Posts Tagged ‘Youth Art Month’

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Sooooooo Many Celebrations!!

March 16, 2012

I LOVE March!

I know many people dread March but I’ve ALWAYS LOVED it. I know it is because, as an arts educator, there is so much to celebrate this month. With Music In Our Schools Month, Youth Art Month, and Theatre In Our Schools Month, anyone who is an arts teacher can find the silver lining in March – the month that is not really winter, nor spring, just in between.

It is a wonderful month to celebrate and during the last week I have attended a variety of celebrations. Starting on Saturday with the state Youth Art Month opening at the Portland Museum of Art, on Monday in Presque Isle at the mall for the Aroostook County art exhibit, yesterday at the Blaine House for the Celebration of Arts Education, and tonight in RSU#40, my home district, for their once every four years Arts Celebration.

From the actors on the stage, to the musicians in the band, the classes of singers, the art work covering the walls; students, parents, grandparents, and educators had much to smile about. It’s an event that brings the community together.

The event was dedicated to former colleague Anne Kofler, elementary art teacher, who retired almost two years ago after teaching in Friendship, Washington, and Union for 21 years. We collaborated often bringing together her elementary students with my middle school students in Union. We worked with our students to transform the elementary and middle schools (located upstairs and downstairs). Everyone’s artwork was important and played an integral and necessary part of the collaborative outcome. And we had FUN!

Anne and I giving Christo and Jean-Claude a book of our student collaboration.

Anne and I giving Christo and Jean-Claude a book of our student collaboration.

As I walked through the exhibit tonight and saw former students who were there with their own children I thought of how fortunate we are to be arts educators.

When students have the opportunity to exhibit and perform, Visual and Performing Arts Educators:

  • bring people together
  • celebrate students
  • bring out the best in students
  • provide the stage and the wall space to show accomplishments
  • push students to the edge
  • challenge creativity and imagination
  • create the forum to show accomplishments
  • use curriculum, instruction, and assessment seamlessly
  • provide a public space to show the standards are being met

During this month, I hope you are getting many YAHOOOOOOOOOs for the work you do providing the above and much more to all students! And, if you are not celebrating your students and colleagues accomplishments, well, we’re only half way through the month, there is still time! Take the time to SHOUT about arts education!

Posted in assessment, Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Food for thought, Opportunity, VPA, YAHOO | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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Youth Art Month Exhibits

March 14, 2012

From Portland to Hallowell to Bangor to Presque Isle

Celebrating Youth Art Month with student art exhibits throughout the state.

Art in the Heart student exhibit, Bangor Mall

Bangor Mall – Art in the Heart student exhibit. Fifty five art teachers have contributed about 800 pieces of student artwork and came together on a recent Sunday to set up the exhibit. The artwork will be in place until March 17th.

Kal Elmore’s description: “Teachers had selected work, matted work, made lists of students, etc. Calls had been made to arrange mall space, panel moving, etc. The day had arrived. It was time for all the parts to come together. And, yes, it was a Sunday morning.

The panels arrived. People started to set up their exhibits. Art teachers greeted old friends with hugs and news. “Oohs” and “aahs” could be heard as art teachers found pieces that are appealing. It truly was glorious to see this exhibit come together!”                                              

The state Youth Art Month exhibit is at the Portland Museum of Art until the end of the month. The exhibit is sponsored by Maine Art Education Association (MAEA). The official opening was on Saturday, March 10th with hundreds of people there to celebrate the 131 students from grades K-12. It was marvelous! Carol Trimble received the Arts Advocacy Award from MAEA and Linda Stanley, MAEAs selection for the Art Teacher of the Year; both had wonderful messages for parents, teachers, and most importantly the students! The show remains until the end of March.

Camilla Jones, "Me on My Worst Day" Tempera, Hall-Dale High School

The Harlow Gallery in Hallowell annual student exhibits are top notch. The high school exhibit was on display during the first part of the month and presently on display is the elementary student art work. The high schools represented each send one student to actually hang the show. They did a marvelous job on the collaboration.

The Northern pARTners – art teachers from Aroostook county, came together last week to hang their student art show at the Aroostook Centre Mall. The art teachers traveled from Houlton, Easton, Caribou, Hodgdon, St. Agatha, Washburn, Mars Hills, Connor, Fort Fairfield, Limestone, Ashland, and of course Presque Isle. The show has 346 pieces from 12 towns. Hundreds of parents and students attended the opening and there were smiles and smiles to go around.

Madasyn Shorey, Grade 3, Zippel Elementary School, Ruth McAtee art teacher

Aroostook county art teachers at the opening of the exhibit.

Posted in Community, Creativity, Leadership, Visual Arts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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YAY! It’s Arts Education Month

March 1, 2012

A month of months

Sculpture at USM

Youth Art Month, Music in Our Schools Month, and Theatre in Our Schools Month are being celebrated during March. I know that many of you use this time to celebrate students accomplishments by scheduling performances and exhibits in and out of school and the school day.

I miss that part of teaching and have fond memories of setting up exhibits in the town I taught. Personel at the bank, post office, library, and store front window always welcomed the exhibits year after year. The pride students have in seeing their work on display in town is immeasurable. It provided an opportunity to promote art education. Not all parents and other community members come in the school to see an exhibit but, all parents and community members and students have access to the downtown businesses.

Maine Art Education Association collaborates with the Portland Museum of Art to display 132 student art works from now until April 1st. The opening celebration is on Saturday, March 10, from 4 PM to 7:30 PM.

There are many exhibits and performances this month. Please add a comment to this post and include the date of your events for others to learn about. Celebrate Arts Education month in your school community so others have the opportunity to learn and understand the value of quality arts education programs!

Posted in Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Leadership, Professional Development, VPA, YAHOO | Tagged , , | 2 Comments »

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