me arts ed

What a pleasurable morning!

Last week I had 3 glorious hours with a small group of arts teachers, their administrators and a hand full of other folks dedicated to arts education including Carl Little, Carol Trimble and David Lamon.

The 2009/10 Maine Arts Teachers Fellowship Convening took place at the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland. The program is funded through several organizations with the lead organizations being the Maine Community Foundation, the Maine Alliance for Arts Education and on the national level the Surdna Foundation.

Nine arts educators were selected to “follow their dreams” that ranged from traveling to Ghana studying music to participating in the Split Rock Arts Program in Minnesota to study digital printing and hand embellishment. The artwork, artifacts, photographs and stories were very moving. Many brought tears to my eyes.

This is the third year for the program. The search is on for funds to continue with this valuable opportunity for Maine arts educators.

The following arts educators and their projects:

• Joanne Maloney from Wentworth Intermediate School, Scarborough studied mosaic tile production at the Mosaic Art School in Ravenna, Italy.
• Caitlin Ramsey from Massabesic Middle School, East Waterboro participated in the Conductors Institute at the New England Conservatory of Music and studied privately with mentor Frank Battisti and attended the Mid-West Clinic: an international band and orchestra conference.
• Kristin McKinlay from Edmunds Consolidated School in Washington County studied digital printing and hand embellishment at the Split Rock Arts Program in Minnesota with artist Susan Brandeis.
• Linda Phillips from Maranacook Community Middle School, Readfield traveled to Ardeche, France to study at the TASES Art Teacher workshop.
• Rebecca Bean from Cape Elizabeth Middle School traveled to Ghana, West African to study music, dance and culture.
• Shira Singer from Islesford Elementary School, Swan’s Island School studied fabric design and surface embellishment with Dorothy Caldwell at Quilting by the Lake in Syracuse, NY and she did a mentorship with Natasha Kempers-Cullen in Topsham, ME.
• Debra Susi from Warsaw Middle School and Maine Centraol Institute, Pittsfield attended the La MaMa International Symposium in Spoleto, Italy to study theater production.
• Pam and Kevin Rhein from Messalonskee Middle and High Schools, Oakland, James Bean School, Sidney, Belgrade Central School paricipated in the Choral Arts International Festival of the Aegean in Syros, Greece.

YouTube of the program

I received this YouTube link from Nancy Salmon, Bates Dance Festival Registrar. If you are not familiar with the Youth Arts Program, which is part of the festival, this short video will give you a chance to learn about it.

Please click here to view the video. And to learn more please click here for their website.

“Why Can’t We Be Creative and Raise Test Schools Too?”, January 27, 2010, Teacher Magazine.

“The Power of Project Learning” by Wayne D’Orio, May 2009, Scholastic.

“The Core Standards for Writing: Another Failure of Imagination?” by Edgar H. Schuster, February 1, 2010, Education Week.

“Professional Development: How to Reset Your Attitudinal Dial” by Vicky Gilpin, February 3, 2010, Teacher Magazine.

“Obama Budget Calls for Major Shifts on ESEA” by Alyson Klein, February 1, 2010, Education Week.

“Digital Tools Expand Options for Personalized Learning” by Kathleen Kennedy Manzo, February 3, 2010, Education Week, Digital Directions.

“What Makes a Great Teacher?” by Anthony Cody, February 1, 2010, Teacher Magazine, Living in Dialogue blog.

Motivation 3.0, Interview with Daniel Pink on his new book Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us” by Dana Truby, Scholastic.

Dr. Victoria Stevens

We know and understand that the arts need to be an integral part of the 21st century education for all students. Dr. Victoria Stevens has a video and .pdf on the importance of creative thinking and arts education available on her website. Dr. Stevens’ information could assist you in your communications about the importance of arts education.

In Dr. Stevens own voice…

“The role that training and exposure to the arts play in education is totally dependent upon how one defines the goal of education. Is the goal of education to inspire children to think, question and to be able to determine through conscious judgment a course of action that includes their own well-being as well as the well-being of those they come into contact with, and to have the ability to apply self-discipline to whatever they choose as a career path, and to interact well with those with whom they work and choose to have in their personal life? Or is it to turn out young adults who are competent enough to enter the work force, are obedient to authority (or rebellious against it), have little or no interpersonal skills, as well as having little or no intrapersonal skills?”

Valuable information, I recommend that you watch her 9 min. video and visit her website.

Kids Thinking About Important Issues

Today the idea of engaging students in “authentic” or “real life” work is found in education communications. For years many arts educators have provided relevant learning experiences. I notice that student contests or opportunities are being based on this idea. Here are two that could be used as stand alone lessons in  arts classrooms or allow for connections with your colleagues of other subjects.

Doodle 4 Google

If I Could Do Anything, I Would…. Google is sponsoring a contest inviting students in grades K-12 to work their artistic will upon the homepage logo. Probably everyone reading this has seen the logo that hangs above or near the Google logo, often changing and coinciding what is happening of special note on that day. The theme is “If I Could Do Anything, I Would…” and they are looking for a design along with their answers in writing.

Registration closes on March 17 and entries are due on March 31. The winning doodle will be featured on the google.com homepage on May 27, 2010. Only teachers can submit for their students. Please click here for more details and guidelines.

2010 America’s Greenest School

Students need to submit an entry explaining what they’d do if in charge of making the school a greener, more eco-friendly place. Submissions can be a photo, photo collection, music, video, essay, or photos of a diorama, collage or piece of artwork.

Ten finalists will be selected and America will be invited to vote online. Students of any age can enter or group or class entries are accepted. Deadline for submissions is March 8th.

The winner(s) school will receive a green a hybrid bus (valued at $150,000), a school audit by LEED Accredited Professionals and Green Makeover (valued at $20,000), free concert by The Maine. The winning student or classroom will receive a $3,000 scholarship. The teacher will receive $500 in class supplies and every day during voting one voter will be given a $100 gift card.

Please click here for more details and guidelines.

Gambling Great Art

The Wall Street Journal, February 2nd has this article called “Art Museums Make Super Bowl Bet” by Candace Jackson. Would you bet a work of art on the Super Bowl? Will it be the Saints or the Colts?

Student composer

Christopher Staknys is the winner of the Portland Symphony Orchestra’s (PSO) first composer competition in partnership with Maine Music Educators Association (MMEA.) Christopher’s piece “Congo” will be performed at the Spring Youth Concert on March 9th.

Christopher attended 3rd and 4th grade at Plummer Motz school in Falmouth, Falmouth Middle School in 5th grade, was homeschooled in 6th grade and is now attending Walnut Hills School for the Performing Arts in Natick, Massachusettes.

This 12 year old composer is also a pianist and has previously studied violin with PSO violinist Yasmin Craig Vitalius.  His mom recounts Christopher meeting Toshi in the elevator at the Portland Public Library several years ago, saying “Someday you’ll be conducting my music!”

Congratulations Christopher!!

2010-2011 MLTI Screen Saver

Image on screen saver 2009-10

Three hundred eighty eight photographs were submitted to be considered for the 2010-11 MLTI screen savers. This week four judges will be burning the midnight oil to select 17 images to be used. The other three for a total of 20 will be selected by students who have gone into Studywiz and voted for their favorite photographs.

The total submitted is about 200 more then were submitted last year. A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to all the students and teachers who submitted their art work. At first glance I am very impressed with the quality of the work and this reflects the outstanding work that teachers are doing throughout the state. I will let you know which ones were selected in a future blog post.

FREE Tiles!

Perhaps you’d like some tiles at no cost? Larry Stoddard of Distinctive Tile at 288 St. John St., Portland, is anxious to clean out the store basement. The company is moving in early May and the basement is FULL of surplus tiles (floor, wall, kitchen, bathroom – ceramic mostly). Mostly whites and grays of different shades but some colors and some designs.

He doesn’t want to move them so they are there for the taking. Please call Larry (772-4344) in advance so he can make arrangements. Larry is mostly available to supervise from 3-5 Mon – Friday, maybe some Saturdays.

Larry would prefer that you come together with other art teachers and would save him time. This sounds like a good opportunity to collaborate with colleagues in your school and/or district.

An AMAZING performance!

I understand that the students were well prepared when they arrived in Topsham for the hard work and focus of more than a day of rehearsals. Their dedication was clear as the band, treble and mixed choirs performed in the 900 seat Orion Performing Arts Center. The house was full and very appreciative!

Jeffrey A. Priest from Old Town High School directed the band and John Neal from Oak Hill was the manager. Matthew Murray from Gorham High School directed the treble choir, his wife Cathy was the accompanist, and Mary Miller from Boothbay was the manager. Dr. Robert Russell from USM directed the mixed chorus, Sean Flemming was the accompanist, and John Oldham from Islesboro was the manager.

We know behind every outstanding student musician there are supportive adults and outstanding teachers. Congratulations to all the District III teachers and students for a job well done!