Beyond YAM

Now that YAM is behind us, we, as art educators, can’t stop promoting art education beyond the walls of our classrooms and individual schools. Thinking beyond our daily events we need to remember that Art is Integral to Learning.

One of the ways that I have promoted my student’s accomplishments is through an "Intergeneration Art Show."  I identified parents and senior citizens living in our town who created art. This was a lot easier than you might think. I made contact with local artist guilds, and the town library. I contacted the local newspaper, which wrote an article on my planned art show and request for participants. The best source I had was from my students. I asked them about their parents and grandparents. Before I knew it I had a list of 15 possible participants. 

I then asked each district art teacher K-12 to select, mount and label 5 pieces of artwork to be hung in the show. I called this show "Art Through the Generations." I secured a room at the community library for the month of May. It was an amazing thing to see a Kindergartener’s artwork hung next to an accomplished senior citizen’s watercolor. I had an opening celebration and the line of attendees went out the door. The community response was overwhelming! 

As the years went by the submissions of adult artwork grew and I added a workshop for the high school, middle school students and the adults. It is an amazing experience to have these people come together to make art and talk. The student was able to express why they enjoyed art and how it would work into their future plans. The adults explained how art had been part of their occupation of just a love that had filled their lives with compassion.

We all have to look beyond our classroom to promote our children’s work, our program and art in our community. If WE don’t  ………. WHO WILL?