Remembering that it’s more than enough

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Change. It can be be good; it can be bad – but it is inevitable. This is my first, very late post of the new year. The new year, and the new school year. Life has a way of getting in the way, but I hope to be more intentional with posts. Coming back to school after Christmas, or Winter Break was so difficult this year. I’m not sure why it was so much more difficult than usual. So, I thought it might be nice to reflect. . . 

I have been going through my files, sorting through images so I can catch up on posts. I found a folder with some random pictures of my students working the first year I moved over to the classroom I’m in now to teach art. The room was. . . less than inspiring. Trashed furniture, bare floors and walls, no personality. It was really daunting. But somehow, through sheer determination, hard work, and the inspiration of my lovely art students’ creativity, I muddled through. 

I love the image above. You can see the classroom, how it was — the “Yo Mama” on the locker, the bare ugliness of the room, the concrete floors — and in the midst of this a student intent on her creation. Despite my newness, the physical surroundings, and all of the other impossibilities I, as a teacher, and she, as a student, had to surmount every day, she is in the throes of a divine creation, and I am inspired one more time.

And it is enough.

Enough, and more than enough!

Art II Mixed Media “Selfies”

Art II students recently explored the genre of the “selfie.” For this project we worked with four media in one piece — the student’s choice of: graphite, colored pencil, ink, art marker, chalk pastels, oil pastels, or watercolor. This gave students the opportunity to display their mastery of several media in one artwork. And it made for some lovely and unexpected results!

Art Society creates banner

Once again our art club has created a tremendous banner for the Board of Education. Each year the Board asks a school to volunteer to create this banner, which is no small feat! Congrats to the SCHS Art Society for a super job on this year’s banner!!

Art students working on banner
Art students working on banner
Art Society President Jon Lee and Vice President Stephanie Simmons
Art Society President Jon Lee and Vice President Stephanie Simmons

2014 Banner

Youth Art Show 2013

This year’s Youth Art Show was a once again a great success! As usual, I procrastinated until the last minute and stressed myself out a lot more than necessary. . .why, oh why, do I do that? But, it came together. It’s in the Fly Arts Center (a renovated turn-of-the-century factory) every year for a couple of hours on Sunday afternoon, and our numbers have grown steadily from a couple of hundred to over 1,500 this year. Every art teacher in our county brings student art to display; students, families, friends, faculties, etc. are invited.

I only wish every single educator and administrator in our dear system could see the raw talent we are blessed with. AND, I only wish we’d had our van Gogh-inspired paintings finished in time for the show. Oh, well — here’s some pics of the show along with students of mine I coerced into taking a photo with their artwork :). Hope you enjoy, and comments welcome!!

To This Day Project…WATCH. THIS.

To This Day Project is a project based on a spoken word poem written by Shane Koyczan called “To This Day”, to further explore the profound and lasting impact that bullying can have on an individual.

This video, based on Shane Koyczan’s spoken word poem, not only has a great message but is also amazing graphically.

Do watch.

Art students complete banner for Board of Education

Once again this year SCHS art students had the opportunity to create a banner for the Bedford County Board of Education to take to its annual convention to represent our school system. The theme this year was “Everyone in for Education,” Although we were working on an extremely tight deadline the kids pulled through and did a remarkable job on this eight foot banner! Art students who took part in its creation include Katee Cargill, Amber Knapp, Chelsey Avina, Jon Lee, Michelle Cooper, and Francisco Carillo. Great job, guys!! 🙂

Painting banner

 

Almost finished!