Posts Tagged ‘teaching artist’
November 23, 2016
Working on the outer islands
Teaching Artist and Director of Education for Figures of Speech Theatre Ian Bannon isn’t afraid to take on challenging ideas and make them into something lasting for learners.
Last year Figures of Speech Theatre and the Island Institute partnered to produce “The Art of Memory: Stories from Maine’s Outer Islands,” a shadow puppet film based on oral histories gathered on some of Maine’s most remote islands. He traveled from island to island during the spring of 2015 working with students to create the video. For details of the work please CLICK HERE.
You can view the 5-minute behind-the-scenes documentary by CLICKING HERE. And, the full 35-minute film at THIS LINK.
Ian is on the Maine Arts Commission Teaching Artist roster and this project was partially funded by the Maine Arts Commission.
Figures of Speech Theatre creates and tours visionary works of performance forged at the intersection of poetry, music, sculpture and dance.Whether the work is an adaptation of a simple Comanche Indian legend, the recitation of T.S. Eliot poetry, or a silent, visual tapestry surrounding a piece of contemporary classical music, our dream is to create theater in which the form of the work so intricately meshes with the content of the work that the two are as one, and each invisibly reinforces the other. As Doris Lessing has said, “The story dictates the means of telling it.”
Drawing on the artistic genius of many collaborators, the company guides adventurous audiences on journeys where, in the words of one reviewer, “layers of reality vs. abstraction, of reality vs. performance, of perception itself, are gently explored.”
The company has toured all over the world – from Sofia, Bulgaria to Tokyo, Japan, to Lima, Peru. Besides performing at venues such as the Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian Institution, and the New Victory Theatre on Broadway, the company retains a strong commitment to teaching and performing throughout its home state of Maine.
Posted in Food for thought, Resources, Theater | Tagged Figures of Speech, Ian Bannon, MAC, Maine teaching artist, teaching artist, The Art of Memory: Stories from Maine's Outer Islands in Bar Harbor | Leave a Comment »
November 22, 2016
Wonderful learning
The first Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI) Regional conference took place yesterday at Ellsworth High School. The participants were appreciative of the opportunity, not just to attend and learn in the formal sessions, but to have the chance to network with other arts educators.
Each participant attended two sessions in the morning from the following selection:
-
Illustrating to Write session
Where are your Art Standards within the Studio Habits of Mind! with Jane Snider, Hancock Grammar School
- Ellsworth High School VPA Academy with Rebecca Wright, Leah Olson, Shannon Westphal, Ellsworth High School
- More Cowbell with Tim Hart, MLTI
- Illustrating to Write with Ann Marie Quirion Hutton, MLTI
- Bringing it All Together with Sue Barre, Waterville High School
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Evidence of Learning Through Google
Evidence of Learning Through Google with Charlie Johnson, Mount Desert Island High School
- Visual Notetaking/Doodling in Class with Ann Marie Quirion Hutton, MLTI
- Making 8-bit Art with Tim Hart, MLTI
A great big thanks to all of the MALI Teacher Leaders and MLTI session presenters. Without your willingness, commitment, and leadership we wouldn’t be able to have the Mega conferences.
Thank you to the Ellsworth High School VPA boosters club who provided lunch – it was all mmmmmmm!
Director of the Maine Arts Commission Julie Richard joined us in the afternoon. Teaching artist and dancer Nancy Salmon led us movement that got us ready for the afternoon. Beth Lambert from the Maine Department of Education joined me in providing foundational information on the statewide arts education census that was conducted during the 2015-16 school year.
The day ended with some great door prizes. Thanks to those who contributed. The next MALI Mega Regional conference takes place on Wednesday, January 4 at USM, Portland. Please CLICK HERE for information and registration.
MAC Executive Director Julie Richard
Teaching Artist and dancer Nancy Salmon
Participants moving with Nancy Salmon
Ellsworth High School art teachers sharing a funny moment
Participants at lunchtime
Sue Barre presenting Bringing it all Together, her assessment system
Participants at lunchtime
Discussing the census information
More Cowbell session
Posted in Communication, Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Dance, Food for thought, Leadership, Opportunity, Professional Development, Standards Based Education, VPA, YAHOO | Tagged Ann Marie Quirion Hutton, arts education, Charlie Johnson, Ellsworth High School, Janie Snider, Julie Richard, Leah Olson, MAC, Maine arts education, Maine Arts Leaderhip Initiative, Maine arts leadership initiative, MALI, Mega Regional conference, mlti, Nancy Salmon, Rebecca Wright, Shannon Westphall, Sue Barre, teacher leaders, teaching artist, Tim Hart | Leave a Comment »
November 17, 2016
Awarding funds
Congratulations to the Marshwood Education Foundation for funding two projects recently that will benefit learners in their communities. Thanks to the foundation members for their commitment to education and for providing the funds to make the following two opportunities possible.
Brian is on the Maine Arts Commission Teaching Artist roster and attended the MALI Summer Institute
The first $3380 grant was awarded to Central School 2nd Grade teacher Pam Mulcahey and parent Brian Evan-Jones for “Literacy Through Poetry” and will fund an artist-in-residence program to support 2nd graders in poetry writing. In addition, the residency will support a Creative Writing Group for any 1st – 3rd grade students, along with mentors from Marshwood High School. The residency program will work with 2nd grade students and teachers to help build student confidence and writing skills and improve teacher instruction. Each student will have 1 poem that will be published and printed by Chapbooks. A Student-Parent writing event will also be organized to give students and parents the opportunity to write a poem together. The creation of a magazine will also provide students with another opportunity for publication.
Brian Evans Jones is on the Maine Arts Commission Teaching Artist roster at https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/Teaching-Artist-Roster. The artists on the roster have demonstrated mastery of an artistic discipline, knowledge and expertise in sequential arts instruction, good communication skills, planning and organizational ability, and an understanding of their target learners. The Maine Arts Commission maintains the roster as a service to artists interested in teaching in Pk-12 school settings and community organizations as well as schools looking for artists to provide residency’s for students.
The second grant, in the amount of $5100, was awarded to Diane Reppucci at Eliot Elementary to fund “Local Stories”, an integrated arts project that combines local history, research and community collaboration to create a mural that documents and preserves the stories of Eliot. 2 artists-in-residence from “Local Stories” will work with all 2nd grade students to help them conduct interviews, research and investigations to create a school mobile mural and a live theater performance.
Posted in Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, VPA | Tagged arts education, Brian Evan-Jones, Maine arts education, Marshwood Education Fund, teaching artist | Leave a Comment »
September 29, 2016
Teaching Artist roster – 2 weeks left to apply
Brian Evans-Jones, Literary Teaching Artist – Why I teach
The Maine Arts Commission is now accepting applications for fall submissions to it PK-12 Teaching Artists Roster. The application deadline is Thursday, October 13 at 5 p.m. The roster, launched in 2014 and available at https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/Teaching-Artist-Roster, includes Maine artists whose applications reflect their expertise and commitment to providing learning opportunities for students and/or teachers in PK-12 educational settings. There are currently 56 artists on the roster in disciplines including dance, literary arts, media arts, music, theater, and visual arts. Applications are accepted only two times per year.
Nancy Salmon Dance Teaching Artist – Why I teach
The Arts Commission defines Teaching Artists as professional artists who are dedicated to lifelong learning and arts education, have made it an integral part of their professional practice, and who have cultivated skills as educators in concert with their skills as artists.
Successful applicants demonstrate mastery of an artistic discipline; knowledge and expertise in sequential arts instruction; good communication skills; planning and organizational ability; and an understanding of PK-12 learners.
To learn more about the Maine Arts Commission teaching artist program and to access the application please go to https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/Teaching-Artists#.
To learn more about the Arts Commission’s other PK-12 arts education programs contact Argy Nestor at argy.nestor@maine.gov or 207-287-2713.
Posted in Community, Food for thought, Opportunity, VPA | Tagged arts education, MAC, teaching artist, teaching artist roster, visual and performing arts education | Leave a Comment »
August 29, 2016
#WHYITEACH
We asked teacher leaders and teaching artist leaders at the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative Summer Institute: Why do you teach? The outcome is below. As you are starting the school year off, ask yourself, write it down, take your photo (and send it to me or tweet it out at #WHYITEACH) so I can add it to the collection of Maine Teaching Artists and PK-12 Arts Educators. Thanks for teaching!
If you click on the images you can make them large and read the text better.
Posted in Communication, Community, Leadership | Tagged #WHYITEACH, arts education, MAC, Maine arts education, Maine arts leadership initiative, MALI, teacher leaders, teaching artist, teaching artist leaders, visual and performing arts education, why i teach | 1 Comment »
July 30, 2016
Art teachers soaking it in
Teaching Artist Malley Weber
I had the privilege of visiting the Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts earlier this week and it was such a treat. A dozen art teachers creating individually and at the same time collaboratively – sharing their knowledge and soaking up the wisdom of each other. In my undergraduate program I had a ceramics focus so the smell of the clay environment, the feel of the clay in my hands, coupled with the buzz of teachers, enlightened all my senses. And right before my eyes was the center of Watershed’s philosophy, a belief that the unexpected sparks creativity and that new people, ideas and spaces nurture the evolution of artistic practice.
How fortunate for the art educators (mostly from Maine) to take the opportunity to nourish their minds and their souls. The teachers had their own studio space where they were continuing to develop their skills and ideas. It was great to see and speak to the teachers about their work. Visiting also was Beth Lambert, Maine Department of Education Visual and Performing Arts Specialist. Participating in the week were Maine Arts Leadership Initiative Teacher Leaders Jeff Orth and Gloria Hewett. And this years recipient of the Monhegan Artists’ Residency and colleague of mine from MSAD #40, Krisanne Baker.
Jeff Orth, Beth Lambert, and Gloria Hewett
While visiting, Maine Arts Commission Teaching Artist member Malley Weber shared her present research project – creating ceramic water filters. Malley was intrigued by the idea and has been communicating with and learning from Potters for Peace.
Potters for Peace has provided information has helped in her research. Since 1998, representatives of Potters for Peace have traveled the world assisting with the establishment of small factories or workshops that produce a low-cost ceramic water filter that can bring clean, potable water to those who need it most. They don’t actually make, store or distribute ceramic water filters or operate filter production facilities. They assist local partners to set up their own filter production and distribution facilities. Much of their work has been in Central America with woman potters.
Malley is experimenting with Watershed clay to find the right recipe to create the filters for the local water supply. The lesson is designed for students to:
- understand the global issues around water and the importance of clean water for everyone,
- to experiment with filtering bacteria from water by making their own ceramic water filters,
- to create a well designed and functional receptacle and lid using elements of art and principles of design that will hold the filter, store and deliver water to a glass by either pouring spout or spigot, and
- to observe and draw conclusions based on their experiment.
What an incredible idea that is all about the connections between art and science! Malley’s lesson was filled with the language of both disciplines.
One of the founders of Watershed is my dear friend George Mason. It has been a while since I visited the Newcastle facility that was established in 1986. Such a treat! You can read their story at http://www.watershedceramics.org/about/our-story/. Be sure and check out the opportunities they provide under the watchful eye and commitment of Executive Director Fran Rudoff. Classes are invited during parts of the year and there are community events that are always wonderful!
Thanks to Fran for inviting me to visit and to Malley for sharing her experience!
Posted in Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Food for thought, Integration, Opportunity, Professional Development, Visual Arts | Tagged Fran Rudoff, Malley Weber, Potters for Peace, teaching artist, Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts | 2 Comments »
July 6, 2016
MALI Summer Institute
Calling Teaching Artists – You’re Invited!
Summer professional development
Wednesday, August 10, 8:00 to 4:00
USM, Portland
Cost: $20 to reserve your spot and cover lunch
Teaching Artist Tim Christensen works with a student at Camden-Rockport Middle School
The Maine Arts Commission invites you to an all day professional development workshop that will include structured networking with more than 50 PK-12 Visual and Performing Arts teachers from throughout Maine!
This year’s Teaching Artist professional development day is designed to focus in depth on the role of the teaching artist in the K-12 classroom, and the relationship between the K-12 arts educator and the teaching artist.
The day includes workshops designed specifically for Teaching Artists focusing on topics including: how to get funding, best practices for Teaching Artists, standards, assessment, advocacy, and more.
The goal? More high quality K-12 Artist in Residence programs in the state of Maine!
What will you get when you attend the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative Summer Institute?
- Opportunities to connect with and engage collaboratively with PK-12 visual and performing arts teachers from Maine schools
- An exciting, teacher – driven environment for teaching artists who are interested in professional development with peers
- Sessions that are planned to fit your needs as a teaching artist
- Morning coffee/tea, a yummy lunch and afternoon snacks
To register please CLICK HERE.
Presented by Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI) of the Maine Arts Commission. To learn more about the MALI please go to http://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/MAAI#.
If you have any questions please contact Argy Nestor, Director of Arts Education, Maine Arts Commission, argy.nestor@maine.gov or John Morris at JohnMorris08@gmail.com.
Posted in assessment, Communication, Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Dance, Leadership, Media Arts, Music, Opportunity, Professional Development, Standards, Theater, Visual Arts, VPA | Tagged arts education, MAC, Maine arts education, Maine arts leadership initiative, MALI, teaching artist, teaching artists, visual and performing arts education | Leave a Comment »
April 25, 2016
Where art and science meet
Completed piece
Not to long ago I had a delightful visit at the Camden-Rockport Middle School. Middle school art educator Kristen Andersen had invited me to learn more about a collaborative teaching unit that she had undertaken with teaching artist Tim Christensen. I met Kristen many years ago and have visited her classroom on occasion. (I love it when teachers contact me to visit and learn what they are up to. So, please contact me if you’d like to share. It gives me the opportunity to share what you are doing so others can learn from you)! I met Tim at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts five years ago where he was facilitating a clay workshop at the Maine Art Education Association conference. Tim is a full-time artist and in addition does school residency’s.
Tim and Kristen put their heads together to develop this unit. They are working with the Farnsworth Art Museum’s Stories of the Land and It’s People program. In Tim’s personal work as an artist, he is documenting the habitat of animals and microcosms that are living today that will become extinct, some in our lifetime. The way he explained it is we know that the wooly mammoth existed during the Pleistocene epoch. The mammoth was identified as an extinct species of elephant by Georges Cuvier in 1796. So, we know the mammoth existed but we are unsure of its habitat. In order to preserve this information of the animals and microcosms living today Tim has taken it upon himself to document their habitats on pottery. Animals live here and they have systems that support them – its about the interactions and relationships. And, we know that pottery has told stories for hundreds of years.
Ninety grade 7 students are participating in this undertaking along with the science teacher Patty Crawford and Language Arts teacher Katie Urey. In fact, the artwork has been created during several of Patty’s classes. (Kristen is on multiple teams so her schedule doesn’t coincide with all of Patty’s classes). The work directly relates to the grade 7 science curriculum and students are writing haiku poems in Katie’s classes.
Each student is responsible for 3 clay tiles about 2″x4″. They started by drawing a name out of a hat of an organism and researched it. The tiles were underglazed black on raw clay. The drawings are being carved on one tile to create various shades and textures by using a variety of marks (lines, crosshatching, stipples to name a few). The technique is called sgraffito on porcelain. A second tile has the facts that they learned about their animal and the third has their haiku poem. Each tile has two small holes at the top which will be used to hang the tiles on copper rods that will be hanging between wooden braces. It will be like an abacus. The exhibit will be an educational tool so others can read and learn and try to match up the fact tiles with the image tiles.
The connected unit has been supported by principal Jamie Stone who moved to Camden-Rockport Middle School from an expeditionary school in Baltimore. They’ve connected with the Coastal Mountains Land Trust who is very excited about the work. They set up locations and field trips so the students could visit a location where their organism actually exists. This study is providing an opportunity for students to become stewards of the land (in their back yard). On the field trip many of the students actually saw them. The land trust plans to exhibit the traveling show on location this summer.
This unit is a great example of how the expertise of both the art educator and teaching artist are critical. Tim’s expertise as an artist as well as his knowledge of the science helps elevate this unit to a higher level of teaching and learning.
When visiting classrooms and schools Tim’s role is to supplement the teacher’s knowledge in the area of pottery and all of the components of ceramics that accompany it. In addition, he supports young people who are considering being an artist and show interest in expressing themselves visually. Tim is a role model and a living example that anyone can be a full-time artist if the field is chosen. He wants students to know that “they can have a rich full life and be heard if they develop their artistic skills”, said Tim.
Kristen finds that the Camden-Rockport Middle School art curriculum is enhanced by the artists that she invites into the school. Kristen has done at least one major installation every year for several years and it is not viewed as an extra but an important part of the students’ education. The installation creates a collaborative atmosphere for the entire school.
Tim and Kristen
The artwork will be on display for the community to view on Thursday, April 28, 5:30 to 7:30 PM for Arts Alive Night being held at the Camden-Rockport Middle School.
Posted in Communication, Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Food for thought, Integration, Leadership, Opportunity, Visual Arts | Tagged arts education, Camden Rockport Middle School, Kristen Andersen, MAC, Maine arts education, STEAM, teaching artist, Tim Christensen | 4 Comments »
April 16, 2016
Leadership role
Maine Arts Leadership Initiative, Phase VI
Visual and Performing Arts Teaching Artist Leader Application
OVERALL INFORMATION
Join us for a GREAT opportunity! The Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI) invites YOU to be part of Phase VI. For the past five years, MALI has worked with visual and performing arts educators from Maine schools to become leaders in developing arts education in their districts. As the initiative enters Phase VI, MALI has grown to include 73 teacher leaders. For the last two years, teaching artists have been included in our summer institute.
Teaching Artist John Morris leads the MALI teacher leaders in some stretching
This year, we are looking for teaching artists who are interested in being leaders and helping to develop teaching and learning in the arts. This is an opportunity for you to participate in professional development and networking, as well as to have a voice in the direction of arts education in the state of Maine.
If you are selected, you will be required to attend our summer institute, August 10, 11, and 12, 2016. We will provide professional development workshops and support for you to develop your own workshop related to your area of arts expertise. We will then ask that you take what you’ve learned and share it with other teaching artists, educators and community members in your region and beyond.
If interested, please send a completed application by the Friday, May 6, 2016 deadline to Argy Nestor at argy.nestor@maine.gov ASAP. Details are below.
Selected Teacher Artist Leader responsibilities for the 2016-17 school year include:
- Communicate by wiki
- Attend the three-day Summer Institute, August 10-12, 2016, USM, Portland
- Present your draft workshop and receive feedback, at an all-day event, date and location to be determined
- Present the finished workshop in your region
- Present a workshop at a mega-regional workshop site that will be coordinated by the MALI leadership team
- Attend a retreat to reflect on the work of Phase VI with teacher leaders and the leadership team to be held winter/spring 2017
To access the teaching artist leader application please CLICK HERE. If you have any questions please contact Argy Nestor, Director of Arts Education, Maine Arts Commission.
Posted in Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Food for thought, Leadership, VPA | Tagged arts education, call for teaching artist leaders, MAC, Maine arts education, Maine arts leadership initiative, MALI, teaching artist, teaching artist leader | Leave a Comment »
January 25, 2016
7 new artists added
The Maine Arts Commission (MAC) is excited to add the following artists to the Teaching Artist Roster:
- Ian Bannon – Theatre and Visual Arts
- Doug Day – Music and Theatre
- Gayle Fitzpatrick – Visual Arts
- Richard B. Klyver – Visual Arts
- Helena Melone – Dance
- John Morris – Dance
- Brigid Randowski – Media Arts
The artists on the roster have demonstrated mastery of an artistic discipline, knowledge and expertise in sequential arts instruction, good communications skills, planning and organizational ability, and an understanding of their target learners.
Teaching Artists are professional artists who are dedicated to lifelong learning and arts education, have made it an integral part of their professional practice, and who have cultivated skills as educators in concert with their skills as artists.
Since the establishment of the roster in December of 2014 MAC has conducted three rounds of applications. The Teaching Artists are available to conduct high-quality learning opportunities for students in school settings and community organizations that offer arts education. We encourage educators and those responsible for arts education to utilize the roster by communicating directly with the Teaching Artists.
Please note that all of the Teaching Artist contact information is included in their profile on https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/Teaching-Artist-Roster.
More information about the MAC Teaching Artist Roster is located at https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/Teaching-Artists.
Posted in Opportunity, Resources, VPA, YAHOO | Tagged MAC, teaching artist, teaching artist roster, teaching artists | Leave a Comment »
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