Today marks 22 years since 9/11. I’m sure that many of you remember exactly where you were on September 11, 2001 when our country was attacked and many Americans lost their lives. There are many stories from that day but I am forever moved by the community of boat owners and captains who put others first and made a difference.
NEARLY 500,000 CIVILIANS WERE RESCUED BY BOAT IN LESS THAN 9 HOURS
The epic story of the 9/11 boatlift that evacuated half a million people from the piers and seawalls of Lower Manhattan. The American spirit and resilience is shown in “Boatlift”, narrated by Tom Hanks. I had no idea that the 9/11 boat evacuation was larger than the evacuation at Dunkirk during World War II and they completed it so fast. Everyone who participated in the search and rescue operation on 9/11 and the days after is a true hero. Never Forget the lives lost on this tragic day or the heroes that emerged from it.
Here we are, Labor Day weekend. I know that many of you have returned to school, some with students and some waiting until Tuesday for learners to come rushing in. I’m confident that with the changing of seasons gradually upon us that your school year is going to be spectacular. I love seeing messages on facebook, instagram, texts, and in emails from friends listing the number of years that they’ve taught. It signifies so much pride in teaching. Like hanging your college degree framed on the wall of your classroom, or better yet outside the door of your classroom. The message it sends: I’m proud of my degree in education and proud to teach in this classroom/school. Teaching is the noblest of careers and we all aware that today, it can be challenging.
This weekend, I was together with some friends who are retired teachers. We discussed how easy it is to forget the impact we’ve made on students. Recently they bumped into the parents of former students and they gushed about how fantastic they were and the difference they had made in their child’s lives. I pulled out my portfolio recently and read some letters and cards from former students. My emotions rose and because of the tears streaming down my cheeks I was forced to stop. Rewarding feeling? You betcha! I hope that you are saving the notes that you receive!
My School Year
My time and responsibilities have shifted. I’m grateful to be continuing my involvement with education, in many different ways. I return to substituting, continue to blog, communicate with educators in Maine, the US, and around the world. My connection with HundrED continuously provides ‘food for thought’. Reading educational material and listening to podcasts keeps me updated on research and opinions. One of my favorite podcasts is The Growing Band Director with Kyle Smith who teaches at Westbrook High School. I’m preparing for a keynote that I’m giving at the New England League of Middle School (NELMS) conference in March so I’m thinking about it often. I serve as the editor for two Maine publications, if anyone is interested in writing please let me know. I enjoy visiting classrooms and communicating with teachers. I especially like to connect to learn more so I can write blog posts highlighting the amazing work going on in classrooms. Reach out to me if you’re interested.
My art making has become important to me. In a few days I’ll post about an exciting collaboration that was just published. I’m thrilled to be part of a planning committee in my town for our Sestercentennial – 250 years! We’re helping to bring arts education residencies to Union Elementary School. One with dancer and musician Chrissy Fowler from Belfast Flyer Shoes. She’ll teach the students, K-6 contra dancing and we’ll have a school and community dance. The second with musician and music educator Scott Dyer who is writing my town’s history as a musical. He’ll be working with all the students to learn and perform the history for the school families and greater community. It’s all very exciting.
My commitment to quality arts education for all students become stronger every year! We all know the power of the arts to engage student learning and to appreciate what makes us each human. If you’re a teacher of visual and/or performing arts education you have the power to make a huge difference in a positive way for young people. The arts are an avenue to helping students make sense of the world. They are a necessity not a luxury, not only for the ‘talented’ ones but for all students. They deserve the best from you and everyone with a stake in our children’s success must see arts education as their cause. Access to and opportunities to an excellent arts education is critical and at the heart of excellent education.
Please know as you start (or continue) with your school year that I am excited for you and jumping for joy and wishing you the very best school year. I am grateful that you’ve chosen education for a career! Happpppy New School Year!
For years now the teacher shortage has been a problem. In the 1980’s and 90’s it was centered around the number of teachers who would be of retirement age. The statistics were clear; ages of teachers and their years teaching is tracked. Awareness of the problem was at every level; local school districts, the state department of education, higher education institutions, and at the federal department of education. The information was presented to teachers and business leaders at conferences; I heard the message loud and clear in 1995. When the age of STEM education came about the focus was on the shortage of math and science teachers. The shortage of special education teachers has been on the radar for many years. Fast forward to the pandemic and the stresses that teachers were and continue to be facing impacts the number of available teachers and support staff.
As we know this is not a ‘Maine only’ problem but a nation wide issue. A report from National Public Radio in the fall of 2022 combines information collected from 70 educators and experts from across the country surfaced three major contributors to the shortage: low pay, a strong economy, bitter politics and pandemic burnout. In addition to these three major findings the plans needed to positively impact this problem must coincide with the specific and unique needs in each school districts. In rural Maine the problems are different than in the areas of Maine where the population is greater.
In the Maine Sunday Telegram this past weekend a piece written by Lana Cohen focuses on the shortage as Maine teachers and learners return to school. Some positions are more difficult to fill than others. This has always been the case. Everyone agrees that the shortage is a huge problem and leaders from our state education organizations are quoted in the article. READ the ARTICLE
The conversations continue (talk, talk, talk,) and I understand that our higher ed institutions and the department of education are ‘working’ on the problem. These organizations and others like them seem to do an outstanding job of collecting information, identifying needs, and name who they’re working with on the problem. Sometimes money is being thrown at ‘programs’ but I don’t see much evidence of the impact.
I found one new program being launched on September 14 by Eastern Maine Community College. It is available for support staff only, not full teaching staff. There is no cost to the program and allows trainees to work as supervised support staff in PreK-12 classrooms this year. This program has space for 180 people. LEARN MORE. I see mention of ‘Teach Maine’ and ‘Live and Work in Maine’ that lead me to believe they are addressing the teacher shortage in Maine but when I try to find specific information to learn how they’re helping I don’t see any evidence. If anyone knows of programs that are actually focused on the action part of the teacher shortage I’m interested in learning about them. Please email me meartsed@gmail.com.
Colleagues say: “You know Argy, things move slowly through the system, education is always behind”. Many of you know that after teaching for many years I went to work at the state. After seven years at the Maine Department of Education and six years at the Maine Arts Commission I understand perfectly that there are mountains to climb. I believe that it is the responsibility of our leaders to climb the mountains. Some of our best work in Maine arts education was not accomplished by sitting at a table talking about the issues but it was in planning and implementing an initiative which was filled with action, every step of the way. The impact of that program continues to be felt. (Maine Arts Assessment Initiative morphed into the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative).
I’m very concerned about the teacher shortage in Maine when I hear stories. Some school districts are hiring people who are not certified to teach Art or Music. Dance and Theater courses are still unavailable in schools across the state. Last year one school had students attending school every other day to provide instruction to all students. The substitute shortage is causing other teachers to cover multiple classes.
I know what you’re thinking, I’m just talking as well. This is not a problem that can be solved by one person alone, it will take strong commitments and collaborations. My suggestions include:
Commissioner Pender Makin had a conversation during the 2022-23 school year with Maine county and state teachers of the year to brainstorm ideas to help address the problem. Take action on some of the suggestions and enlist teacher leaders to help implement the ideas.
As a follow up to the meeting I had the opportunity to introduce an amazing educator from Kenya to Commissioner Makin. He was visiting the US for a month in the spring and I was very grateful that we had 30 minutes with the commissioner. We proposed bringing teachers from Kenya to help address the teacher shortage. It has been four months and the certification office is creating unnecessary mountains. The idea is not new, there is precedent. For years the Maine DOE has had Memorandums of Education in place with other countries.
My local school district used federal funds to create a new salary scale to address the challenge of finding substitutes. The pay was based on teaching experience and formal education. It was the first time that I have been compensated fairly for my experience and knowledge. The number of substitutes immediately grew. Problem solved! The next school year the pay scale shifted (without Covid funds) but was still greater than other districts. Makes me wonder why other school districts didn’t consider raising the pay for substitutes?
A round table discussion where organizations and Maine leaders leave their egos and politics at the door and are not allowed to exit the conversation until action steps, and whose responsible for those actions steps, are named.
Why is teacher shortage so important to all Maine residents? Our education system contributes greatly to our future and the quality of life for our citizens; all of them, not just some! If we want our young people to receive an excellent education so they can grow into adults who are positive and contributing to their communities in a productive manner, we need to insure that each learner receives the education that they deserve! We need to recognize who each individual is and provide them access to an education that is inclusive of curriculum and programs that address each learners needs in all ways. It’s past time to work together to help alleviate this challenge!
As we know the summer is filled with opportunities around the arts. The Farnsworth Art Museum is no exception; they provide exhibits, classes, lectures and other learning situations. Here is some the latest information from the Farnsworth, even a job opportunity.
ARTS@THEINTERSECTION 2023
In its first year, Arts@theIntersection worked with schools in Knox, Lincoln, and Waldo counties, lifting up the voices of midcoast youth. Museum staff start by building trust with students in their own classrooms. They engage with teachers to understand the relationships at play in each class, then build programs and community connections to best meet both teacher and student goals.
“Arts@theIntersection gives students a voice in their education and a choice about how they can engage with it most effectively.” ~Alexis Saba, School Programs Manager at Farnsworth Art Museum.
The Farnsworth’s education staff are all part of the Learning & Engagement Department. They have a job opening for the Academic and Program coordinator.
The Farnsworth Art Museum seeks a creative and collaborative Academic Programs Coordinator to join the Learning & Engagement department. The core responsibilities of this role include supporting arts integration and K-12 programming at the museum, primarily the Farnsworth’s Arts@theIntersection year-long program. The Farnsworth Art Museum is located in Rockland, Maine and the Academic Programs Coordinator role is an on-site position with some travel required throughout the area.
Reporting to the Senior Manager of Academic Programs, the coordinator will provide support for the implementation of our Arts@theIntersection program, a year-long arts integration program working with midcoast Maine area middle and high school students. This position will also work closely with Learning and Engagement staff members to develop core components of K-12 online learning units to align with current education standards and collections-based learning in museum environments. This position supports department program implementation as needed.
The duties, qualifications and application are located at THIS LINK.
PICTURE BOOK: DANIEL MINTER’S BLUE
Join Coretta Scott King and Caldecott Honor winner Daniel Minter for a reading of Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond’s Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky, which he illustrated. The book addresses the question, ‘where did the color blue come from-and how did it evolve to be the color we know today?’
Tomorrow, Wednesday, August 23, 10:30-11:30, the Farnsworth Library. For more information CLICK HERE.
This man was in a car accident and one of the outcomes he experienced was depression. He and his wife created a dance, Rural-Style Shuffle Dance, and now a day doesn’t go by that he doesn’t dance. The impact on his life has been nothing but positive.
All teachers want to be prepared and to broaden their horizons so they can be better prepared personally and when interacting with their own students. Below is a list of books that were brought to my attention by the Maine County and State Teacher of the Year Association. These are Rainbow Reads 2023 booklist.
PICTURE BOOKS
Calvin, RJ and Vanessa Ford & Kayla Harren (illustrator). In this joyful and impactful picture book, a transgender boy prepares for the first day of school and introduces himself to his family and friends for the first time.
If You’re A Kid Like Gavin: A True Story of a Young Trans Activist, Gavin Grimm, Kyle Lukoff, & J Yang (illustrator) A celebratory and empowering story from young trans activist Gavin Grimm, two-time Stonewall Award-winning and Newbery Honor-winning author Kyle Lukoff, and illustrator J Yang follows the true story of how a young boy stood up for himself—and made history along the way. A Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Best Book of the Year!
Love, Violet, Charlotte Sullivan Wild & Charlene Chua (illustrator) Perfect for Valentine’s Day, a touching picture book about friendship and the courage it takes to shareyour feelings.
Mama, Mommy, and Me in the Middle, Nina LaCour & Kayla Juanita (illustrator) A little girl stays home with Mama when Mommy goes off on a work trip in this tender, inviting story that will resonate with every child who has missed a parent.
True You: A Gender Journey, Gwen Agna & Shelley Rotner (illustrator) There are different ways to show and be who you are in this affirming photographic picture book that offers a celebratory and informative look at kids and their wide-ranging gender identities.
MIDDLE GRADE
A High Five for Glenn Burke, Phil Bildner A heartfelt and relatable novel from Phil Bildner, weaving the real history of Los Angeles Dodger and Oakland Athletic Glenn Burke–the first professional baseball player to come out as gay–into the story of a middle-school kid learning to be himself.
Ana on the Edge, AJ Sass Perfect for fans of George and Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World: a heartfelt coming of age story about a nonbinary character navigating a binary world.
The Insiders, Mark Oshiro A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year An ALA Rainbow Book List Top 10 Title for Young Readers Three kids who don’t belong. A room that shouldn’t exist. A year that will change everything. Perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead and Meg Medina, this debut middle grade novel from award-winning author Mark Oshiro is a hopeful and heartfelt coming-of-age story for anyone who’s ever felt like they didn’t fit in.
The Real Riley Mayes, Rachel Elliot A Stonewall Book Award Honor * A Sid Fleishman Humor Award HonorFunny and full of heart, this debut graphic novel is a story about friendship, identity, and embracing all the parts of yourself that make you special.
Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston, Esme Symes-Smith In a magical medieval world filled with dragons, shape-shifters, and witches, a twelve-year-old nonbinary hopeful knight battles for the heart of their kingdom. A thrilling middle-grade series opener that explores identity and gender amid sword fights and magic, and proves anyone can be a hero.
YOUNG ADULT
The Family Outing: A Memoir, Jessi Hempel A striking and remarkable literary memoir about one family’s transformation, with almost all of them embracing their queer identities.
The House in the Cerulean Sea, TJ Klune “The House in the Cerulean Sea is a heart-swelling wave of sweetness and hope. Mild-mannered government caseworker Linus Baker is sent on a secret assignment to an island orphanage he’s never even heard of. The astonishing inhabitants he gets to know there will change his life and make him reassess everything he thought he knew. This book will leave you believing in the good in everyone — even those society has given up on — and contemplating how huge changes have to start somewhere.” — Haley Stocking, Phinney Books, Seattle, WA
Imogen, Obviously, Becky Abertalli With humor and insight, #1 New York Times bestseller Becky Albertalli explores the nuances of sexuality, identity, and friendship in this timely new novel.
Loveless, Alice Oseman This is the funny, honest, messy, completely relatable story of Georgia, who doesn’t understand why she can’t crush and kiss and make out like her friends do. She’s surrounded by the narrative that dating + sex = love. It’s not until she gets to college that she discovers the A range of the LGBTQIA+ spectrum — coming to understand herself as asexual/aromantic. Disrupting the narrative that she’s been told since birth isn’t easy — there are many mistakes along the way to inviting people into a newly found articulation of an always-known part of your identity. But Georgia’s determined to get her life right, with the help of (and despite the major drama of) her friends.
The Magic Fish, Trung Le Nguyen In this gorgeous debut graphic novel, fairy tales are the only way one boy can communicate with his Vietnamese immigrant parents. But how will he find the words to tell them that he’s gay? A powerful read about family, identity and the enduring magic of stories.
I live in a community where some individuals have requested that the school board have certain books removed from our classrooms and library book shelves. The conversation went on for months with both sides taking time to express their opinions. Some advocacy is based on fact and research while others are based on personal beliefs/choices and emotions. These conversations are similar to others going on across our state and the country. We all have opinions and lately I’ve been wondering how individuals can express their options in a way that provides a ‘point of view’, not in a way that comes across as “I am right and if you don’t agree with me, you are wrong”. Most importantly, I wonder how opinions can be expressed without negatively impacting the education of young people? After all, we know they’re watching and listening.
Every year before the July 4th parade in Whitefield, a small town located not a 30 minute drive from Augusta, an artist gathers with other artists and friends to shed light on a ‘challenging topic’ to include in the parade. Artist Natasha Mayers has been doing this for years. Some of you are familiar with the marvelous film that was made to document Natasha’s life story called Natasha Mayers: An Unstill Life. The film chronicles her life as an artist and activist. You can access the trailer and rent the entire film at THIS LINK.
Some of the many participants presenting ‘banned books’ at the Whitefield parade
For this years parade the group focused on books that have been banned and created giant books that are included on a list. They passed out more than 100 children’s books wrapped in caution tape, with bookmarks listing banned books. I’m sure many of you are familiar with some or all of these books, I’ve listed them below.
Its one thing to be aware of banned books but it’s another to express your opinion or to take action. I’ve given some thought about my beliefs and I’m reading, listening and watching. One of my summer goals is to read more of the books on banned book lists. When I participate in a conversation it will be based on my reading and my understanding through my own lens. I attended my town’s candidates forum this spring where the candidates were asked their opinions on banning books from our schools, specifically the book Queer Gender by Maia Kobabe. The two individuals who strongly opposed hadn’t read the book, one had looked at the pictures. I’ve noticed that many people who are opposed to certain books also have strong feelings about the curriculum being taught in our schools. In addition, their rhetoric includes wanting the power to make curriculum decisions. As a teacher I am totally committed to working with parents to educate the child. But I am opposed to parents making decisions for other families. Should parents be making decisions for their own children or all children? Some advocates are attempting to undermine the wisdom of teachers and educational experts who are trained to make curriculum decisions and choices about teaching and learning. I realize that not all educators are ‘experts’ and I’m not suggesting that educators make all the decisions. Policy’s and procedures are in place with curriculum committees that include teachers, administrators, and school board members to guide and make decisions on curriculum.
Handing out books to children
I’m not offering answers, only questions. My baseline question that has always guided me: what is in the best interest of all students? Some folks are saying ‘best interest’ has become murky. Well, no one said that education wasn’t messy business. It feels like we’re at a critical moment so I ask you: will you be part of the problem or part of the solution? How can arts educators use artistry to help at this moment in the history of education?
Banned books for teens and adults
FICTION, FANTASY, ETC.
The Bluest Eyes, Tony Morrison
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Sherman Alexie
The Call of the Wild, Jack London
The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas
The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Mark Haddon
The DaVinci Code, Dan Brown
Black Boy, Richard Wright
Brave New World, Aldous Huxley
The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
Running with Scissors, Augusten Burroughs
Looking for Alaska, John Green
The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton
Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Woolf
The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath
NONFICTION
A People’s History of the United States, Howard Zinn
Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out, Susan Kuklin
The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story, Nikole Hannah-Jones
The Autobiography of Malcolm X & Alex Haley
Silent Spring, Rachel Carson
You Can’t Read This: Why Books Get Banned, Pamela Jain Dell
COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS
Maus, Art Spiegelman
Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi
March (series), John Lewis & Andrew Aydin
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic, Alison Bechdel
Queer: A Graphic History, Meg-John Barker
Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty, Gregory Neri & Randi DuBurke
Blankest, Craig Thompson
This One Summer, Mariko Tamaki
Banned booksfor children
PICTURE BOOKS
Donovan’s Big Day, Leslea Newman
It’s a Book, Lane Smith
The Day in June, Gayle Pitman & Kristyna Litten
The Snowy Day, Ezra Jack Keats
In Our Mother’s House, Patricia Polacco
Flabby Cat and Sleepy Dog, Jeanne Willis
Little Red Riding Hood, Trina Schart Hyman
Nappy Hair, Carolina Herron
Goodnight Moon, Margaret Wise Brown
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, Bill Martin
Nasreen’s Secret School: A True Story From Afghanistan, Jeanette Winter
The Paper Bag Princess, Robert Munsch
The Dumb Bunnies, Dav Pilkey
Strega Nona, Tomie DePaola
The Stupids (series), Harry Allard & James Marshall
CHAPTER BOOKS
The Watsons go to Birmingham, 1963, Christopher Paul Curtis
Julie of the Wolves, Jean Craighead Goerge
The Giver, Lois Lowry
Melissa, Alex Gino
A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L’Engle
Go Ask Alice, Anonymous
Charlotte’s Web, E.B. White
The View From Saturday, E.L. Konigsburg
An Indigenous People’s History of the United States, Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
At the end of the 2022-23 school year MAEA president Cory Bucknam provided several book titles for independent reading during the summer. At the next LGBTQIA+ meeting on Monday, September 11th at 5:00 over Zoom the participants will discuss these two books.
Fiction:Small Joys, Elvin James Mensah
Non-fiction:Pageboy: A Memoir, Elliot Page
The MAEA LGBTQIA+ Interest Group was Inspired by the National Art Education Association’s (NAEA) LGBTQ+ Interest Group. A few passionate MAEA members wanted to create a version of that in Maine. Not all MAEA members are NAEA members, and the organization wanted to give teachers access to a group that supports those who identify as LGBTQIA+ and also help all teachers to support their LGBTQIA+ students and coworkers.
The LGBTQIA+ Interest Group will meet monthly, with virtual meetings to prevent excluding members because of geography, and possibly a few in-person meetings throughout the state for fostering connections and socializing. The LGBTQIA+ Interest Group has three main goals group:
Continue developing a vision and mission for the group
Learning for ourselves (example: the summer reading group)
Sharing learning with others (example: creating a resource page on the MAEA website)
Below, a list of books MAEA provided members.
Heart Stopper by Alice Oseman
Baby by Torrey Peters
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
The Late Americans by Brandon Taylor
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera
Small Joys by Elvin James Mensah
All My Mothers Lovers by Ilana Masad
Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin
Grace Needs Space! by Benjamin Al Wilgus and Rii Abrego
The Lesbiana’s by Sonora Reyes
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
While we’re on the topic, the state professional organization representing music educators, Maine Music Educators Association (MMEA), created this Pride statement:
As Pride Month draws to a close, MMEA shines a light on LGBTQ+ artists and music educators and all their contributions within our classrooms. While Pride is the focus during the month of June, our LGBTQ+ colleagues, students, families, and community members value representation and affirmation within the education community all year long. Thank you for continuing to create an inclusive music classroom where all individuals feel welcome.
It seems to me like each issue of the Union of Maine Visual Arts (UMVA) journal is better than the one before. The summer issue, In Balance/Imbalance is no exception; filled with thoughtful and thought provoking articles.
This issue includes a piece written for the education column, Insight/Incite by Sharon Gallant, a veteran Gardiner High School Science teacher who has taken many workshops and classes on Bookmaking. Sharon is the 2023 Kennebec County Teacher of the Year and she is always seeking understanding in all facets of bookmaking. She is recognized for a teaching style that is participatory, interdisciplinary, and academically sound. She was selected for a 100 hour apprenticeship with Richard Reitz Smith to expand her bookmaking knowledge and to create a book which will be a reference tool for teachers wanting to use bookmaking in the classroom. I wrote a blog post about Sharon’s work in the classroom earlier this year at THIS LINK.
Véronique Plesch’s introduction says it best, for the summer issue of the UMVA journal:
Although each of our contributors conceives and experiences the dual notions of balance and its lack or loss in remarkably varied and personal ways, what emerges from this issue is that balance is fundamentally dynamic in nature. As a process, it is impermanent and fleeting. It is a negotiation, a dance with the entropic forces of chaos. It is a drive, a desire—perhaps even an unattainable goal. It is the pursuit of such goals, even of those that may never be fully reached, that effect profound change. Artists can contribute by spreading awareness of the imbalances that surround us. The concert of their voices motivates us and gives us the necessary strength to face the task at hand to rebalance our world.
If you’d like to learn more, become a member of UMVA, and support this fabulous organization you may do so at THIS LINK. If you’re interested in writing for the journal please contact me at meartsed@gmail.com or go to THIS LINK.
I think the video embedded below was a Coca-Cola commercial for this year’s Super Bowl; yup, back in February 2023. I don’t know exactly how it was created but Artificial Intelligence, AI was part of it. This came out about the same time that I started to see more information and reading about AI. Some people closest to my circle were concerned, and still are, about the negative impact AI might have on education, learning (or the lack of), creativity, and originality. I find it difficult to take a stand, for or against. For me there is too much grey area on the topic. Take this commercial, for example. I’m guessing that we can all agree that it is well done on all levels, creative and inspiring. It includes many known art works. An entire lesson could be formed around or built on the idea. An integrated lesson for music and visual art and actually many subject areas.
One comment from someone in the advertising community said: “that’s the proper way to use ai stuff. not to make the entire content, but to work alongside traditional methods”. I do agree!
I dug a little to learn about it and this is what I found: The new campaign from Coca-Cola features a combination of film, 3D, and Stable Diffusion, which is deep learning, text-to-image AI model. Traditional production methods coupled with artificial intelligence will bring the next level of creativity to the advertising industry.
I suggest that as educators responsible for the arts, use this as an example of how we can utilize AI for the expansion of the creative process. What do you think?
Argy Nestor
Arts Educator, Blogger, Artist, Connector meartsed@gmail.com
https://sites.google.com/view/anestor/
Argy’s Blog
The purpose of this blog is to share stories about people and places; and to celebrate the amazing work (and play) that students, educators, and organizations are doing in and for arts education. In addition, the blog has a plethora of resources and innovative ideas. This forum gives blog readers the opportunity to learn from each other. It is essential that we listen, learn, and collaborate in order to build on teaching practices for the benefit of every learner in Maine and beyond.
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