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Melissa Hidalgo - My Love, Our Public Lands
This first semester of the MAE program has been inspiring due to the readings we have had. These readings have felt personal and heartfelt....
This first semester of the MAE program has been inspiring due to the readings we have had. These readings have felt personal and heartfelt....
Thanks. Hope that you have a nice holiday too. Can we post our missed posts from the previous sessions here?
ReplyDeleteYes. Much easier to read here then to try than to go through everyone's comments,
ReplyDeleteConnect to Create - Celebrate:
ReplyDeleteI found this book to be of great help and full of reminders for the creative soul. My favorite part of the second half of this book definitely would have to be “plork”. My dad always told my brother and I that as long as we choose to work in a field we enjoy and love to do, it would never feel like work. That’s how I feel when I create art. I’m working but it doesn’t feel like work to me; at least a different kind of work, which is why I like the word “plork”. I keep a little notebook and fill it with ideas I started grabbing from our readings. I thought about making a poster or a giant reminder on the wall saying, “here, you will learn to PLORK” or, “ hard at PLORKING”. I think it would be pretty funny but serve as a reminder that I want my students to have fun while they create and not to just think of it as a grade. Plus, you tend to lose track of time when you’re having fun. What a better way to make the day go faster for those that are ready to go home haha!
Paige, I also loved her idea of charging per cut. I teach my students some linocuts the second semester and one thing I’ve started doing is counting the number of cuts I get per day and leaving the number on the white board. I start the assignment by telling them what the number of cuts was last year and then they have this sudden goal to beat it this year (meaning they will get less)! It’s pretty funny but it also made some students not want to tell anyone about their tiny little cuts.
Keisha, I also found this book to be helpful with getting some ideas as to how I can get my students to think outside the box and make it more personal. Having a mix of kids that range from really artistic to “just taking this for the credit” can be a challenge. I want to reach all of them of course. I will definitely be trying some of these assignments on my kids. I always feel accomplished when I get one of the kids who’s “only here for a credit” and says they are “terrible at art” create something rather amazing.
For me the hardest thing to remember when in teacher role is that none of us are on the same page at the same time no matter what state mandated rules say. I have sat through some incredible lectures/demos daydreaming about something totally different and I have been present during really horrible lectures/demos and discovered something. I few years ago I confessed to a class that I had finally allowed myself to use one of my old linocuts on cloth...something an adventurous kid would do in a minute without thinking about the rules of traditional printmaking. It took me decades to let go of the restrictions I had been given by a professor. My point, letting go is fun!
DeleteLetting go.. when everything has been drilled into our heads!! I majored in drawing and painting in undergrad. When I paint, I so overthink every aspect. I think that is why I enjoy clay so much, I really don't know the rules!!!
DeleteForward - Structure:
ReplyDeleteOne of the main thoughts that stood out to me about these chapters was the part about looking at the world how a child looks at the world. At the beginning of every year, for my Art I classes, I leave the quote by Picasso, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up” on the board. I leave it up for a couple of weeks as a reminder that all of them have creativity within them, they just have to remember how it was to be curious, be interested in learning, and look at things as if they were new to us. I love how this book is more than just an inspirational book; it’s bookwork. It gives the reader assignments to try and test out exactly what she’s talking about. It definitely makes me want to try some of these in my class. The sense journal is one I would like to try with my students. I’ve wanted to try something very similar to this but in a smaller scale for myself with everyday things or especially when I travel. Second assignment that I would love to, and definitely will now, introduce to my students is the cutting out of a viewfinder. We did this for my drawing one class in college and I still find it to be such a great tool. Not only a tool for my students who draw but I would like my photo students to use it at the beginning of the year when we’re all trying to get cameras situated and contracts returned. This will give them a good practice in viewing things with different angles and seeing detail in a whole new way.
As a photographer, I feel like I’m trained to look at things in a different light. See them for more than just what they are and seeing how different they are. Everything is unique and with a camera, I’m trying to capture that so others can see what’s unique about it too. I like doing that exercise of taking a couple of minutes and looking at a tree, or a flower, and pretty much getting lost in it. When I go hiking and I’ve reached the top, or the destination, I always take a couple of minutes to just sit (rest of course) and take in that moment. Really appreciate the view after the hard work I put in to get there. Makes everything so worth it.
I hope everyone had a great thanksgiving and I've been really thankful for you all as classmates and especially you as well Future. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Delete( Oct. 29 Last Lecture IV-VI)
ReplyDeleteAs I finished the last section of Pausch’s book, I took my time. I wanted to absorb his thoughts because I found meaning and value in them. I wanted to apply several of them to my life and teaching. I feel public education is losing its perspective – we need to re-evaluate what we hold valuable and feel in meaningful about education and each other. Thinking about Rendon’s thoughts for a new way of education are not entirely unfathomable. Pausch taught college students the way Rendon is expressing in her book. Sounds like he was an outstanding professor.
One of my favorite lessons was #41- The Lost Art of Thank-You Notes. Both my mother and step mother were huge believers in the hand written note. They do not believe a social media thank you will suffice. Call it old fashioned but I feel there is more meaning in a written thank you than a digital one. Even when I was sick, my mother was relentlessly on me to thank every person with a personal note. Eventually as I became sicker, I wrote a meaningful message that she had printed in to thank you notes and even then, I still wrote a little something to express my sincere gratitude for their help during my battle.
I am a storyteller. I love bringing artists and their backstories alive to my little art students. I encourage my students to search and discover fun facts and stories about the artist we are learning about or any artist for that matter. I also encourage them to bring current facts in the news of art, as well. We sit on a large colorful rug in my room partaking in meaningful conversation about artists, the art world and sometimes life. I feel I could be best described as a teacher who encourages creativity and wonder. I try to wear these traits so that hopefully they rub off onto my little students.
Sarah- I feel as teachers we do our best to reach every child but I am resolved in knowing I will not reach EVERYONE. There are factors out of our control and forces we cant fight. As long as we try to do our best and hope the next teacher in line will be the one who reaches the child. It takes a village- all of us working together to lay the ground work and to carry the baton.
Paige- what a precious story! Oh my goodness, I’d have to admit, I would not paint over the kisses either- how could you? This made me smile . I also began to think about people from various backgrounds and walks of life who have made marks on walls- marks of happiness, love, fear, hate, despair, loneliness, and joy. This would make for an interesting project!
I am glad the book has woven its way into your life
ReplyDeleteLearning by Heart- Forward to Structure-
ReplyDeleteWhat I found first and foremost interesting as I began reading the book, was her legacy to her students. This legacy was an unique one- one that people developed into a style or way of life- they even recognized it in each other. I felt she was a very profound teacher- one who wasn’t bound by state tests or mandates. This book comes to me in a pivotal part of my teaching career as I have felt somewhat disillusioned in public education. Learning by Heart has helped me to not let my love of the arts become tainted by the structure and rigidness of the actual public education.
I also found her writings about structure caused me pause and I became reflective. Her comment,” If you have a class at a certain time and place, you must be there and not somewhere else. You must be there because otherwise your contribution (in thinking, dreaming, knowing, not knowing) would be missing from that class and it would be the poorer without you. You aren’t needed to be there to get grades or pass the course- you are needed to help make the class. So the structure is there for you and you also are the structure-your particular gifts help shape it.” WOW. How true is this? So… this leads me to say this…
First, I would like to apologize for not being a more active participant in our group discussions. This school year has to be the most difficult in my career as an art educator. I’ll admit, I have seriously questioned why do I teach? Do I want to continue? I realize we all hit low points in our life and career- ups and downs are normal, but this year, I have reflected gravely. Without going into too many of the details of the events that have transpired but I am sure all of you will agree that public education is difficult. Parents today are extremely difficult to work with- placing all the accountability on the teacher and not the child, the demands from Admin are increasing causing stress on teachers. I will say I have witnessed a disease spread throughout our attendance zone-called hate and self serving. It started with a policy change then exploded into a full on wildfire of backbiting, verbal lash outs, uncalled for comments among parents then the attack spread to teachers. It weakened our morale causing dissention between the staff. I questioned the validity of social media and its platform opportunity for such anger. I will say I am fortunate to have amazing leaders in my Principal and VP. Both ladies are selfless and have heart. They have taken most of the brunt and it’s a wonder they are still standing. I am also thankful that the strongest attack on me was only that I am too quiet in the mornings and her child just isn’t having a blast in art. I chuckled. This could be true in part because I have been sick more this year than I have been well. And lastly, it breaks my heart that one of my former students passed recently. A teacher never stops caring and loving their students so this tragedy hurts deeply. Naturally, all this stress has my already weakened immune system on the brink. So, as I just mentioned,…. I would like to apologize to each of you for not being 100% on point each week. Through Corita’s words in the intro to Structure, I truly understood how intricate a part we all play in our masters education or any form of education. I am a part of your education and you a part of mine. We are together in the journey and I have not been present for you as I should have. I am sorry! I have a deeper perspective of my MAE through these readings and I am thankful for the contributions of this book- I would love to share this one with all my fellow art colleagues.
ReplyDeleteNiloofar- Relating art to everyday life is so key. Getting students to understand that art doesn’t end the moment they walk out of the studio- making those connections is crucial. Museums, community, local artisans are all ways to engage students in art in real life. Aesthetics is an extremely valuable subject in art- showing children to look around them, feel, notice, absorb, reflect, react to our world and the world of art is exactly what I believe Corita was expressing in her book.
James and Paige- Arthur W Dow was Georgia O’Keeffe’s professor, right? I would be interested in reading his book as well.
NO apologies needed. You are were you are. Period. I thank you for your honesty and insight into your world. Learning/teaching are fluid. Tests and new systems are structured. There is always differences. The main theme to all the books we have shared is YOU..following your passion and trusting your heart, in your art making in your teaching.
ReplyDelete(Late Post, Oct. 29 Last Lecture IV-VI)
ReplyDeleteIn this section of the book, like the first half part, there were many lessons that I learned from him, and I can also apply them in my classrooms. think that one point that impacted me the most was his emphasis on working hard and not giving up or complaining…Moreover, in the whole book, as well as this section I feel there is a hidden voice that also encourages his readers to live and work genuinely. I think working hard genuinely is a great value. I believe that I as a teacher need to encourage my student to work hard, but not for getting good grades but because of an inner motivation. I think, as a teacher, I can help to shape a genuine internal motivation for my students and ask them to work hard for a more profound reason. Thus, the one lesson I try to give to my students is hardworking that is motivated by a genuine desire for learning that task. I think that as a teacher I can help to shape such motivation by exploring the importance of the lesson in my student's lives.
Or just allow your students the freedom to find their own motivation. Think of the teacher as a couch or cheerleader, not a person with all the answers.
DeleteLate post, response to Chris: I loved the crayon box section, the Tigger/Eyeore part, but I really liked the Never Give Up section. Yes, work hard, but also take advantage of what can help you as well. That can be the hardest part, but it helped Dr. Pausch make a greater impact on more people…”
ReplyDeleteChris, this was my favorite too…and I think the idea of hardworking in his book was different and not like all these clichés about working hard. I think his life embodies this idea.. that one should never give up. When he wrote the book, he was close to death, but he didn’t stop working. I watched his lecture, and I was impressed how he is talking with compassion and positivity while he is dying from cancer.
For October 29
DeleteLate post, October 29, response to Roxana
ReplyDeleteRoxana, as always, I enjoyed reading your post. In your post, you mention that the book has a personal voice…a voice that you can hear is coming from a human. You also said that the core approach to the book is pedagogical.
I think this is a powerful combination. And this is what makes the book unique too. He shares his life, his feelings and memories, and his closeness to death, but his primary purpose is to give teach sometime to others. I agree that this personal voice and openness make the pedagogical aspect of the book different from what I have read before. I think this is also a great lesson I learned from him.
Yes. The point behind each of the books to be YOU. To trust what you feel and what excites you and what you want to explore and what you are willing to share.
DeleteLearning by Heart, Connect to Create – Celebrate
ReplyDeleteI think this book can be very useful to any art educator. At the beginning of the chapter on Tools and Techniques Corita speaks about her approach to teaching as being suited to a small art department, and describes the experience there as being “simpler and more complex” at the same time, due to limited resources on one side and a more intimate relation with other departments / disciplines on the other side. To me this was an interesting observation and made me ask myself if it is possible (and under which conditions) to adapt the model she proposes to different types of art departments. She places at the core of the departmental philosophy the use of simple tools / techniques and an emphasized interest in providing “many experiences in looking and developing taste”, which I think it is a wonderful approach, essential in developing a personal style. Throughout the book she insists on finding inspiration in everything that surrounds us and particularly in everybody’s diverse cultural experiences which include traditions, rituals, literature and poetry, history, written press, film, photography, popular culture etc., basically everything that could shape a visual translation of a personal reality and emotions in relation with it. Learning how to look (I would add listen, touch, taste, and smell) is a lifetime adventure, so complex and rewarding, and guiding students through this process is definitely one thing that every art teacher should aim for. Another thing is developing a taste for experimentation with different materials/ mediums. I loved how this was associated with playing in the book; I think it is both liberating and motivational. Playing is so close to human nature and brings relaxation and concentration at the same time, which are excellent triggers for creativity. I will keep this book close, and consider the assignments it proposes as often as possible.
Melissa - I totally agree that “plork” is a fun and inspiring word, and, like you, I keep track of things that I enjoy or think they would be useful at some point. This book inspired me to do even more in this regard. Problem is that I do it in both hand-written and digital form, in an effort to put them in some sort of categories, or depending on what medium is more convenient at a given moment – the result is quite confusing, and I think I have to find a way to better organize myself.
Sarah – I think rejuvenating should be purposively considered a part of the process; you cannot fully appreciate what you achieved and realize what you want for the future without distancing from your work for a while. It is so sad and unhealthy that most of us (me included) became unable to just stop and let go for a short time; even the breaks that we have, we tend to use them to catch up with different other things, to the point we don’t differentiate work and personal territory anymore. There is definitely an impact on creativity as a consequence of all these, and in most of the cases, I don’t think it’s a positive one.
Good points especially the note to Sarah...which I totally agree with. If I do not allow time to simply relax and enjoy for a few moments each day I find myself frustrated and dis-organized and get less done.
ReplyDeleteLearning by Heart Connect to Create- Celebrate
ReplyDeleteCorita’s art book on creativity probably hit closer to my art heart more than the other four we read this semester. This book is an artist’s inspiration book in so many ways, but most importantly this read was good for reminding me when I am lost why I love and teach art. Each chapter gave me something- an idea, an application for life, an inspiration, a feeling, a memory, and a connection. I began to think about the other reads this semester and their contribution and connections:
How Much House- I learn about the space within and around me. This book stripped away the clutter of my world. It left me without things I (we) feel we need around us. I began to think freer and cleaner. I think of the words space, time, and peace.
Rural Studio: With my own clutter out of the way, I can begin to think of just my basic needs. One basic need of every human is shelter. Through giving to others while learning in our art field we develop connections to others. I think of the words selfless, outward, and others.
Sentipensante: Conventional teaching needs a remodel. It has lost its heart and needs to build on the connection between teacher and pupil. I think of the words relationship, thinking, and feeling.
The Last Lecture: If given a certain amount of time left to live, what would be our last gift to the world? What would we have to say? I thought of the words remember, meaning, and value.
Learning By Heart: I learned about being disciplined- disciplined about being aware of everything around me. Finding inspiration through observation. I think of the words revive, passion, play.
Each book prepared me for the next and I find LBH refreshing and soul food for the art teacher. I was greatly inspired on applying many of her teachings to myself and to my classroom. Towards the end of the book, I found her thoughts on work play especially insightful and plan on playing more and stressing less- focusing on my first love: art.
Chris: Being a student of DBAE I felt choice based was too loose for me. But I have been incorporating more and more choices for my students. It is more like guided choice since my little people would not know how to think artistically with so much freedom with the material. I also feel the basis of DBAE was pure and its intentions were to look back at history, think, formally critique, find/ discuss the beauty of art, understand other cultures and their art, and then create BUT the state structured it too far with its rigid mandates. I find a marriage between DBAE and choice a wonderful combo- possibly sprinkle it with a little of Learning by Heart and we have a fabulous art program!
Paige: thank you for sharing your little story about poker chips. This put into perspective for me as a teacher why some of my students hold so tightly to their artwork being right the first time. I have a new understanding of how they might feel. Again, thank you.