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In Today’s News

June 1, 2020

Christo – an old friend

Yesterday, at his home in New York Christo, known for massive, ephemeral public arts projects died at the age of 84. My connection and admiration for Christo goes beyond seeing images of his work. I visited New York City in 2005 to view The Gates in Central Park – 7,503 fabric panels that Christo and his wife Jeanne-Claude had installed. It was an amazing experience that I shared with my younger son and his friend on their first trip to New York when they were 14.

Several years ago there was an education director at the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland who greeted my 8th graders with something I’ve repeated over and over. “When you visit the museum think of it as visiting friends. Each time you come, you will meet new friends and some of your old friends will be here to visit with again.”

At the Merrill Auditorium with Anne, Jean-Claude and Christo, 2005

It doesn’t matter which museum I visit, whether in Maine, out of state or in another country, I think of that story. This connection or friendship happens not only with art work but also with artists through reading and learning about their lives. And some of my “old friends” include Christo and Jeanne-Claude.

After that trip to NYC I collaborated with my colleague and friend, art teacher Anne Kofler and we “wrapped” our school in Union in celebration of Christo and Jean-Claude’s visit to Maine. They spoke at the Merrill Auditorium in November 2005.

Before our visit Anne and I had our K-8 students from Union Elementary and D.R. Gaul Middle School create artwork on 3″x12″ white drawing paper using black sharpies. They started with their names in the center and went around and around with contour lines. Every student and staff member participated with the idea that everyone has an important part in the school community (and world) and that each of our parts are important to the whole. Without everyone doing their part there is a hole. I’ve had that same feeling recently.

We exhibited the student (and staff) artwork each touching and lining the walls up and down the steps, wrapping the entire building. We contacted Christo and Jean-Claude letting them know of our work and invited them to school while in Maine. Sadly, they weren’t feeling well but Jean-Claude called the school to let us know they had received our invitation and with regrets could not visit.

Student installing the wrapping of Union Elementary and D.R. Gaul Middle Schools, 2005.

Anne and I made a book to illustrate what we had created at school and the impact it had on our students. We attended the presentation that night at the Merrill and hopped into the line where attendees were having their posters signed by the artists. We presented the book to them – it was a special night to remember.

Along with his late wife Jeanne-Claude, the artists careers were defined by their ambitious art projects that quickly disappeared soon after they were erected. They never used any government funding to support their work. In 1991 they self-financed their $26 million “Umbrellas” project in which they installing 1,340 blue umbrellas in Japan and 1,760 blue umbrellas in Southern California.

Christo’s next project, L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped, is slated to appear in September in Paris as planned.

Sadly Anne is gone having passed in May of 2016. Jeanne-Claude died in 2009 at 74 years old and now I say so long to my old friend, Christo.

Posted in Communication, Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Food for thought | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments »

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Virtual Exhibits and Performances

June 1, 2020

Sanford, South Berwick, Camden Hills, Fiddle Camp

Schools and arts education programs throughout the state are finding ways to share student work virtually this spring. Last week I shared Sebago Elementary School Virtual Arts Festival. Below are some of the virtual exhibits and performances and a virtual opportunity to learn during the summer. If you have a link to share, please send them to me at meartsed@gmail.com. You and your students have amazing accomplishments that others would like to learn about!

SANFORD

Six years ago I posted about the first Sanford Fallen Soldiers Project honoring WWII veterans. The project has continued over the years and because of COVID this year it had to take place virtually. The TV production lab at the high school/vocational center. Thanks to Sarah Schnell, who runs the station, WSSR-TV, who made the VIRTUAL CEREMONY possible. Thank you to music teacher Carol Baker-Roux who is retiring this year, for sending it for the blog.

 

CENTRAL SCHOOL, South Berwick

Central School celebrated their third graders with a Variety Show. The students could essentially share anything they wanted. Over 60 second and third-grade students and teachers were on the zoom call watching their videos. Kate Smith said: “It was absolutely precious to see the performers’ faces as they watched the reactions of their classmates”. You can watch the 22 performances in these GOOGLE SLIDES. Thank you Kate Smith for sharing!

CAMDEN HILLS REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Work by Svea Delevett. (Photo courtesy Camden Hills Regional High School)

On Thursday, June 4 all three art disciplines – music, art and drama will be represented at the Virtual Fine Arts Night for Camden Hills Regional High School. The link will be available at 5 p.m. on Thursday when the event goes live.

The visual arts department will be providing a virtual gallery tour of this year’s outstanding student artwork. The online showcase includes 2D work in drawing, painting, photography, visual journaling, printmaking, and 3D work from Big Art, Metals, and Clay classes.

The theatre department will be showcasing the work of actors and “techies” in curricular theater classes. The work of students in extra-curricular courses will also be presented including a Zoom performance of Arsenic and Old Lace.

Students in vocal music have been working on Virtual Fine Arts night songs, by learning and performing songs in their homes. Those songs have been shared with classmates on local platforms where students listened to each other’s performances and gave comments.

Students in instrumental music have been working on several “virtual” videos in which students have worked individually with a “guide track” to be presented as one ensemble. The Concert and Jazz Bands will also be joined by selections presented by the CHRHS Brass Ensemble.

MAINE FIDDLE CAMP

Virtual Maine Fiddle Camp will be held June 19-21, and your V-MFC team has been hard at work. The weekend is REALLY coming together. I’ve been told that it’s going to be TEN times the program of any other virtual fiddle camp at, well let’s just say a REALLY reasonable price! REGISTRATION IS OPEN!!!

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Calm

May 31, 2020

Gift

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Call for MALI Teacher Leaders

May 29, 2020

Deadline – June 1

Interested in taking on a leadership role in education – the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI) might be the right match for you. Click on the images below to make them larger! Don’t hesitate, apply today. Deadline: June 1!

 

Posted in Communication, Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Food for thought, Opportunity, Professional Development, Research, Resources, Standards Based Education, VPA | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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Bangor Public Library

May 28, 2020

Opportunity for artists – age 18 and older

 

A CALL FOR ART – WOMAN’S RIGHT TO VOTE 2020

Passed by Congress June 4, 1919, and ratified on August 18, 1920, the 19th amendment granted women the right to vote. In honor of the 100th anniversary of this historic event, the Bangor Public Library is hosting a unique art exhibit. Artists are invited to create a work in honor of this event and submit it for a juried exhibit to be held at the library from September 2020 to January 2021. 

Artists! Put your creativity to work. Think about the impact this ruling has had on women in this country. Think about the impact on all segments of the population. Use your creative voice to help others to know more about this incredible accomplishment! 

ENTRIES

Artists will submit original work, one work per artist. Artists must be 18 years old or older.

Artists may use any 2-D media for this project. 

The work itself must be ready to hang in the gallery. 

Artist contact information must be on the back of the submission and must include name, address, phone contact, and email contact information. 

Artists must also complete a submission form to turn in with their work.

JUDGING

The works will be juried and works will be displayed in the library from September 1, 2020 – January 30, 2021, in prominent galleries. 

EXHIBITION 

Due to the pandemic, a number of possibilities have been considered. 

The library does intend to display the work in the galleries. 

Digital images will be taken and the exhibit will be available on the library web site. 

The library plans to display scanned images of the work in downtown Bangor, if possible. 

The library plans to create an exhibit catalogue for each participant. 

A speaker series will help to bring the topic of Woman’s Suffrage to a broader audience. 

TIMELINE

The art work and submission form must be delivered to the library on August 30, 2020. 

Because of these times, we may not be able to hold a traditional reception but the library will find a way to honor the artists and their work. 

Works that have been displayed as part of the exhibit should be picked up on February 1, 2021, at the end of the exhibit. 

The library cannot be responsible for lost or damaged art work. 

Any questions? Please contact Candis Joyce at candis.joyce@bangorpubliclibrary.org

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Teachers Calmness

May 27, 2020

On Top of Everything Else

These days I spend my free time in the garden, walking, and making art. Pretty soon I’ll be spending more time on the water. These are the places and activities that keep me balanced and help me to move forward with my heart in a logical way. I love watching the transformation as the flowers emerge and the vegetables grow. I’m going farther on my morning walk with more light and warmer temperatures. I find myself saying to students ‘yes, this is crazy and it’s OK to not feel OK all the time’. Our feelings are real.

I came across a blog post written by teacher Trevor Muir, I watched a TEDX talk that he gave and I spent some time on his website. I noticed similarities in our philosophy’s. “I believe every student has the potential for greatness. And I believe every educator can be equipped to unlock that potential.” During the pandemic it is more difficult to reach students, to get a clear sense of how they’re doing, and support them and what they’re learning from a distance. I don’t think that anyone will argue that the tools we’re using today are different than what we use in the classroom. I am referring to the ‘tools’ of communication more than the ‘tools’ we use to teach like the piano and paint.

Many of you remember, and perhaps were teaching, on 9/11. Some of you were students on November 22, 1963, the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. I remember both very clearly. I remember the conversations and my teachers and colleagues responses. I was in 4th grade in 1963 and my 4th grade teacher Mrs. Richardson stood in the doorway and calmly gave us the news. With an even and very kind voice she answered my classmates questions and helped us get ready for early dismissal. On 9/11 I was the one who needed a calm and kind voice to support my middle schoolers.

Today our students need that calm and kind voice like never in my lifetime. They need to know that we’re here for them. We know that behind every behavior there is a reason. We know that what we see today on zoom may be very different tomorrow. It might take more than the daily or weekly class check ins to get a sense of what’s going on, especially for those who are absent or simply not fulfilling assignments. It may take texts, emails, phone calls, a drive by or some other form of communication to let them know that you are calm and kind and ‘here for them’. If they’re having fears they won’t be expressing them easily on a zoom meeting or perhaps not at all.

You’ve read in my weekly email over and over

Most importantly, I hope you’re being kind to yourself! Do whatever you can and don’t feel bad about what you’re not doing.

That’s the bottom line and if you’re taking care of yourself than you can be there for your students. I suggest that you take time to journal or make art about this important role that you have using Trevor Muir’s questions might help you unpack your present teacher role:

  • What does it mean to be calm in crisis?
  • How can I exude and model this calm with my students?
  • How can I give my students the opportunity to voice their fear and anxiety in a safe way?
  • What am I doing to preserve my own mental health as I pour out so much energy for my students?

As we move into warmer weather and the school year comes to an end we know that some students are ‘just done’! Teachers as well. But we’re not done with the pandemic so we still need to – in a kind and steady way -explore our role as teachers! We’re fortunate that we don’t have to do this alone, we can depend on colleagues.

Posted in Communication, Community | 8 Comments »

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Sebago Arts Festival

May 26, 2020

Unstoppable

Sebago Elementary School arts staff had plans to continue a school wide arts festival this spring but due to COVID-19 plans were halted. But music teachers Jenni Null and Lindsay Waller and art teacher Brenda McGuinness weren’t going to let that stop them from providing a virtual extravaganza and that they did! You can view Sebago Virtual Arts Festival. Thank you to Maine Arts Leadership Initiative Teacher Leader and instrumental music educator Jenni Null for sharing the story below.

In 2018, the town of Sebago withdrew from the Lake Region School District. I retired as the Fine Arts Coordinator in Lake Region that same year, (where we had a longtime history of a District Arts Festival), and brought the idea with me to the newly formed Sebago School District where I continued to teach instrumental music to fourth and fifth graders. Our new Art and Music teachers were totally onboard, so last year, we had a school wide Arts Festival to celebrate both Youth Art Month and Music-in-Our-Schools Month. The event was so well-received in the community that two years later in 2020 we wanted to keep the tradition going. COVID-19 was not going to stop us!
Our Visual Art teacher, having experienced the traditional festival last year, knew what to expect this time around. She was extremely organized  and took photos of class projects during the year. When COVID struck and we transitioned to remote learning, she had most of what she needed, with the supplement of some student work that was returned to her in April. She also had an ongoing relationship with professional artists in the town, one of whom is on our School Board, Wendy Newcomb, an accomplished painter. They kindly added their amazing work to our virtual festival.
The music piece was a bit more problematic. We normally would have an entire class playing recorders, and performances of the Chorus, Grade 4, and Grade 5 Bands. Now, however, that was not possible and we music teachers had to rely on individual performances from our students. As you might imagine, some were reticent about doing this, some were very enthusiastic, and others needed prodding. What I love about our performances here, is that they represent all levels and stages of readiness. Some are so polished, some not so much, but in the end this is so representative as to what a performance program is all about. It’s the continuum of progression in regard to skills. In this case, the students took the initiative to create and submit their videos on their own.
I will always remember this with a lot of nostalgia. Toward the end of the performance section is “Misty” performed by my former students now in 8th grade, and a mom of the twin boys who is a fifth grade teacher and accomplished musician in her own right. They are well known in the town of Sebago, and I view them as an inspiration to my current students as to what practice and perseverance can achieve.
The finale is by the accomplished dancer/mime artist, Karen Montanaro who lives in nearby Casco and has provided us with her expertise as a teaching artist in past years. Her performance, What a Wonderful World, seemed like the parting message we wanted to convey to our virtual audience. I hope you enjoy our show!

SEBAGO VIRTUAL ARTS FESTIVAL

Posted in Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Dance, Music, Visual Arts, VPA, YAHOO | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments »

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Honoring Allen Graffam

May 25, 2020

One amazing educator

I had the pleasure of meeting Allen Graffam many years ago at a conference. I knew immediately that he was an educator with integrity, completely dedicated to his Mt. Ararat High School students on multiple levels. Sadly, Allen passed away on May 23rd from cancer.

Allen understood the meaning of the importance of relationships, the way he taught, learned, coached, performed with the Blue Hill Brass, and lived his life. A piece of Allen will live on in his music students, the athletes he guided on the softball field, and the many other students and adults he inspired throughout his life. Allen’s many contributions and commitment to education are appreciated throughout Maine. In the words of one of his students: “I truly don’t know anyone who didn’t wholeheartedly appreciate this man. He inspired so many who shared his love of music to keep following that passion. He touched more lives than we can count, bettering all of us in so many ways.” Thank you Allen!

In honor of Allen, I’m including two videos. The first is Allan singing ‘What a Wonderful Life’ in 2012 with the Blue Hill Brass which he was also a trumpet player.

The second is a video performed by 30 celebrated trumpet players from 14 different countries. The piece is inspired by Ryan Anthony called ‘A Hope for the Future‘ written by Matt Catingub as a tribute to the true frontline heroes around the globe, health care specialists dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic! It includes classical soloists, jazz artists, educators, and is dedicated to all those around the world who care for us. Allen cared for many during his lifetime!

 

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Call for MALI Teacher Leaders

May 21, 2020

You’re invited!

Visual, Performing and Literary Arts Teacher/

Teaching Artist Leader SEARCH: MALI – Phase 20-21

APPLICATION DEADLINE: MONDAY, JUNE 1Join us for a GREAT opportunity! The Maine Arts Leadership Initiative invites YOU, with other selected Maine teachers and teaching artists, to be part of a year-long exploration in leading your school communities and the profession in effective teaching and learning in the arts.  If you are selected, you will be expected to attend the 2020 Summer Institute, taking place virtually June 15, July 24, and in-person August 5, pending state policy.   

This year’s Institute will explore Leading with Resilience; Embedding Social and Emotional Learning in our Teaching, Ourselves, and Our Communities; and Arts Advocacy.  

If you are selected, there is no cost to attend the Institute; however the expectation is that you integrate your learnings in your classroom, your school community, and share with other educators in your region of Maine and beyond.  Full participants will receive documentation of up to 35 contact hours.   

If interested, please complete the online application form, linked here and below, by June 1.

Questions? Contact Martha Piscuskas, Director of Arts Education at the Maine Arts Commission, Martha.Piscuskas@maine.gov  207-287-2750

Year-long Expectations for Teaching Artist/Teacher leaders (TA/TAL):

  • Attend New Teacher/TA introduction cohort zoom on Monday June 15
  • Complete pre-reading/viewing and participate in online discussion (on google classroom) 
  • Attend and participate in 2 virtual discussion meetings on Wednesdays – June 24 & July 15 – (w/mixed cohorts and breakout rooms)
  • Attend August 5, Wednesday in-person day in Waterville (tbd) if possible
  • Commit to two reflection sessions as a MALI TA/TAL one with cohort, one with “thought partner”
  • Develop a personalized Growth Plan for the coming year, and practice/learn ways to share it with others
  • Engage in Fall “thought partner” one-on-one check in 
  • Attend winter retreat – tentatively February 28, 2021.  Will include update on personal goal and/or action plan 
  • Author a guest blog post on the Maine Arts Ed daily blog

JOIN US!  Become a Teacher Leader and Change Lives 

APPLY TODAY!

Questions on the Application:

Name/contact information

Administrator Name/contact information (if classroom teacher)

Paragraph of Interest — Selected individuals will be expected to be active leaders in helping to develop and support excellence in teaching and learning in Maine. A full commitment to the Institute timeline is expected as seen in the online information sheet.  Please attach a brief overview of your interest and current/past experience (if any) in Leadership. Include your experience collaborating with other arts educators and experiences relevant to the initiative.  (Please no more than ~ 500 words, about 1 page.) 

Resume/CV —  If you are a Teaching Artist, please also include websites or documentation of your teaching work.  

Letter of Reference – CLASSROOM TEACHERS: This should be from your administrator.  TEACHING ARTISTS: This should be from a school or community  organization with whom you have worked.   Please attach a Letter of Recommendation in which the person includes comments and/or examples reflecting your leadership potential and your ability to work collaboratively.  Selected individuals will be responsible for sharing their newly developed expertise and related classroom experiences with other arts educators.

Maine Arts Leadership Initiative 

Background Information

MALI MISSION

MALI’s OVERALL OBJECTIVES 

  • Create and implement a statewide plan for teacher leadership in arts education. This includes professional development opportunities, locally, regionally and statewide, which will expand on the knowledge and skills of teachers to better prepare them to teach in a student-centered and proficiency-based learning environment.
  • Develop and implement standards-based high quality teaching and learning statewide for Visual and Performing Arts 
  • Continue to build on expanding the team of arts educators and teaching artists representing all regions of Maine
  • Provide workshops and other professional development opportunities for educators 
  • Founded in 2011
  • 108 teacher leaders and teaching artists leaders have attended summer institutes on assessment, leadership, technology, creativity, proficiency-based standards-based and student-centered teaching and learning
  • Teacher leaders have presented workshops at three statewide arts education conferences, with over 600 educators attending
  • Teacher leaders facilitated regional workshops across Maine and 15 mega-regional sites across Maine
  • Maine Arts Ed Blog — 78 teachers profiled in Another Arts Teacher’s Story series 
  • Arts assessment graduate courses offered by New England Institute for
    Teacher Education
  • Nine arts education assessment webinars for Maine educators facilitated by Rob Westerberg and Catherine Ring – archived
  • Video stories of seven teacher leaders that demonstrate a standards-based arts education classroom located on Maine ARTSEducation YouTube channel
  • Teacher Leader Resource Team development of items for resource bank
  • Maine Arts Assessment Resources website
  • Partners have included MDOE, USM, MAEA, MMEA, University of Maine Performing Arts, and New England Institute for Teacher Education, Bates College

For More Information

APPLY TODAY TO BECOME A MALI TEACHER LEADER

Posted in assessment, Communication, Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Leadership, Opportunity, Professional Development, Research, Resources, Standards Based Education, VPA, YAHOO | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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Patti’s COVID Teaching Story

May 20, 2020

Music teacher

Thirty eight year veteran music teacher Patricia Gordan teaches in two schools in RSU#14; Raymond Elementary and Windham Primary. Patti is a Maine Arts Leadership Initiative Teacher Leader. Almost a month ago now Patti shared that this has been the most difficult time in her teaching career. In this blog post Patti shares some of the work she has been doing with her students during this time – ‘schooling away from school’. Thank you Patti for sharing your story!

She read Janie Snider’s story from April 27 and when Janie said, “I am their resource!” Patti yelled, “YES!” Her story really resonated with Patti and perhaps that will be the same for others when you read what Patti’s story and what she misses most.

“I want to hold hands and play a circle game with my Kindergarteners. I want to teach a folk dance to my 3rd graders. I want to sit next to a 4th grader and actually help her cover the finger holes correctly on her recorder so that she can produce a pleasant sound. I want to be the audience in front of twenty students on Orff instruments and thrill to their beautiful music, and see their faces light up when I enthusiastically compliment them. And I miss, miss, desperately MISS the angelic voices of my 3rd/4th grade chorus. I hope I can do the virtual choir with them on their favorite song that we’d been working on, “Send Down The Rain.”

Patti had just tried to play all four of the students’ “instrument parts” by herself.

IN PATTI’S WORDS

My chorus at Raymond Elementary is made up of 3rd and 4th graders and a few invited 2nd graders. “Send Down The Rain” is one of five songs we began practicing in January for a May concert which will not happen now. This song was their favorite and they sang it with such feeling, even at the beginning of March when it was not yet polished. 

I always put lyric sheets and practice tracks on the Raymond Elementary music website for them so they can practice at home and that was already done when we left. What I’m looking into is to have them perform that one song as a virtual choir.

A 4th grader emailed me this morning after she’d sent me videos, two different times, of herself playing recorder and I’d sent her back some tips. She said she was trying her hardest but that she was “bad at recorder.” (We play recorder third trimester and had had ONE recorder lesson before we were sent home.) It broke my heart because I wasn’t there to help her and it’s very difficult to teach a nine year old how to play the recorder by email, even though they can watch the recorder instruction videos on the website. Of course I told her she was not bad at recorder and that I admired her tremendously for her perseverance.

The lyrics to “Send Down The Rain, which help Patti and her students! 

Send Down The Rain

I live in the desert, only trouble comes my way as I try to make a living off the land. All the trees have withered, and the birds have flown away,
And my shattered dreams have gone with the shifting sand.

(Arias) Send down the rain.
(Cantos) To wash the dusty sky.

(Arias) Send down the rain.
(Cantos) To water the thirsty land.

(Arias) Send down the rain.
(All) To soothe my burning soul (Cantos-again) (Arias-my burning soul again) Send down the rain.

Lord I’ve had it with trouble, disappointment, broken dreams, And I long to see the lightnin’ flashin’ ‘round.
You know I’m a believer, and you know I’m prayin’ hard
To hear the rollin’ thunder’s mighty sound.

(Arias) Send down the rain.
(Cantos) To wash the dusty sky.

(Arias) Send down the rain.
(Cantos) To water the thirsty land.

(Arias) Send down the rain.
(All) To soothe my burning soul (Cantos-again) (Arias-my burning soul again) Send down the rain.

(Arias) Send down the rain.
(Cantos) Oh, Lord, I see the lightnin’,

(Arias) Send down the rain.
(Cantos) Oh, Lord, I hear the thunder.

(Arias) Send down the rain. (All) hoooo.

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