Make Time to Make Art
As an art teacher, we often find ourselves swamped with the responsibilities of our job including planning, classroom management, communication with parents, assessment, and other professional responsibilities. It is crucial that despite our packed schedules, and other outside of school commitments, we make time to make art. The practice of art teachers making art is both beneficial for the teacher and their students, therefore, enriching the educational system exponentially.
I personally find that taking time to make art, helps me feel balanced. It might start as an example I am working on to show students a new process, or it might be a process that I am exploring on my own. Regardless, sharing this with my students, helps them observe the phases of creation that I go through in various processes. Sharing my work with my students and allowing them to critique and discuss my work, helps me grow as an artist but also helps them improve in their ability to respond to art, while describing analyzing, interpreting and evaluating the process and product.
If you have work selected for a gallery or exhibition, invite students and their families to the opening reception. Art teachers in my district have the opportunity to participate in an art teacher exhibition hosted by a local college or art gallery. We try to organize this show every other year and this is a great opportunity to show our community that we are artists as well as art educators.
I have truly enjoyed the opportunity to be the NAEA Monthly Mentor. If anyone has any questions, you can email me at [email protected]. You can also view our department website at www.mvhsart.org.
-Karen Popovich, NBCT