start March – Arts Education Month. I encourage you to share her message with your colleagues (visual and performing arts educators and all others), with parents, school board members and your community members. The archive of the plenary session will be available and provided by MAAE in the very near future.

COMMISSIONER PENDER MAKIN’S MESSAGE

“We (MDOE) value the arts in education extremely highly and perhaps above everything else and here’s why: it’s more than the pragmatic use of the arts to build the architecture, the neural pathways within brains that their engagement in the arts definitely develops, allowing them to better learn and more deeply learn all of their other content. That’s important but it’s not that, it goes beyond the creativity, the self-expression. Even goes beyond the social emotional pieces. It goes beyond the power of the arts which is so critically important at this time above all other times to heal a broken society, to find and create unity in divisiveness. It goes beyond that even. And here’s what I think it is. Arts in education, especially in public education, where every child is supposed to have their very best shot provided for them is critical because it ultimately makes life worth living. The arts make all the other business we do worth doing. It is critical now and always has been but we really need to move forward that we provide equity of opportunity, equity of access, and make sure that all of our arts opportunities are widely available and represent the demographics in the surrounding community.”

MICA

Maine Arts Commission provided conference

Thanks to the Maine Arts Commission outstanding staff another fantastic Maine International Conference on the Arts (MICA) took place this year. Even though it happened virtually the quality of presentations was outstanding. And, fortunately the amazing sessions were recorded and available for you to watch them over and over by CLICKING HERE.  

In addition to the workshops the performances are available to watch as well by CLICKING HERE. They vary greatly and the topics are very interesting. It’s a great way to listen and learn about something you’re curious about or perhaps you’ve never heard of. Scan through the titles and descriptions, make a list of what you’d like to watch and when. Grab your favorite snack and sit back in a comfy chair and enjoy each and every one.

One of the workshops during the conference was called Creating Welcoming Spaces. As a follow up to that workshop MAC is offering a follow-up session. In this continued conversation happening LIVE February 25 at 1 p.m. on the Maine Arts Commission’s Facebook Page, moderator Marty Pottenger will again be joined by Samuel James, Brigid Rankowski, Chris Newell, Nyamoun Nquany Machar (Moon), and Bridget Matros to discuss the long term work needed to make our spaces and programs more all-embracing,  accessible, and genuinely welcoming to our increasingly diverse community of Mainers. 

Everyone attending this event  is encouraged to watch the first session from the Virtual MICA conference.

MALI Becomes MAEPL

Teacher Network Rebrands its Commitment to Arts Education

The Teacher Leader network known as MALI, or Maine Arts Leadership Initiative, has taken on the new mantle of MAEPL, Maine Arts Education Partners in Leadership, with the revised mission to “develop and promote high quality arts education for all.” Leaders of MAEPL say the new name and mission statement better encapsulates what this community of arts educators has been and will continue to be. The process evolved as a result of bringing in new staff and expanding the organization’s leadership structure. Jake Sturtevant, music educator at Falmouth High School, longtime MALI member and Chair of the MAEPL Vision Team, said, “We are still committed to partnering with each other to be resilient, compassionate, and curious Teacher Leaders for our students and in our communities.”

2014 Summer MALI Institute

MALI, now MAEPL, a program of the Maine Arts Commission, is a unique teacher leader development program specifically for preK-12 visual and performing arts (VPA) educators from across the state, one of the very few in the country.  Led by active educators, they focus on the emerging needs of the field.  Components of the year-long program for both classroom teachers and teaching artists in all arts disciplines include community-building, an annual Individualized Professional Development Plan, structured mutual accountability, and leadership development. Over 120 Maine VPA teachers, as well as teaching artists, have participated in the last ten years.  

Even before the pandemic, teachers of the arts often felt isolated.  School district-level trainings are often geared towards general or “core” subject teachers.  “I’m only one of two in my district teaching elementary music.  We are in our little islands, far from anyone else doing what we do,” said Kate Smith, 2014 York County Teacher of the Year and MAEPL Program Team Leader.  “MALI changed all that.” 

Pamela Kinsey, Lori Spruce, Kate Smith, Pam Chernesky, Julie Richard, Winter Retreat 2020

This past year the group took a deep dive into their own organizational structure, assessing and clarifying their policies and processes. Even through the pandemic, the Leadership Teams met and solicited input from the entire membership, and determined a new name, a refined mission, and a new logo. “We chose the whirling maple seed pod as our new symbol because we felt it reflected the best of what we do – taking new ideas, learning and sharing together, then planting them throughout our school communities,” said Jennie Driscoll, visual art educator at Brunswick High School and Vision Team member. “It’s got our energy.”  

In 2020 they also delivered a virtual Summer Institute to 50 VPA educators, addressing the social and emotional resiliency needed this year. In addition, many members led efforts to support and connect with other teachers quickly adjusting to online instruction, leading virtual seminars through the Maine Department of Education and the Maine Arts Commission.

Group exercise at Winter Retreat, 2020

 “MALI grew a wealth of resources and committed members over the years,” said the current Director of Arts Education for the Maine Arts Commission, Martha Piscuskas, referring to the online Resource Bank and Arts Assessment Resources website, available free to all teachers. “We wanted to build on those strengths.” In addition to the professional development programs, next steps include creating an advisory council, streamlining their web presence, and continued advocacy for the sector. 

The group formed in 2010 to focus on student assessments, an emerging need for visual and performing arts teachers at that time. After learning from other states, a small group of educators led by Argy Nestor, the former Director of Arts Education at the Commission, Rob Westerberg, Choral Director at York High School, and Catherine Ring, former school administrator and art teacher, created the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative. They established the multi-day Summer Institute, sharing a framework and best practices for successful arts assessment in the classroom. “We quickly became the assessment experts in our schools,” said Sturtevant. 

Hope Lord and Adele Drake, MALI Summer Institute 2017

In 2015 the group added “teacher voice” and advocacy to their mission, becoming the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI), again addressing emerging needs of the sector. “I never would have thought to seek out leadership positions, continue my graduate studies, or have presented at conferences without the support and influence of MALI,” said Iva Damon, visual art teacher and Humanities Department Head at Leavitt Area High School.    

For more information about MAEPL, and to learn about how to get involved, contact Director of Arts Education for the Maine Arts Commission, Martha Piscuskas at martha.piscuskas@maine.gov. Arts education resources developed over the years are accessible through the Maine Arts Commission’s website, https://mainearts.maine.gov/pages/programs/maai.

The Maine Arts Commission is a state agency supporting artists, arts organizations, educators, policy makers, and community developers to advance the arts in Maine since 1966.  www.Mainearts.com

The Poetry Place

Teaching Artist Brian Evans-Jones

Maine is fortunate to have Brian Evans-Jones as a poet and writer. He has established a unique website called The Poetry Place. What’s so interesting about it is that he offers The Poetry Parlor to offer support and an online learning environment for participants to write poetry. If you’re interested in writing poetry or perhaps you write poetry but want to learn more about writing poetry, I recommend Brian and The Poetry Place. Here are some questions (from Brian’s site) that can help you get a better idea:

• Do you want to write better poems?
• Do you wish you knew more about the techniques of poetry?
• Do you need help with ideas and getting poems written?
• Would you love to connect with like-minded poets?

There are many free resources on the site including a 30 page .pdf that you can download. It is called 8 Steps to Better Poems and is filled with a plethora of ideas and information to guide you to writing better poems. The document is broken into 3 segments: Poetry Techniques, Mastering Drafting and Your Next Steps. You can’t go wrong since the document is free! I suggest that you check it out and recommend that your colleagues and students do the same. You can also sign up for his newsletter which is filled with inspiring ideas.

LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION?

“Poetry Parlor took me on a positive journey from using an existing poem as an idea to developing the first draft of my poem. The chosen poem and the discussions were inspirational in my own poetry writing.

Then, there were excellent tips on editing that helped to produce a published poem.”

— Sue B.

Brian is a teacher who is providing the motivation and guidance on an individual basis as well as providing time with others who write poetry. You can become a member of the parlor and benefit from following:

• Getting authentic feedback and support from Brian and others
• Learning techniques
• Reading great poetry
• Writing every month
• Meeting other poets

Poetry Parlor can work for you if…

• You have written poetry before, maybe for years, and you would like to broaden your knowledge and skills
• You would like to learn more about the techniques and forms of poetry
• You are looking for regular inspiration to help you create poems
• You want to get feedback on your poems to help you improve
• You want to know more about poetry being published now
• You’re just starting poetry and would like some structure and guidance to help you
• You’d like to get to know other poets in similar positions to yourself, for support, friendship, and encouragement.

ABOUT BRIAN

I was Poet Laureate of Hampshire in the UK (where I used to live) in 2012‑13, and in America I won the Maureen Egen Award from Poets & Writers in 2017. I’ve had poems published in magazines, competitions, and art events on both sides of the Atlantic. And I’ve taught at three colleges/universities, visited dozens of schools as a visiting Teaching Artist, and worked with hundreds of adult students through my own workshops and courses.

Brian coached the Maine State Poetry Out Loud (POL) champion Joao Victor before he traveled to the national competition where he finished in the top 10. Brian served as a judge for POL during 206-2018. POL is open to all Maine high school students and administered by the Maine Arts Commission (MAC). Brian is a member of the MAC Teaching Artist roster and a Teaching Artist Leader with the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI) established in 2011.

If you want to learn more check out the site and contact Brian at brian@brianevansjones.com and please let him know I sent you.