"Spirit"
"Flight"
Monday, August 22, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Mural Arts (Part 2)
Wow... that is really all I can say to summarize the incredible journey of this week in Mural Arts: Storytelling. Seeing the completed mural come together tonight was nothing short of spectacular. There was a distinct sense of amazement and accomplishment evident in the ecstatic expressions of each participant in this extraordinary experience, and the feeling was clearly contagious. Shira Walinsky, our enthusiastic instructor and guide throughout this week's activities, seemed to share her students' pride as she was equally excited to see her teaching efforts pay off in the form of the finished mural. Even the UArts administrators admired our work--to such an extent that they have pledged to enlarge our Photoshop-edited mural composition and install it permanently in the PIE office building, along with our artist statements and a photograph of our entire group!
Unbelievable... and, beyond that, each group member has accepted a challenge to install variations of the mural we created in class in each of our communities! Collaborating with art teachers from around the world has been both surreal and satisfying; I hope to continue communicating with these new connections. The title we agreed upon for our mural is "A Journey Begins..." and now, as we take these individual pieces and complete composition out into our schools and communities, one could confidently say "The Journey Continues..."
Unbelievable... and, beyond that, each group member has accepted a challenge to install variations of the mural we created in class in each of our communities! Collaborating with art teachers from around the world has been both surreal and satisfying; I hope to continue communicating with these new connections. The title we agreed upon for our mural is "A Journey Begins..." and now, as we take these individual pieces and complete composition out into our schools and communities, one could confidently say "The Journey Continues..."
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Mural Arts
The past three days spent in Philadelphia for UArts's ArtsWeek has been both an informative and transformative experience for me (and there are still two days to go!). When I signed up to take the one-week summer-session continuing education class (Mural Arts: Storytelling), I had no idea how much of a personal impact it would have... it simply sounded like an intriguing professional venture. However, after hearing at least six speakers associated with the Mural Arts Program (including its extraordinary executive director Jane Golden) and seeing several videos depicting various Mural Arts projects, I have become deeply moved and inspired by the MAP.
I am amazed by the program's humble yet ambitious beginnings, and I am overwhelmed by its growth and progress. The core of the program is social justice, and the partnerships its staff and participants have formed with the community are astounding. I am incredibly impressed with the stories I have witnessed via Mural Arts staff, artists, and participants; the mural tours our class has taken thus far are equally remarkable. In fact, I am determined to research, explore, and somehow become involved with the program. The amount of positive difference the MAP has made throughout the city of Philadelphia, as well as in the lives of some of the city's most neglected citizens, is nothing short of miraculous. And, in my opinion, Jane Golden's personal journey and influence--in conjunction with the Mural Arts Program--make her a strong candidate for sainthood.
Despite a general aura of exhaustion, I am brimming with excitement and anticipation for the remainder of this week! I am thrilled to learn and actually attempt every step in how to execute a mural. I am enjoying every moment of this class, and I can hardly wait to see our finished product! Beyond that, I look forward to finding an opportunity to work with others to create a mural in my own community...
I am amazed by the program's humble yet ambitious beginnings, and I am overwhelmed by its growth and progress. The core of the program is social justice, and the partnerships its staff and participants have formed with the community are astounding. I am incredibly impressed with the stories I have witnessed via Mural Arts staff, artists, and participants; the mural tours our class has taken thus far are equally remarkable. In fact, I am determined to research, explore, and somehow become involved with the program. The amount of positive difference the MAP has made throughout the city of Philadelphia, as well as in the lives of some of the city's most neglected citizens, is nothing short of miraculous. And, in my opinion, Jane Golden's personal journey and influence--in conjunction with the Mural Arts Program--make her a strong candidate for sainthood.
Despite a general aura of exhaustion, I am brimming with excitement and anticipation for the remainder of this week! I am thrilled to learn and actually attempt every step in how to execute a mural. I am enjoying every moment of this class, and I can hardly wait to see our finished product! Beyond that, I look forward to finding an opportunity to work with others to create a mural in my own community...
Friday, July 8, 2011
A dilemma I have been struggling with: how to effectively, and affectively, convey a deeply personal passion to a decidedly less "mature" audience. It is no secret to those who know me that I hold a permanent place in my heart, mind, and soul for the subject, history, and creative action of Art. To the same people it is common knowledge that my chosen career centers around Art Education. Even so, I find that I am frequently frustrated by my own perceived inability to clearly communicate the profundity of this passion to my students.
I have always been told that I work well with children. That being said, however, I must confess that I am not consistently capable of connecting with them on an intellectual level. As a result, I feel that there is a key component missing in my perpetual pursuit for a fully functional exchange of emotion in the classroom.
Any suggestions?
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
An Ability
The arts possess
An ability
To peel away layers
Of darkness
Revealing
Hidden beauty
The "real" world conceals.
An ability
To peel away layers
Of darkness
Revealing
Hidden beauty
The "real" world conceals.
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