me arts ed

Time to Share

Each day I receive more emails than I care to announce as I am sure many of you do as well. Some contain valuable links to articles, announcements, exhibits, and opportunities. Much of the information I post in “student opportunities”, “professional development opportunities”, “upcoming events” or “research” that can be found on the right side of the front page of meartsed blog. Some turn into full blog posts. Sometimes I wonder for a day or two if it really meets my criteria. At full disclosure some of it goes into the trash. As my husband says “its your blog so you get to pick what you post”.

So, this YouTube video “Pink Glove Dance” I’ve received in several emails now. I’m sharing because “I get to pick” and its a worthy cause. Supposedly, once it got 1 million hits the hospital received a huge contribution, as well as offering free mammograms for the community.

Each of you probably know people who suffer from or have lost their lives to some type of cancer. This was put together to raise awareness of breast cancer by the staff at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland, Oregon. Some of these folks can really dance and all of them certainly enjoy dancing! I’ve watched this more than once… I love their facial expressions. My favorites: the custodian with the mop and the guy with the short beard, blue scrubs and the glasses on top of his operating room hat! (I think I had him as a student). Who are your favorites? Let us know in the comment section below.

Shout About the Work

It is especially important (in this economy) to communicate about what you do and why you do what you do! When I taught I sometimes wondered why arts educators had to communicate about the importance of arts education. I remember thinking that teachers who taught other content didn’t have to promote or advocate for what they did.

One day I realized I didn’t have to, but I wanted to! I wanted educators and people who were not teachers to get it! I wanted them to know what kids were up to in the art room and beyond and why and I wanted them to know what. I also wanted them to know and understand what students were involved with in the art room was as valuable and sometimes more valuable than what they were getting and doing in other classrooms in the school building.

Recently I got an email from Therese Provenzano who teaches art at Madawaska Middle High School. She sent me a link to a new segment on Madawaska Middle School’s Voices from the Middle webpage.

Therese’s students had their art work on display at the Department last Spring. Please click here and you can read an outstanding piece written by one of Therese’s students. Check it out and respond with your comments below.

So, what are you doing lately that is worth shouting about? Please send me a link and a few sentences describing what your students are involved in and I would be glad to post the information.