Teaching transition 2008
Feb. 22nd, 2008 09:59 amThis week was spent assistant teaching art workshops for children as part of the Parrish Art Museum's spring break events. Really young age group (4-6yrs old). Amazing how something can feel so natural and exhausting at the same time. Sweeeeet kids.(do not eat them)
This feels like an important time...a shift of sorts. I just have to be careful of what I want. I know for the past that teaching took just so much of my energy it was dangerous for my own art and I'm not ready for that. There will be a time in my life when I dedicate myself wholly to teaching...but that is not yet. But I do realize that I have something to give in this way, naturally and enthusiastically (I mean what could be better than getting kids inspired and making art?)...and so I will do it every once in a while. Of course this ties in with Peace Tiles and Center for Children's Happiness and so many other directions converging...:)
It also pays much better than the shop and I desperately need money to invest in materials ASAP (on top of reg bills).
My favorite project was a Louise Nevelson inspired sculpture (one of my early inspirations/favorite artists!)in shoebox lids. Oh the materials we had to play with were wonderful!! I was only sad because I knew these would fall apart after a little time with only glue to hold and how tall they all wanted to build, regardless of warnings;). but they looked so beautiful and the children were delighted with the whole process:)
other projects (designed by the other teacher):
Claude Monet inspired waterlilies (wash and collage, construction paper and tissue paper flowers)
Peter Max inspired flourescent sunrise and outerspace scene (wax resist)
Mary Cassat inspired family block-printed 'quilt' and self-portrait (pastels)
At the museum itself, the entire exhibit is of Student Art and is so overwhelmingly colorful and fantastic...like a visionary environment...

( more pics/see more )
This feels like an important time...a shift of sorts. I just have to be careful of what I want. I know for the past that teaching took just so much of my energy it was dangerous for my own art and I'm not ready for that. There will be a time in my life when I dedicate myself wholly to teaching...but that is not yet. But I do realize that I have something to give in this way, naturally and enthusiastically (I mean what could be better than getting kids inspired and making art?)...and so I will do it every once in a while. Of course this ties in with Peace Tiles and Center for Children's Happiness and so many other directions converging...:)
It also pays much better than the shop and I desperately need money to invest in materials ASAP (on top of reg bills).
My favorite project was a Louise Nevelson inspired sculpture (one of my early inspirations/favorite artists!)in shoebox lids. Oh the materials we had to play with were wonderful!! I was only sad because I knew these would fall apart after a little time with only glue to hold and how tall they all wanted to build, regardless of warnings;). but they looked so beautiful and the children were delighted with the whole process:)
other projects (designed by the other teacher):
Claude Monet inspired waterlilies (wash and collage, construction paper and tissue paper flowers)
Peter Max inspired flourescent sunrise and outerspace scene (wax resist)
Mary Cassat inspired family block-printed 'quilt' and self-portrait (pastels)
At the museum itself, the entire exhibit is of Student Art and is so overwhelmingly colorful and fantastic...like a visionary environment...

( more pics/see more )