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Lesson Plans


Re: Artist / Art Educator

[ Thread ][ Subject ][ Author ][ Date ]
kprs (KPRS)
Mon, 02 Aug 1999 18:29:00 -0400

John
For the longest time I tried juggling many roles, artist, teacher, wife,
and felt guilty about not having time for each of them....then I woke up
and realized that I will always be an artist, teacher and wife, and should
try so hard at being perfect at all three....so I redirected my
"artistness" to other areas, and am having a great time...First of all I
discovered costuming for theater, and have costumed local theater
companies. I have worked both as a costumer, and currently just as a
member of a team under a costumer. We are working on summer "stock", but I
have also done smaller shows during the year. I have ventured into
puppetry as well, and have made puppets for human productions, and hope to
start a puppet 'troupe' with students in my highschool within the next 2
years. I have also been a member of a women's poetry group (although will
confess to my membership waning and waxing depending on my theater
involvement--hmmmm...did I mention I, on occasion, act?) I love the
'portability' of both of my new 'arts', I can do them at home, on the road,
waiting for a bus, etc...and am not tied down to a studio. ...per se. As
most people know I am also the yearbook adviser, and am able to take my
background in printing and graphic design and continue to learn new skills
while teaching the kids and producing a publication... Both theater and
poetry are 'product' based, in as much there will be a 'show' or a 'mini
magazine', but not as much as there is a gallery show...and both are self
satisfying with goals that I set, and are rarely noticed by others, which
is fine by me....I don't expect someone to notice that the costumes for
"Lion In Winter" were appropriate for the time, but I know they were, nor
do I expect the audience to notice the lineage and connection to characters
by the choice of colors, but I know...and I am pleased.

My students are amazed that "this old lady" is still excited about
setting aesthetic goals and reaching them, and I think that is what we
should be 'role modeling' to them, that art is forever, although the
'product' may be temporary.

San D

Myrna Packard wrote:

> John,
>
> Good to see you are able to juggle several balls in the world of higher
> ed. I've found an ideal situation and pass it along to all.
>
> I'm now teaching in a small, progressive, private, Catholic girl's
> college in Milwaukee. I've incorporated my interest in crafts into
> courses for both majors and non-majors (primarily ele. ed. majors) but
> have begun branching out in other ways. We now have a group of
> students, staff, and faculty who join in our commons for lunch and
> knitting or crocheting every Tuesday at noon. In addition, there is a
> group similar in make-up who meet once a month for lunch and quilting.
> I've just begun teaching weaving again since I discovered some looms
> buried under the nursing building. And I'm working on finding a
> permanent space for a crafts center sort of on the same order as our
> exercise room. Of course, all this means I'm busy doing my own stuff
> at home two blocks from Lake Michigan on Milwaukee's trendy east side.
>
> But wait, there's more. I've just put a line of bead work in the book
> store here at Alverno. I'm not looking to make much of a profit, just
> enough to afford to replenish my supply and a bit more for exotic
> pieces I'll enter in the faculty biennial art show this year.
>
> The beauty of this setting is that I'm valued first as a teacher, then
> for the work I'm doing designing a new Integrated Arts curriculum for
> our Master's Program. So you see, while people enjoy my other
> contributions and support my work--there is no pressure to produce.
> It's just up to me. No more guilt that I haven't been cranking out art
> or research. And so I just keep cranking it out!!!
>
> Such a difference from UW-M and OSU,
>
> Myrna
>
> --- John Antoine Labadie <labadie> wrote:
> >
> >
> > > I am currently doing research and collecting data
> > regarding the triumphs and
> > > tribulations of those individuals who juggle two
> > careers: Artist AND Art
> > > educator. I would like to hear from those who do
> > both. How do you do it? What
> > > is the most challenging and difficult in your
> > pursuit of both careers? Do you
> > > feel that you compromise one or the other at
> > times? What keeps your
> > > motivation up?
> > > You may respond to the list or write me directly
> > at:
> > > wizzlewolf
> >
> >
> > In K-12 art teaching the horrendous scheduling and
> > lack of serious
> > studio facilities made it very difficult to produce
> > work in any
> > meaningful way. In K-12 art education, teaching and
> > the output of
> > my students was nearly everything. At the university
> > level i teach
> > what i do in studio. My studios are professionally
> > equipped and much
> > of my teaching, beyond coverage of basics, involves
> > taking students
> > along creative paths i now travel. Additionally, my
> > raises and
> > professional evaluations depend, in great part, on
> > my "creative and
> > scholarly work", aka: art production. Teaching is
> > obviously important
> > but creative output recognized by my peers is
> > hyercritical to
> > professional success.
> >
> > I can't see two careers here as much as differences
> > between what is
> > expected at different levels in art education.
> >
> > Regards, John
> >
>
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