This NAEA conference is a mecca of creative and inspiring workshops and sessions. The air here is filled with a palpable enthusiasm for the arts and teaching. I have called this a sub-culture of art educators and professionals having the common thread of wanting to push this field to new heights. Another common "thread" can be found in the beauty of the scarves I've seen people wearing.
Can you tell I'm glad to be here?
Here are just a few of my experiences...
Today was my first full day. I'm having fun staying with Kathie and Corrie. The students who accompanied Corrie from Alfred University are really nice; I've been enjoying swapping stories of art ed practice with them. I went to my first lecture this morning about starting a community-based art program in an urban setting in Memphis. It was interesting to hear the successes and the learning experiences of this endeavor.
I then went to a session called "Now that I hold a paintbrush, what else can I do?" This was very informative. Susan Loesl, an Adaptive Art Specialist from Detroit, showcased different tools that make it easier for students to work with paint and other art media who may have tactile issues. Many of these items were made from household items, like milk carton handles. I drew sketches of the tools. I know I will want to use these references in the future. My favorite tip from this session you ask? That's tough, there were a lot of good ones. The one that stuck with me most was using a glue gun to draw lines over a painting so students can feel it while you/they discuss it. Let's say, for example, I was showing students a self-portrait by Frida Kahlo. I would draw her face and other parts of the painting with hot glue. When it was dry, students could feel the lines as I spoke about this painting. Brilliant! I am going to buy a glue gun when I get home. Another point that I liked, which is something I have always followed in my classrooms, is to make these adaptive tools available to all students, so as not to single out the student(s) with disabilities.
My third session of the day was a talk about a course started and created by my host teacher at South Jefferson High School, Mary Elllen Shevalier, who is now my friend and mentor. This is called "I am a Citizen of the World." Two of her student teachers as well as their professor from Oswego talked about this media literacy course, the student produced videos, and the team teaching and interdisciplinary approach. This is a revolutionary course (it is now in it's second year) that, I believe will be part of many high schools' curricula in the future.
http://www.spartanpride.org/webpages/citizen/index.cfm
Next, I saw Olivia Gude present "Art Teacher Becomes Community Artist." I have read her some of her articles, so I was very excited to see her speak. I was so inspired by each slide in her presentation. I liked how she mentioned Paulo Freire several times, Go Freirian pedagogy! It was interesting to see her connect to him with some of the work she has done. One of my favorite quotes Gude said in this presentation was "An art teacher is an artist on extended residency in the community." Another was one she quoted in a mural she worked on honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:
"What do you pack when you pursue a dream? What do you leave behind?" - Sandra Sharp (1988)
http://naea.digication.com/omg/Welcome/published
http://www.uic.edu/classes/ad/ad382/sites/Olivia/OG_01.html
I knew that this conference would be a great experience, but I did not expect to feel this fueled on my first day. I began my morning with a light jog on the treadmill in the gym at the hotel, next to me was a woman who had been teaching art for 14 years in Virginia. After chatting with her about the field, she looked at me before she stepped off and said, with a smile: "It's the greatest job in the world." I smiled back and nodded in agreement.
Cheers,
Renee Parisi
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