You Need Art: Recent Episodes
Cindy Ingram
This is not just another podcast about art. Art is more than a creative outlet or something to study in art history. Art is a catalyst for self-improvement, a tool for understanding the human spirit, and a way to find your path. Through art conversations and in-depth explorations of artworks, this art podcast might just change your life.
Join your host, Cindy Ingram—the founder of Art Class Curator, the Curated Connections Library, and the Art Connection Circle—as she explores the life connections waiting to be discovered in works of art and dives deep into the connections others see in interviews and art conversations.
We live in a world that overstimulates our senses but often ignores our needs. With an unending feed of bright lights, loud noises, and information both true and false, it feels like the scroll never ends. Despite the fact that our feeds are constantly live and updating, our souls are not being fed. We need creative thinking, true communication, and genuine connection to ourselves and others—that’s where art comes in.
You Need Art is an art podcast about using art as a way to find your truth, know yourself, and discover the path you were meant to walk in life. Remember, the most important part of an artwork is you.
In this episode of Wrecked by Art, I share how chef Tristen Epps’ win on Top Chef Canada became a powerful metaphor for the creative process. We talk about what it means to create from authenticity, how to keep going when you don’t know what you’re making yet, and why knowing yourself is the foundation of creative expression. Whether you’re blocked, burnt out, or just craving more depth in your art, this episode is for you.
What I Talk About in This Episode:
Why I love competition shows where people create with passion (Top Chef, Bake Off, Pottery Throw Down, etc.)
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A Top Chef moment that cracked me open
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What Tristan’s win taught me about trusting the creative process
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Why the best work often starts without a clear idea
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The myth of inspiration vs. the truth of presence
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Art as lineage, memory, and cultural storytelling
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How authenticity requires deep self-knowledge and healing
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The difference between broad and deep impact in creative work
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Why your truth—not your polish—is what makes your art matter
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A gentle invitation to “go to the grocery store” and meet your art where it lives
Links & Resources:
Join the Becoming Art waitlist: cindyingram.com/becoming
Book a 1:1 curiosity call: cindyingram.com/coaching
Follow me on TikTok and Threads
Mentioned in This Episode:
Top Chef Canada Season 22 (featuring winner Tristen Epps)
Great Pottery Throw Down, Bake Off, Blown Away
My book: Art Is About Being Whole: A Memoir
Get full access to Wrecked by Art with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe
⚠️ Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of trauma, religious abuse, sexual assault, sex trafficking, suicide, and domestic violence. Please take care while listening.
In this powerful conversation, Cindy sits down with Charli—clarity coach, meditation teacher, and recovering perfectionist—to talk about the book that quite literally fell into their life at just the right moment: Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love (affiliate link).
Charli shares how:
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A childhood of homelessness, trauma, and religious pain shaped their early years.
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A Barnes & Noble accident (and one very insistent book) shifted their spiritual path.
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Reading Eat, Pray, Love (affiliate link) gave them permission to define spirituality and agency for themselves.
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Meeting Liz Gilbert years later led to a life-altering moment of truth-telling with their family.
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Creativity and art remain vital tools for processing emotions, healing, and staying grounded.
This episode touches on resilience, survival, and the way art meets us at exactly the right time—even when we resist it.
If you have a story of being Wrecked by Art and want to share it on the podcast, email me: cindy@artandself.com.
Charli’s Kofi store
Follow Charli on TikTok + Instagram: @charli_timehacker
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (affiliate link)
Get my weekly emails on art + creativity: cindyingram.com/hello
Find me on Threads: @cindyingram_artandself
TikTok: @cindyingram_artandself
Get full access to Wrecked by Art with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe
In this deeply personal episode, Cindy shares the story of a solo trip to Houston during the early days of her burnout. There, two pieces of art—Niki de Saint Phalle’s joyful Nana sculptures and a 13th-century painting of the Virgin Mary—revealed the emotional contrast between who she was and who she longed to be. This is a story about the weight of exhaustion, the mirror of grief, and the slow, sacred path back to joy.
Mentioned in the episode:
Niki de Saint Phalle – The Nanas
Niki de Saint Phalle: Rebel with a Cause
Mother of God (Byzantine, c. 13th century) at the Menil Collection
Rothko Chapel
Memoir excerpt from Art Is About Being Whole
Past episode: The Shark and the Book: Burnout, Subconscious Magic, and the Creative Process
Past episode: Revealing the Door Into Our Hearts: Delighting in the Duality of Creative Existence with Yola Mehmeti
Upcoming Events:
🎨 Ugly Zine Night – August 28
Follow Cindy:
TikTok @cindyingram_artandself
Threads @cindyingram_artandself
Instagram @cindyingram_artandself
Get full access to Wrecked by Art with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe
Sometimes a painting doesn’t just hang on a wall—it waits for you.
In this episode of Wrecked by Art, I share the story of encountering Frida Kahlo’s The Love Embrace of the Universe, the Earth (Mexico), Myself, Diego, and Señor Xolotl during an August Art Church session—a time when I felt unrooted and unsteady in my own life.
Three days later, I found myself on a river trip where a grounding meditation echoed the painting’s imagery in uncanny, sacred synchronicity.
One year later, I’ve returned to both the painting and the river with a deepened connection to Spirit, a steadier sense of grounding, and a clearer understanding of how art’s messages can evolve over time.
In this episode, I talk about:
The magic of when art enters our lives
Frida Kahlo’s layered imagery of embrace and roots
How ungroundedness showed up in both the painting and my life
The synchronicity that tied the painting and river together
Returning one year later with a new sense of connection
Follow me:
TikTok
Threads
Join my email list
Get full access to Wrecked by Art with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe
In this episode of Wrecked by Art, I tell the story of how a single sentence in a novel led me to sharks, burnout, and the most exhilarating chapter I wrote in my memoir, Art Is About Being Whole. This story is about creative trust, synchronicity, and the magic that only shows up when you're deep in the work.
You'll hear about:
A quote from Remarkably Bright Creatures that cracked me open
The Jaws poster painting and why it became the perfect metaphor for my burnout
How your subconscious is always gathering the pieces you need
The deep connection between creative process and life itself
And why you don’t get clarity by forcing it—you get it by staying present in the fog
Mentioned in this episode: (the book links below are affiliate links)
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers (more on that in a future episode)
The Jaws movie poster (art by Roger Kastel)
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
You Could Make This Place Beautifulby Maggie Smith
✨ If you’re working on your own big creative project and want support—coaching, collaboration, or creative midwifery—reach out. I help people through the messy middle. A new program is coming in September.
📧 Email me: cindy@artandself.com🎙️ Subscribe to the podcast on Substack or your favorite podcast app🎨 Follow me on Threads - https://www.threads.com/@cindyingram_artandselfTikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@cindyingram_artandself
Get full access to Wrecked by Art with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe
What happens when you lose the map, the plan, and all your usual tools for navigating life? In this episode of Wrecked by Art, I reflect on the first time I saw Tempest in Yellow by Dorothea Tanning—and how it wrecked me in ways I didn’t understand until years later.
I share how this painting collided with my business burnout, my unacknowledged identity shifts, and my deep craving for control and certainty. Paired with a metaphor from Breath of the Wild—wandering through the dust storm with no map and only faint shrine beeps and sword-pointing statues to guide you—this episode is about learning to listen inward. To trust your intuition. To stop outsourcing your wisdom. And to find your way through the creative and spiritual fog, one tiny sacred signal at a time.
Mentioned in this episode:
Tempest in Yellow by Dorothea Tanning (see image in Substack post)
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
My book: Art Is About Being Whole cindyingram.com/book
How the education system teaches us to ignore our intuition
Burnout, grief, and creative reawakening
🎧 Subscribe on your favorite podcast app or follow on Substack
💬 Got a story about how art wrecked you? Email me at cindy@artandself.com
✨ Support the podcast and join our art-loving community: Patreon.com/wreckedbyart
📲 Follow me on:
TikTok: @cindyingram_artandself
Threads: @cindyingram_artandself
Get full access to Wrecked by Art with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe
In the very first episode of Wrecked by Art, Cindy shares the moment that changed everything—New Year’s Day 2004, when she came face to face with Picasso’s Girl Before a Mirror. What began as a museum visit turned into a full-body, soul-level recognition. This painting didn’t just speak to her—it saw her. It mirrored the pain she was hiding, and helped her feel, for the first time, truly seen.
This raw and unedited episode explores the transformative power of art, the weight of hiding your true self, and the moment Cindy scrapped her PhD applications and chose a different path—one rooted in helping others feel the magic of art too.
Links & Mentions:
View the artwork:Girl Before a Mirror – MoMA
Cindy's book: Art Is About Being Whole: A Memoir
Bonus episode: Chapter One reading on Patreon
Email your story: cindy@artandself.com
Follow Cindy on TikTok and Threads
Support the Show:Become a Patron and get bonus episodes and behind-the-scenes stories: patreon.com/wreckedbyart
Get full access to Wrecked by Art with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe
I’m a mosaic artist, and sometimes I have the great joy of getting to smash a plate with a hammer. The sound it makes when it shatters is sharp, decisive, like a lightning snap.
In the instant after, your whole body goes still. You stop, startled. Everything sharpens.
That’s what it feels like to be wrecked by art.
This podcast is born from that moment—that ache, that awe, that sudden clarity art gives us when we let it all the way in.
In this first episode, I share how this podcast has evolved over the years, how my own journey through queerness, neurodivergence, and creative return has changed me, and why I believe art is one of the most honest ways to become whole again.
We talk about the glow of stained glass, the ache that art helps us hold, the gold seams of kintsugi, and the creative fire that remakes us.
Come listen. Come feel. Come remember who you are.
Episode is below or on your favorite podcast player.
This week also marks the official launch of the Wrecked by Art Patreon!
If this podcast stirs something in you—if you want to linger longer in the ache and awe of art—you’re invited to join me there.
It’s a cozy, art-soaked corner of the internet where I share behind-the-scenes voice notes, extended podcast episodes, tarot reflections, sacred gatherings, art prints, and glimpses of my mosaic process.
Think: sacred irreverence, unexpected beauty, and the kind of honesty that makes you feel more like yourself.
Come be part of the beginning. Founding members will shape this space with me. → patreon.com/wreckedbyart
Get full access to Wrecked by Art with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe
The last couple of weeks have been intense. Between processing the presidential election results (which has left many of us feeling scared, emotional, angry, and sad) and some difficult things happening in my personal life, my creative practice has completely fallen by the wayside. That daily art practice I shared with you before? The one with the squares for each day? Gone. Those mosaics I was making tons of? Haven't touched them. I simply haven't had the energetic, emotional, or mental capacity for any of it.
Watch this episode on video: https://youtu.be/-dGpUlC6QnM?si=z9clL7Z-9eX6mFln
You know those times when the world feels like it's falling down around you, and the thought of picking up a paintbrush or sitting down to write feels completely overwhelming? That's exactly where I am right now, and I know I'm not alone. This week, I was meeting with a coaching client who's working on an exciting creative project—one that usually lights her up—and she shared that she's experiencing the same thing. The election results knocked her over too, and she hasn't been able to put any creative energy toward her work.
Here's the thing: I've noticed that when life gets intense, our creative practices are often the first things to slip away. It's totally normal. As someone who makes art, writes, and generally tries to stay creative, I've learned that there are gentle ways to keep our creativity alive even when we don't have the emotional or mental capacity for big projects.
Creating Safe Space for Creativity
Let's talk about something really important that I've learned: to be able to create, you need to feel some level of safeness. Your nervous system needs to be at least somewhat regulated. You don't need to feel 100% safe—just enough to get started.
What does that look like in practice? It's different for everyone, but here are some things that help me:
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Creating a soothing environment (yes, it sounds cliché, but lighting a candle or playing specific music really does help)
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Finding your comfort drink (I'm literally sipping iced coffee as I write this, even though it's 4 PM)
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Setting up a dedicated creative space, even if it's just a corner of your desk
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Using meditation apps (I've been trying Insight Timer lately—turns out meditation isn't so bad with my ADHD when I have something to focus on)
Starting Small (Really Small)
One of my program participants came up with this brilliant idea: she made a post-it note that said "2 minutes" and listed all the creative things she could do in that time:
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Write a haiku
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Make a quick drawing
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Take photos of interesting plants on a walk
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Doodle on a post-it
It doesn't have to be a big event. You don't need to set up cameras and art supplies and make a whole production of it (trust me, I get it—I'm literally has to make the video simpler than usual because that's what I can handle right now).
Finding Your "Just Right" Activity
For me, one of the most soothing creative practices is collecting paper scraps and gluing them down. I can watch TV or listen to an audiobook while I do it. It's engaging enough to keep my hands busy but not so demanding that it overwhelms my emotional capacity.
Your "just right" activity might be:
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Neurographic art (making lines and rounding the edges)
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Playing with watercolors and watching them flow
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Stream-of-consciousness writing
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Moving your body through dance or large gesture drawing
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Working with clay
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Following a simple art tutorial on YouTube
The key is finding something that feels luscious and good to you, without being overwhelming.
Remember: It's About the Process, Not the Product
There's this amazing Kurt Vonnegut quote where he tells students to write a poem and then tear it up—scatter the pieces in different trash cans so no one can ever put it back together. Why? Because you still grow from the act of creating, even if no one ever sees it.
I spent years not making art because I thought it had to be "good." I studied art history, I knew what "good art" looked like, and I convinced myself that if I couldn't make that, it wasn't worth making anything at all. What a waste! I've been making art for several years now, and while I haven't made any money from it, it has changed my life in profound ways.
Stay Engaged (Even Just a Little)
The longer you stay away from your creative practice, whatever it is, the harder it gets to come back to it. (And if you're neurodivergent like me, you might literally forget that you're an artist or writer—whoops!)
Staying engaged, even in tiny ways, reminds your subconscious and your nervous system: "Hey, this is still a thing I do. This is still part of who I am." It helps you hold onto that part of yourself when things get hard.
A Gentle Reminder
If you're struggling to create right now, you're not alone. Allow yourself to create without expectation, without pressure for it to look or sound any particular way. Your creativity isn't gone—it might just need a gentler approach right now.
Remember: engaging with your creativity is valuable with or without an outcome. Sometimes the most important thing is just showing up, even if all you do is tear up paper or write three lines in your journal.
What small creative act could you do today? Not to make something amazing, not to share it with anyone, just to stay connected to that part of yourself?
Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe
In this vulnerable share on my podcast and YouTube, I open up about my journey of embracing my true self through healing through art and creative community. Watch as I process these revelations through art journaling while discussing last night's powerful tarot session, the magic that happens in our art interpretation circles, and my upcoming tarot program. Join me as I reflect on self-acceptance, neurodiversity, and the healing power of creative community.
To see me making art at the same time, watch this podcast episode on YouTube:
🎨 Mentioned Programs:
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Art Church (Monthly Free Sessions) - https://cindyingram.com/art-church
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Art Connection Circle - https://cindyingram.com/circle
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New Tarot Program (Coming Soon!)
✨ Want to join our creative community?
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Subscribe to my Substack - https://cindyingram.substack.com
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Learn about Art Church - https://cindyingram.com/art-church
🖼️ Featured In Video:
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Light Seer's Tarot Deck - https://amzn.to/48ExgFb (affiliate link)
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Last Week's Video -
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More about my River Trip - https://cindyingram.substack.com/p/sunday-strokes-a-river-trip-and-a
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This is Me - Table Sing -
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This is Me - Britain's Got Talent -
Art and Self with Cindy Ingram is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe
Hello! I'm excited to introduce you to the first episode of a brand new collaborative podcast with my friend Heather Doyle Fraser over on our new substack, The Spacious Creative. In this limited series podcast, we'll explore the topic of creativity from all sorts of angles. If you are a creative person or especially if you are a creative person "in hiding," I know you'll get great value from listening to our conversations on creativity. In this episode, we break down our histories of being creative, including times when we both went into hiding as creatives. We'll be releasing episodes every Thursday through the end of August! Also be sure to register for our upcoming workshop on July 24! Click here to register.
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In Episode 1 of Spacious Creative, Cindy Ingram and Heather Doyle Fraser explore how creativity has shaped and shown up in their lives. For both, being creative isn’t something that “happened” to them; it is an identity that has been with them as far back as they can remember: early childhood. During this time, creating wasn’t hard or challenging—it was a joy and a comfort and a place of freedom.
This beginning place of ease and contentment didn’t remain static. After exploring these beginning experiences with creativity, Heather and Cindy walk us through how they navigated being creative over their lives: the natural ebbs and flows and the imposed expansions and contractions that we all experience as creatives, artists, and writers.
What we experience in our early lives is often indicative of the passions and pursuits that enthrall us as adults, though, if we can allow ourselves to follow and trust those inclinations. We all have a story of creativity and how we began our creative journey, and although Heather and Cindy’s journeys might have different details, the broad brushstrokes might bear a striking resemblance to your experiences. Here are some of the brushstrokes these two creatives explore in their conversation:
- Early childhood creativity had a clear impact on lifelong artistic pursuits.
- Inspiration came in many forms and there are clear and distinct childhood memories, like drawing, painting, making up stories, “writing” before you could write, and arranging spaces to feel comfortable and safe.
- The influence of encouragement and discouragement on sharing creativity and artistic endeavors.
- Navigating perfectionism and its effect on the creative process.
- Using art to process emotions and experiences during adolescence
- Personal stories and reflections on the role of creativity in self-expression and growth.
- We sometimes stop creating for ourselves when our society deems it impractical, but we can come back to these endeavors over time when we begin to trust ourselves and our creativity again.
To register for our workshop on July 24, Trust Your Why: Your Creative Comfort Zone Needs You, click this link!
Click here to subscribe to our substack!
In this engaging podcast episode, Melissa Cox joins me to discuss the artwork Coping by Nicole Eisenman.
Here's a bulleted list of what we discussed in this episode, thanks to our friend Chat GPT.
- The feeling of being worn down by internal struggles or long-term challenges
- Reflections on hope and despair, and the isolation it can bring
- The importance of representation and seeing possibilities for different choices
- Personal anecdotes illustrating the impact of representation on decision-making
- Discovering one's neurodiversity and the journey of self-acceptance and accommodation
- The need for radical acceptance and compassion for oneself and others
- Coping mechanisms and harm reduction strategies in facing life's challenges
- Externalizing internal struggles through creative mediums like art and fan fiction
- The evolving nature of long-term friendships and the acceptance of change
- The therapeutic value of art and conversation in processing emotions and experiences
- The role of verbal processing and receiving feedback in personal growth and problem-solving
- Understanding the dynamics of evolving friendships and accepting change over time
- Embracing compassion for oneself and others, and reframing past judgments
- Using art as a medium for self-reflection, externalizing internal struggles, and seeking new perspectives
- Recognizing the importance of community in reducing isolation and realizing shared experiences
- Setting explicit boundaries and needs for personal well-being
Links: * Watch this episode on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/artandselfcindy/videos/471458611941506/ * Watch this episode on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/events/podcastlivestreamwithmelissacox7198400028728573952/comments/ * Watch this episode on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAIpKTn3yCo * Join Art Church - https://cindyingram.com/art-church/ * Enroll in the Art Connection Circle - https://cindyingram.com/circle * Buy my Book - Art Is About Being Whole: A Memoir - https://geni.us/ArtIsAboutBeingWhole * Art and Self on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube
Melissa Cox's Contact Info
- Facebook: Melissa Cox - https://www.facebook.com/melissa.cox.7549
- Facebook Page: Living With Disaster - https://www.facebook.com/livingwithdisasterArtist
- Facebook Group: Living With Disaster - https://www.facebook.com/groups/2154024138072188/
- Instagram: living_with_disaster
In this episode, I chat about what I have been up to, tell you about the new(ish) format for the show, and explore a work by my favorite artist, Naudline Pierre, through the lenses of Internal Family Systems and Shadow Work. Links: * Watch this episode on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/artandselfcindy/videos/765619205553447 * Watch this episode on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/video/live/urn:li:ugcPost:7197299338065186817/ * Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtube.com/live/xuN9_FL93U0 * Join Art Church - https://cindyingram.com/art-church/ * Enroll in the Art Connection Circle - https://cindyingram.com/circle * Buy my Book - Art Is About Being Whole: A Memoir - https://geni.us/ArtIsAboutBeingWhole * Allison Crow * Eisley Hallows Shadow Study * No Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz ** affiliate link
In this episode, Dr. Jamie English, a licensed professional counselor who specializes in body acceptance, and I engage in a deep exploration of two artworks side-by-side: Self-Portrait Naked with my Mother II by Chantal Joffe and The Opening by Aleah Chapin. Both artworks are featured in my new book, Art Is About Being Whole: A Memoir. The conversation delves into body image, vulnerability, and the relationship between a mother and daughter portrayed in the art. We analyze the body language, symbolism, and emotions conveyed in each painting, drawing connections to personal experiences and societal expectations. The discussion unfolds into a reflection on self-acceptance, the journey toward embracing one's flaws, and the power of art in facilitating introspection.
To sign up for the Art as Oracle workshop, visit this link.
To join the next Art Connection Circle, visit this link.
To see the artworks and links for the episode, visit the show notes at this link.
Before I transitioned the podcast to its new format as Art and Self with Cindy Ingram, some of my all-time favorite episodes were the ones where I had captivating art conversations with my dear friend, Madalyn. We'd dive deep into a single piece, exploring its intricacies, and unraveling the layers that make art truly fascinating. The goal was to not just talk about art but to show the depth and complexity it holds, offering listeners a glimpse of the incredible possibilities within the world of art. It's all about the power of showing rather than telling—a theme that's been resonating with me lately, especially in connection to my new book.
To mark the book's release, I brought Madalyn back to the podcast after a two-year hiatus, and it was an absolute joy. We delved into the enchanting painting Night by Natalie Wadlington, one of the artworks featured in my new book, Art Is About Being Whole: A Memoir.
In this episode, we explore:
- The sacredness, duality, and symbolism of nature
- Themes of curiosity, authenticity, wholeness, and joy in simple moments
- A journey back to childhood wonder and the importance of embracing our true selves
- Reflections on societal expectations, productivity, and the art of resistance through self-care
For links to the artworks and other resources we mention, head over to the shownotes at this link.
also be sure to get my new book, Art Is About Being Whole: A Memoir!
The creation of my new book, Art Is About Being Whole: A Memoir, was a pretty epic journey from start to finish. When I first started the book, it was going to be an art education book, but somewhere along the way, in both little and big moments, the book morphed into what it is now, which is a soulful, poetic, artistic exploration of not only the story of my growth but of the basic human emotions and experiences that so many of us share.
I could not have ever created such a heart-wrenching and incredible work of art without the help of my amazing publisher and book coach, Heather Doyle Fraser of Compassionate Mind Collaborative. I recently sat down with Heather, and we reminisced on the whole creation process as we highlighted those big, transitional moments that sent the book from a research-based textbook to a poetic, artistic memoir.
Here are just some of the highlights of our conversation:
- the importance of compassion in the writing process
- what it was like to relive and reprocess all of the emotions of my past
- how the books I read during the writing process influenced this book
- how poetry can express deep emotions without explanation getting in the way
- how the addition of poetry unlocked creative expression and creative freedom in ways I never could have ever predicted
- a reminder to stay true to and to always start with the art
- the resistance to and then acceptance of including my own art in the book
This conversation with Heather was so fun, and it was so great to sit and outline the entire process. Because, you know, with every artwork, with every poem, with every book, with every theater production, with every dance, there is always a story of its creation, the support systems, and creator.
But what’s so exciting is—this book’s story? It’s not over. It now continues with you, the reader. I can’t control the process from here on out, but I can’t wait to see what happens as this creation touches lives across the globe, starting with you.
To continue the magic of Art Is About Being Whole in your own life, get the book at this link. I know there are treasures, insights, and wholeness waiting for you between the lines of this book.
I'm excited to announce that my new book, Art Is About Being Whole: A Memoir, is now live and ready to buy! Click this link to get your copy.
Today, I’m thrilled to give you a sneak peek into one of my favorite chapters! Okay, it’s tough to pick a favorite chapter of the book as each one took me on such an emotional journey, but my interpretation of Frida Kahlo’s The Two Fridas, in conjunction with my shame, social anxiety, and discovery of my power as a teacher holds a very special place both in my heart and in the development of this book.
In this special episode, I read both The Two Fridas chapter. I teared up many times when recording this, so I hope when you listen, you’ll feel the love that went into the creation of this book.
Click here to see The Two Fridas by Frida Kahlo.
In this episode, I have the pleasure of welcoming my friend and colleage Carol LeBlanc from Love Your Numbers Now as my guest, and together, we dive into the thought-provoking artwork Grow With Progress by Erik Johansson. This surreal photograph depicting a woman ascending a staircase inspired a chapter in my upcoming book and it offers a powerful metaphor for personal growth, self-discovery, and the pursuit of wholeness. As Carol and I unpack the layers of meaning within the artwork, we explore essential themes like self-trust, shedding societal expectations, and embracing expansion. We draw striking parallels between the artwork's message and real-life experiences, from navigating business endeavors to the complexities of parenting. We highlight the liberating power of embodying our truth and speaking up, even when it requires courageous conversations. It's a conversation that beautifully aligns with the overarching theme of my book, Art Is About Being Whole: A Memoir coming soon on October 31!
For pictures of the artwork and the links we discussed in the show, head over to the show notes at this link.
P.S. Count how many times one of us brought up the Barbie movie! That was unexpected!
In this episode, Margaret and I, both passionate art educators, open up about our own artistic journeys. We get real about the struggle of finding our artistic identities as teachers, grappling with imposter syndrome, of not being “good enough” or niched enough, and the “shoulds” that help us back from embracing our own art. But what we have found on the other end after letting all of that go is freedom of expression, the joy and satisfaction of making art for us and no one else, and the safety and nervous-system regulation that art provides us that we knew as children but forgot as we grew up.
It's been all about letting the process guide us and having the curiosity, the playfulness, and the consistent practice lead us to whatever comes next.
I know you’ll love this conversation.
Get the links to stuff we talked about on this episode on the shownotes at this link.
In the episode, I introduce the Art Around the World Series, invite you to explore the work of art on your own, discuss the many interpretations possible, share a little about the artist, tell a story about my own connection to it, share a compare/contrast opportunity, and give ideas for teaching it in your classroom! Today's video is a little longer than the rest will be because I introduced the series at the beginning a little and had a very personal story about the artwork to share! Sign up to receive email notifications for each featured artwork this month at https://artclasscurator.com/aatw Click here to see the artwork: Parade (diptych) by Mequitta Ahuja. Watch on Facebook or YouTube
After interviews, I often say "wow that was my favorite one" and looking back I have a lot of favorites, but this one may be THE favorite. My conversation with artist and musican, Geoffa Fells, about art and emotion and neurodiversity and music and how all of those intersect still give me chills when I think about it a month after having this conversation. I am so excited for you to hear it!
For links to all of the artworks featured as well as Geoffa's contact links, head over to the shownotes at this link.
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Want to connect?
- Join the Art Connection Circle
- Follow me on Facebook
- Follow me on Instagram
- Join my email list
After episode 117 with Kate Wurtzel, we realized we had been looking at a cropped image, and because of this we had more to say! In this episode, we have a blast geeking out about art philosophy, the idea of the artist as genius, the artist as a healer, following intuition, experimentation, and much more. I had so much fun talking to Kate again, and I hope you enjoy this conversation with her as much as I did.
This week I've gotten the delightful experience to witness the joy of creation through my 13-year-old daughter. That, plus my musing on the book Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey, have made me think more about the ways in which I am not following my own advice and how I can give myself a deeper permission to create without the burden of capitalism on my shoulders. For links discussed on today's episode, visit the show notes at this link.
Get Involved
- Join the Art Connection Circle -- Now enrolling for summer sessions!
- Art and Self on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
Amanda Koonlaba is a blogger and art teacher who has been running her blog “Party in the Art Room” for more than a decade. In this episode, Amanda and Cindy discuss One Woman Show by Celeste Rapone through our lenses as mothers, educators, and creatives. As former art teachers, we talk about the importance of arts integration and how art can help face uncertainty.
For links to all of the artworks featured as well as Amanda's contact links, head over to the shownotes at this link.
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Want to connect?
- Join the Art Connection Circle
- Follow me on Facebook
- Follow me on Instagram
- Join my email list
I've been talking about it for a while, but I'm finally sharing my painting I made! In this episode, I talk about the vulnerable process of sharing and creating this painting as well as what benefits I get from knowing myself better.
Click here to visit the shownotes to view my painting!
Get Involved
- Join the Art Connection Circle -- Now enrolling for summer sessions!
- Art and Self on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
Daniel Popper's Chasm is one of my favorite works of art as there are sooooo many rich, personal connections to be found. I was delighted Dr. Charryse Johnson, therapist and author of Expired Mindsets: Releasing Patterns That No Long Serve You Well, chose it as the artwork to focus on. We talked about a lot in our discussion from how we change and grow as we age, to how we adopted stories from a variety of sources that aren't really who we are, how we can explore our own inner selves, and how we can break away from any 'expired mindsets' that may be holding us back.
For links to all of the artworks featured as well as Dr. Johnson's book and social media, head over to the shownotes at this link.
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Want to connect?
- Join the Art Connection Circle
- Follow me on Facebook
- Follow me on Instagram
- Join my email list
We flip the script on the podcast this week as my guest, Dr. Kate Wurtzel, chooses and presents the art choices. t was so fun to have it flipped on me, and the artworks she chose are right up my alley. I absolutely loved this delicious conversation about painting through the lens of Byzantium by Jenny Saville. Kate definitely made me want to paint during this conversation! See all of the art choices and links to things we discussed over at the shownotes on artandself.com.
In this episode, I talk about how I am working to overcome my perfectionism in my art, writing, and business--taking inspiration from Simone Seol's Garbage Post Challenge (Joyful Marketing Podcast Episode #160) and Anne Lamott's "Shitty First Drafts" (in her book Bird by Bird)
Perfectionism stops creativity in its tracks. In this episode, I discuss how I have taken these messages to heart by taking time to experiment, to play, and to create without any expectations of the outcome. When we let go of our need to be perfect, we open ourselves up to our authentic selves, and this is where the magic lies.
For links and more info about the Art and Self podcast, check out the shownotes at https://artandself.com/116-create-garbage
In this episode, photographer Kelly Ferguson and I discuss the artwork Desire by Miss Meatface aka Kat Toronto. This artwork captures the complexities of identity in a single photograph. In the conversion, we discuss the layers of influence a person goes through as they express their identity, themes of blending in and standing out, how to capture a person’s true essence on camera, and the freedom of expression of womanhood across generations.
Get more episodes and information on the show notes at https://artandself.com
There are moments in life that you walk away from forever changed. One of the most magical, forever changed moments in my life happened thanks to my guest today, Lyn Carpenter.
Lyn is an Equine Gestaltist who helps women discover their authentic selves and recover from people pleasing through coaching and a healing environment filled with a herd of horses.
The majesty of horses and their connection with humans has been captured in artwork for generations. It's easy to understand why when you experience their incredible ability to sense when the words you say do not match your heart.
See the artwork we discussed and learn more in the show notes.
Word of the Year Update #3 - In this episode, I share about a few powerful conversations that cracked me open and helped me tap into parts of my creative identity that I had long forgotten.
Also, check out the beginning of the episode for some updates about the podcast moving forward and my availabilty for coaching!
Interested in checking out coaching, schedule a free discovery call at https://artandself.com/discovery
There is so little in the world that we can control. All we really have power over is our own actions, reactions, and the thoughts inside our head. That doesn't seem like much in a world moving at the speed of scrolling screens with opinions and expectations at every turn.
But it's everything we need and more.
The covid pandemic changed all of us. Some in big ways. Some in small ways. For Michelle Gordon, life before 2020 looks very different to life now. She left a career in medicine and discovered who she was beneath society's shoulds and shouldn'ts.
In this episode, we discussed the power of perspective through the artwork When We Return You Won't Recognize Us by Glen Brown.
How do you get your voice back? How do you get rid of shame? How do you learn to love yourself?
What changes when you realize everything you need is already inside of you?
Get links and more in the show notes.
We all want to belong, but what happens when the world doesn't accept who you are?
All of us wear (often uncomfortable, ill-fitting masks), but the masks society tells autistic people to wear degrades their authenticity and ability to recognize and be themselves.
Chris Bonnello is an author, activist, and autism advocate. Together, we discussed neurodivergency through the artwork Mask the Decay by Mitch Christian.
Chris talks about how autistic masking feels for him, radical acceptance, his writing journey, and what the world is missing out on by asking autistic people to deny their full selves.
See the artworks and get all the links mentioned in the show notes.
Thoughts on being an artist this week after a few tortured days. Having compassion for the creative process. Showing up for my practice even when it is hard. Giving myself the support to work through it.
Though music has been a part of theatrical arts since ancient times, modern Western musical theatre was born in America. Josh Kreitzman, my guest today, argues that musicals are the best art form, and I'm inclined to agree with him. How often do you get to witness art as it is happening and be a part of its creation with a room of people?
Musicals are fully body sensory experience and the stories they tell have always been a reflection of the triumphs and heartbreaks of life. Music is a language beyond borders—how better to capture the heart and soul of our times?
In this episode, we discuss Prayer from Come From Away by Irene Sankoff and David Hein. The musical tells the real life story of the Newfoundland town of Gander during the week following the September 11th attacks when 7,000 passengers were ordered to land unexpectedly at Gander International Airport.
We discuss the power of musicals, the lasting effects of grief and trauma (even when we get up to go to work the next morning), the difference between being in an audience and being a viewer, and how tragedy can bring good.
See the links to the videos of the songs we discuss at the shownotes.
They say that those who can't do teach. Unsurprisingly, teachers hate that phrase. It isn't true. And yet, for so much of my life, I believed it.
I could be an art teacher, but I would never be an artist.
I resisted the label mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally. My version of being an artist wasn't worthy.
But something has shifted. I'm finally learning what it means to be an artist and to live my life as an artist. It's playful, risky, experimental. It's not about being good. It's about the process.
Through the magic of attention, daily practice, and community, I've opened myself up to what the world has to teach me.
And that is why my 2023 Word of the Year is ARTIST. Join me on this year-long journey of connection and creativity as I share my insights on what it means to live life as an artist.
If you'd like to experience the magic of making art in community, join me in The Creativity Cocoon.
See the show notes at this link.
Does truth exist? If it does, is it possible to know the truth? That's what me and Dr. Amy Winebarger talked about as we discussed Action Painting II by Mark Tansey.
Science and art are often seen as opposites—one concerned with numbers and facts, the other dipping into emotion and feelings. But both science and art are a way of exploring and explaining the world, the universe, and our experience of it all.
Humans are curious. We've been seeking knowledge and attempting to share our own truths for as long as we've existed. No matter how we view the world, what matters most is the space between us and the connections we make there.
Amy R. Winebarger is an astrophysicist in the Heliophysics and Planetary Science Office at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. She specializes in the analysis of observations of the solar corona. In our conversation, she shared the thrilling nature of her work, the magic of finding the career that's right for you, and talked about where she finds God in the universe.
See all the artworks and get the links in the show notes.
Creating a work of art is a process—a process that can change who you are. Too often, we judge or rush our creative pursuits, ignoring the messages included in every brushstroke or written word. We end up saying too much or not enough.
But when we approach the creative process with patience and compassion, we make connections with ourselves and with all who resonate with our work. And the impact? It's infinite.
Heather Doyle Fraser is a publisher, writer, and coach who believes in the power of voice and works with writers to bring their words to the world. In fact, she's helping me write my book! Together we discussed the deep work and tangled process of creation through the artwork Alison the Lacemaker by Swoon.
See the artworks and get the links from this episode in the show notes.
Do you believe in ghosts? Have you ever had a paranormal experience? Are you drawn to ghost stories in art?
Jane Mesa's first encounter with a ghost happened in her childhood bedroom. Now she investigates the paranormal. Jane joined me to discuss her experiences, both frightful and delightful, as we discuss Haunted House by Morris Kantor.
Get all the links and see the artworks Jane chose from in the show notes.
What is your relationship to your body? Our society does not make it easy to have a healthy, loving connection to your body. Krystal and I discuss how motherhood changed our bodies, how being fat affected how we move through the world, and how our thirties brought healing and wholeness.
Get all the links mentioned in this episode and see the artworks Krystal chose from in the show notes.
This episode contains conversation about an eating disorder.
How do you feel when you think about climate change?
Overwhelmed? Scared? Hopeless?
Nikole Pearson has a different point of view. Together, we discussed one of Jason deCairnes Taylor's powerful underwater sculptures and Nikole shared her insight on how we can find hope and opportunity in the rising tides.
For more the links and other artworks featured in this episode, visit the show notes at this link.
I've discussed The Two Fridas by Frida Kahlo with hundreds of people of all ages in my career, and this discussion with Allison Crow helped me look at this inspiring painting in a completely new way. In this episode, we talk knowing ourselves, being present with our pain, our emotions, and all of our parts, and the beauty and healing power of connection.
You can get Allison's new book, Unarmored: Finding Home in the Wild Edges of Being Human, on Amazon. *affiliate link
To see the artwork, click here.
For more the links and other artworks featured in this episode. Visit the shownotes at this link.
Art is magic, it changes with us. You never see the same artwork twice. Your life changes what you see and how you interpret it.
Yola and I talk about how the meaning we find is shaped by our experiences and choices, and how our choices and experiences are shaped by the meaning we make.
The artwork discussed on this episode is from the exhibit The Real Deal is Talking to Dad by Chen Ke. You can find the artwork here.
Read more in the shownotes.
Angie Stegall joins me to about an incredible artwork by Vasilis Avramidis. We talked about our connection to nature, the interconnectedness of all things, and the many rooms we hold inside ourselves.
Link to the artwork by Vasilis Avramidis from the Caretakers exhibit. (The artwork we discuss is the 9th image on this page.)
See the shownotes here.
Sex. Dominance. Submission. Vulnerability. Power. Pleasure.
Taylor Posey is an intimacy coach, podcaster, and a dominatrix. In this episode, we're talking about something very human and often depicted in art...sex.
We talk about Taylor's experience with BDSM, how we find comfort, and being ourselves—all through the lens of an artwork, Natalie Frank, DOMINA III, 2017.
Taylor's Instagram
Taylor's Podcast All Tied Up
In this episode of the Art & Self Podcast, I welcome Megan Winkler, The Good Business Witch. Megan is a leadership and anti-burnout coach. We spoke about time, the choices women have, chaos, slowing down, and burnout. This conversation gave us both chills.
The artwork discussed on this episode is Looking Back by Erik Johansson.
See the artwork, a transcript, and full show notes at this link.
In this episode of the Art & Self Podcast, I welcome Megan Winkler, The Good Business Witch. Megan is a leadership and anti-burnout coach. We spoke about time, the choices women have, chaos, slowing down, and burnout. This conversation gave us both chills.
The artwork discussed on this episode is Looking Back by Erik Johansson.
See the artwork, a transcript, and full show notes at this link.
In this episode of the Art & Self Podcast, I welcome Annette Stahl—an entrepreneur, coach, and designer. We spoke about life transitions, how our homes reflect and influence our lives, safety, energy, and how inner and outer spaces can align.
The artwork discussed on this episode is The Mysterious Garden by Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh.
Note: Domestic violence is briefly mentioned in this episode in the 34th minute.
See the artwork, a transcript, and full show notes at this link.
In this episode of the Art & Self Podcast, I welcome Annette Stahl—an entrepreneur, coach, and designer. We spoke about life transitions, how our homes reflect and influence our lives, safety, energy, and how inner and outer spaces can align.
The artwork discussed on this episode is The Mysterious Garden by Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh.
Note: Domestic violence is briefly mentioned in this episode in the 34th minute.
See the artwork, a transcript, and full show notes at this link.
Join me as grief therapist and podcaster Bryna Talamantez and I discuss the artwork There's a Thread You Follow by Linda McCabe.
To view the artwork we discuss, but not while you are driving, click here.
For a full transcript and other links we discuss on the show, please visit the full show notes at this link.
Join me as grief therapist and podcaster Bryna Talamantez and I discuss the artwork There's a Thread You Follow by Linda McCabe.
To view the artwork we discuss, but not while you are driving, click here.
For a full transcript and other links we discuss on the show, please visit the full show notes at this link.
Don’t be alarmed, Art Class Curator followers! The art lessons, blog posts, and other goodies are still here for your enjoyment. But the podcast has undergone a re-branding and slight shift in focus.
My own personal journey over the last few years has led me to this moment. So in this episode, I explain why I’ve changed things and what you can expect from now on. Welcome to the Art and Self podcast!
Next week, you'll start to hear some intriguing art interpretations and conversations with soulful guests that illustrate the range and depth of what it means to be human.
Don’t be alarmed, Art Class Curator followers! The art lessons, blog posts, and other goodies are still here for your enjoyment. But the podcast has undergone a re-branding and slight shift in focus.
My own personal journey over the last few years has led me to this moment. So in this episode, I explain why I’ve changed things and what you can expect from now on. Welcome to the Art and Self podcast!
Next week, you'll start to hear some intriguing art interpretations and conversations with soulful guests that illustrate the range and depth of what it means to be human.
Last week, I had a fascinating conversation with Madalyn Gregory discussing Gustav Klimt’s Death and Life. I left that conversation so excited, only to discover that we weren’t done yet. Even after going off the air, we kept talking about it and realized we missed a lot of important things. So we decided to do a follow-up conversation to share even more of our insights with you!
4:55 - Awareness of a gender issue from last week and what it says about our conditioning
13:40 - Impact of gender and gender limitations as human-made constructs
16:37 - Diverse racial representation (or lack thereof) in art
24:14 - Importance of authenticity of different perspectives shown in artwork
28:23 - How the patterns in Death and Life resemble quilt work
31:57 - Ruminating over what the circles in Death’s robes symbolize
36:23 - The negative space between Death and Life more effective as black to represent the unknown
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/61-gustav-klimt/
Today, I’m excited to try a brand new type of episode where I have art conversations with other people and talk about favorite pieces of art, personal connections to art, and what drew us to the world of art. For my first guest, I’ve brought on one of my best friends for the last 10+ years, organizer for all things at Art Class Curator and brilliant writer Madalyn Gregory. In this episode, she’s chosen to discuss Death and Life by Gustav Klimt, an artwork that stopped her in her tracks when she saw it in person in Vienna during one of our curator trips.
3:09 – What it felt like for Madalyn seeing the artwork for the first time
6:13 – Describing what Gustav Klimt’s Death and Life looks like
9:34 – The many observations we had while interpreting Death and Life
15:04 – Possible meanings and symbolism behind the skin tone used
24:20 – The loneliness and personality of Death
30:44 – An important lesson for art teachers to realize about their students
32:45 – Why we connected with Death and Life and the messages imparted to us
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/60-death-and-life/
Today’s a different kind of episode. I had an idea recently and wanted to experiment with something new...
I went back to the Dallas Museum of Art to revisit Nauline Pierre’s exhibit. Why? I want to look at the same artwork again and again to see what new lessons I get out of it and how the artwork grows and changes as I grow and change.
And I want you along for the ride to see what that looks like in practice. I’m not just recalling my experience but also giving you a true taste of it in the immediate aftermath. So in this episode, I’ve captured my fresh thoughts and perspectives on Pierre’s exhibit, from the comfort of my car outside the museum.
5:59 - Describing the next painting in the story of the falling woman, Power Within
9:14 - Why one particular angel in this artwork resonated with me so much
12:28 - Describing Pierre’s Hereafter, Ye Shall Be Changed and the storyline I see within it
14:49 - How this painting reflects my own life right now
19:01 - New insights gained, a couple of days later
23:52 - Why I wanted to do an episode like this and create the Art Connection Circle
27:01 - The three things necessary to treat something like art as a sacred act
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/94-how-art-reflects-my-life/
Don’t be alarmed, Art Class Curator followers! The art lessons, blog posts, and other goodies are still here for your enjoyment. But the podcast has undergone a re-branding and slight shift in focus.
My own personal journey over the last few years has led me to this moment. So in this episode, I explain why I’ve changed things and what you can expect from now on. Welcome to the You Need Art podcast!
1:13 - How the pandemic inspired a call for deeper connection for me
5:23 - What I’ve recently realized about one of my main superpowers
7:08 - Why I’ve decided to re-brand the podcast a bit and re-think a question I’ve always asked
13:13 - The goal of this newly rebranded podcast for you, the listener
15:57 - When I saw my life reflected in a work of art discussed on the show live
19:34 - The sculpture that showed me how personal connections don’t have to be huge moments
23:16 - People seeing themselves reflected in art in very different ways
26:40 - What you need to do to truly see what’s possible with personal connection through art
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/93-you-need-art/
Last week, Madalyn and I geeked out over Naudline Pierre’s art exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art. It blew us away so much that we ended up talking for an hour and a half about our experience there. In part two of our discussion, we wrap up our thoughts on Lest You Fall and move on to Pierre’s Hold On, Hold Tight featuring more angels, nude figures, and clashing colors.
1:20 - The different energy vibes given off by the angels in Lest You Fall
5:10 - Why the Bible quote similar to the artwork’s title triggers me
10:43 - Describing Pierre’s Hold On, Hold Tight oil on canvas painting
14:03 - What the fetal position of the main character could symbolize
18:42 - The personal reason behind why Madalyn feels drawn to this work of art
21:27 - Possible interpretations for the depiction of two angels who seem a bit removed from the action
26:22 - Why this exhibit made me want to go home and paint afterward
31:14 - Being expansive, multiple, contradictory, and living in the fullness of possibility
Mentioned in the Show:
Art Connection Circle
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/91-falling-for-naudline-pierres-art/
Madalyn’s back on the podcast to discuss a favorite subject of ours: art! This time we talk about a Naudline Pierre artwork exhibit we just happened upon in Dallas recently. Our conversation ran well past the hour mark, so I’ve broken it up into two parts. In this part one episode, we discuss Pierre’s Lest You Fall oil on canvas painting and all the feelings and imagery it evoked within us.
5:46 - Madalyn tries to describe what she saw when walking into the exhibit
8:53 - How Pierre’s work reminds me of a Baroque painting
13:29 - Discussing Pierre’s Lest You Fall, featuring a falling nude person
18:41 - My back-and-forth feelings on the winged creatures in the artwork
22:21 - The ability to see your identity reflected in art mediums
26:06 - Possible duality in the bird’s actions in the painting
31:31 - Life, faith, and the universal experience that draws us to these images
41:32 - Reflecting on what the figure could be falling towards and how that translates to life
Mentioned in the Show:
More Wonder, Please podcast
Art Connection Circle
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/91-Falling-for-Naudline-Pierres-Evocative-Art
Today’s episode features a great interview that really illustrates the power of art connection. I talk with Olivia Ollis, an art teacher of over 30 years living in rural North Carolina. Her experience over the last year has deepened her personal connection to works of art and helped her discover new things about herself in the process. She discusses her health obstacles recently and the museum program that’s helping her through it.
6:52 - Why Olivia wanted to teach art and how she got into the field
8:06 - A program at her local museum that’s helping Olivia through endometrial cancer
13:34 - Surprising things Olivia has learned about herself since starting the program
19:56 - How Olivia’s relationship with art will change going forward
21:30 - The wonderful ways in which art has helped Olivia through her healing process
23:11 - The most powerful artwork in Olivia’s life right now
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/90-enhance-your-health-with-art/
I live for being in the same space with the artwork, visiting art museums and spending time in them with fellow enthusiasts. The Art Class Curator summer workshop where I get to do just that is probably my favorite thing every year. It lights up my soul and gives me the most energy and excitement for the work I do.
This past summer’s workshop felt like the best ever, and I want to make it even better next year. So today, I’ve got Madalyn Gregory with me again to discuss our experiences there and tell you how you can join us on this fabulous ride in 2022.
1:37 - The origins of the workshop
5:28 - Where the workshop will be held in the summer of 2022
8:31 - The new activity on the first day of the workshop this year that had everyone buzzing
14:27 - Art activities that stood out the most to us
20:04 - A magical art discovery we made on the second day of the workshop
26:05 - How we dialed in on personal art connection for the rest of the day
30:34 - Revealing some personal connections made from the experience
37:36 - How everyone took on a teacher role for the last activity
44:38 - The structure of the 2022 workshop and registration details
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/89-art-class-curator-summer-workshop/
Are you really engaged with the artwork when you walk into an art museum? Or are you too busy thinking about what you know about the art and artist? Perhaps you’ve even noticed other people reciting facts and background on a piece of art to whomever they’ve brought along. When I was younger, I was that person. I’d be all about the artist’s life, the colors and brush strokes used, the behind-the-scenes story I knew, and on and on.
We art teachers know a lot of stuff. We’ve taken art history classes and engage students in all sorts of ways. So when we go into a museum, we can fall into this way of engaging quite easily and automatically. In this episode, I talk about one of the most meaningful things for me when it comes to works of art, the emotional connection, and how knowing too much history can get in the way of it.
3:15 -Why I decided to study art education instead of art history
8:39 - An excerpt from my essay about a Picasso painting that knocked me off my feet
11:03 - The magic that happened when I looked at that Picasso art again 10 years later
15:25 - The lesson I learned from a squirrel that held my curiosity for an hour
19:22 - Choosing which way you want to engage with artwork
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/88-art-history-knowledge/
I’ve noticed that the excitement and energy that comes with teaching wasn’t really there at the beginning of this school year. And if you’re one who struggles with anxiety or high-sensitivity, teaching these days is harder than ever.
Today’s episode is a re-release for both new listeners and old ones who’ve forgotten or missed out on this one the first time around. It involves one of my favorite conversations and is highly relevant to the trauma and stress educators are facing in the world right now.
In it, I interview two highly-sensitive teachers, Monica Wright and Amber Jordan, and we talk about how we handle our anxiety and sensitivity in the classroom. By the end of the show, I hope you find some nuggets of wisdom for your use or, at the very least, feel less lonely in your struggle.
2:59 - Monica and Amber introduce themselves briefly
7:37 - What it’s been like for me as an introverted, socially anxious person
9:01 - What it really means to be a highly-sensitive person
10:02 - Amber’s #1 management tool for dealing with noise in the classroom
13:21 - How Amber avoids light sensory overload in her class
19:54 - Monica’s approach for handling the noise level in her classroom
24:09 - Preventing students from getting uncomfortably close and invading personal space
30:09 - A way to help alleviate the biggest cause of anxiety for new teachers
32:46 - Do this in the first weeks of school for a long-lasting, positive impact
36:57 - Monica’s coping mechanisms for social events at school
39:06 - How we’ve struggled to not take home the emotions of our students
49:39 - Solutions for dealing with our “hot spots” (peak stress moments)
1:01:36 - How Monica and Amber deal with teaching and parenting at the same time
1:08:43 - A tendency among the super anxious to over-plan and be hard on ourselves
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/87-how-to-handle-your-anxiety-at-school/
When you’re a kid into art, it’s hard to imagine doing that and getting paid for it like a job. (We all know that old adage about starving artists). This is possibly even more true for those who like writing poetry. You don’t often hear about professional poets.
Well, today’s an exception. My guest Glenis Redmond is an award-winning, professional poet, and teaching artist. In this episode, she talks about being drawn to poetry from an early age, her biggest inspiration for diving into a poetry career, and how she approaches teaching poetry in workshops and the classroom. I hope you love this conversation as much as I did!
2:49 - How Glenis made the transition from counselor to professional poet artist
8:25 - The discipline of being an artist and how dialing in on your desire affects other people
10:16 - Why Glenis decided to start teaching poetry
14:22 - The intangible objective to working with teachers and students on poetry
16:23 - The keys to getting students to go deep and share their vulnerability through poetry
22:53 - Why introverts are big storytellers and the power of giving students agency
25:04 - How visual arts and poetry intersect and influence Glenis’ work
32:24 - Using praise poetry as a tool to connect with visual art in the classroom
36:10 - How praise poetry speeds up the social-emotional learning process
42:12 - The artwork that changed Glenis’ life
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/86-partnering-poetry-and-visual-art/
After graduate school, I worked at an art non-profit called Big Thought. While I was there, my podcast guest today Eric Booth was a consultant who went high up in the company straight out of college. He did a lot of staff development training and programs for the non-profit. This episode represents a full circle moment for me as I thrill at reconnecting with him! In it, he and I talk about his path as a teaching artist and the connection between art and spirituality, a topic we both care about tremendously.
3:16 - Eric talks about his transition from Broadway actor to teaching artist
6:36 - How the teaching artist field has changed and the effects of the pandemic on the industry
12:18 - Two ways to bring a teaching artist into your classroom
15:38 - Eric describes what a good teaching artist partnership looks like
21:03 - The single best sentence Eric ever wrote, the idea behind it, and the companion book it eventually created
24:51 - How I recently made my own art and spirituality connection
27:52 - Paying a higher quality of attention to all different kinds of things in your life
32:20 - Eric explains what he means when he talks about the “verbs of art”
37:40 - The different between big art and religion and little art and religion
41:10 - The three concepts the Everyday Work of Art book boils down to
45:01 - Ideas on how to help students develop responsiveness to works of art
49:58 - What you can do right now to become more connected with art and spirituality
55:51 - How Hamlet changed Eric’s life
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/85-connection-between-art-and-spirituality/
Over the last few months, I’ve really been exploring what really lights me up in my work. While helping teachers bring the joy of personal art connection to their students has been wonderful, I also know that I want to teach again and be in conversations about art rather than just helping others facilitate them.
To that end, I’m offering a new program on November 8 that’s not just for teachers, it’s for anybody. As a precursor to this, I did an interview with a friend and colleague of mine, Lisa Carpenter, on her podcast called Full Frontal Living. I’ve known her for several years and after the interview, I realized that I really wanted to share this conversation with you too.
So in this episode, Lisa interviews me about making personal connections with art as a tool for self care and healing. I also share a bit about the upcoming program, Art Connection Circle, and walk her through an interpretation exercise of Miquel Barceló’s art, Sopa d’Europa.
4:44 - I discuss my deeply emotional connection with art
8:28 - Art’s ability to allow you feel safe in your feelings
10:11 - How to start thinking about art as a way to practice self-care
13:25 - The tendency of different forms of art to meet you wherever you are in your life
18:08 - Why even the works of art that bore or repel you are worth exploring
22:24 - Approaching self-care and art in a different way
27:50 - Lisa makes a personal connection with art live on the podcast
38:51 - What’s different for Lisa after connecting with Miquel’s artwork
41:43 - Where the real meaning behind any work of art can be found
45:15 - How art can serve as a safety net for hard conversations
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/84-joy-of-art-connection/
Some pieces of art just make you uncomfortable. Maybe it’s a movie or scene that hits too close to home, or a book about a particularly violent event (real or fictional) that makes you squirm... or a painting that brings up regrets or painful memories.
For Madalyn Gregory and myself, Marcos Raya’s 2000 painting The Anguish of Being and the Nothingness of the Universe made us feel ill at ease. So of course we had to discuss it! I’m excited to welcome Madalyn back on the show to talk about art. In this episode, we describe and interpret Raya’s piece, making personal connections along the way that surprised even me.
1:14 - A description of Raya’s self-portrait
6:13 - Our initial reactions to the artwork and the various connections we see in the details
10:30 - How the painting puts the mundane of day-to-day life in perspective
13:37 - How Raya’s work reflects the messiness and complexity of life and space
17:46 - Madalyn shares an interpersonal interpretation of the throat area’s depiction
19:44 - The contrast between the cleanliness of the painting and the message it conveys
23:51 - A possible double meaning behind the cardboard imagery
30:55 - Another interpretation of the cardboard detail and how it relates to our life experiences
38:59 - The very personal realization that brought back my discomfort with the artwork, just as I started feeling more at ease with it
44:48 - The necessity of allowing your kids (and others) to see the humanity in you
48:26 - Madalyn and I discuss the depressive title of Raya’s self-portrait
51:55 - How my views changed on the artwork from beginning to end of this conversation
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/83-studying-the-disturbing-2000-self-portrait-of-marcos-raya/
I am so excited about today’s guest! Today, I talked to Mario Rossero, the Executive Director of the National Arts Education Association (NAEA). He had an exciting journey as an art teacher before joining the NAEA in January 2020, just before the world exploded. In this episode, we discuss his journey and experiences, but, most importantly, we discuss the direction of the NAEA and its priority as an organization.
02:08 - Mario talks about himself, his background, how he got into art education, his experience coordinating curriculum building for arts education, and teaching leadership through arts.
05:09 - Finding a role in art supervision and administration.
09:47 - Coordinating an arts program at the Central Office.
11:38 - Mario’s experience working in Chicago.
18:02 - Mario talks about his work with neighborhood art communities as the vice president for education at Kennedy Center.
20:55 - How Mario got into the NAEA.
23:20 - The biggest challenge in art education.
27:55 - How strategy and welcoming decision-makers aid art education.
29:40 - How teachers can show the positive value proposition of art education.
32:40 - Resources for art teachers to learn art leadership.
34:22 - The challenge of policy and budget.
38:00 - How the events in 2020 affected Mario’s original vision for NAEA.
44:43 - The NAEA’s equity, diversity, and inclusion policy.
48:14 - Incorporating the ED&I framework into the continuous learning process.
50:37 - How to make space for inclusion and diversity.
52:40 - How a diverse approach to art learning improves art education.
55:20 - How the NAEA team responds to criticisms of the ED&I policy.
56:59 - What part of work is Mario currently excited about.
58:28 - The role of art-making in Mario’s life.
60:18 - Mario’s wall of art and drawing inspiration from them.
61:10 - The artwork that changed Mario’s life and how it aided a second-grade art class.
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/82-state-of-art-education-mario-rossero/
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Positive moments in the classroom don’t just spring up out of nowhere. A well-run classroom makes teaching and learning fun for you and your students... something Michael Linsin has spent years studying, practicing, and offering in his guides on his website.
Michael was one of my first interviews on the podcast. It’s among my favorites, and I want to share it again. So in this re-released episode, he offers his amazing tips and insights on best practices for effective classroom management planning and forming relationships with your students, with a special focus on art classrooms.
2:19 - Michael’s #1 tip for being a fun and effective teacher
4:56 - What makes a good classroom management plan and why consequences really don’t matter
7:17 - The most effective way to teach your students the classroom rules
10:30 - How art teachers can find a balance between teaching the rules and teaching the lessons
13:55 - Why you might want to ditch filling out reflection forms as a consequence
16:29 - One important thing that can make running an effective classroom a bit easier
19:36 - How you can still leverage relationship-building with your students even if you have hundreds to teach
22:39 - When to transition away from time-outs and effective consequences for older students
26:19 - Why Michael doesn’t recommend a rewards system for your classroom
30:05 - What you can do to encourage your students to develop a motivation to do the work
32:21 - Why you must follow-through on your classroom management plan
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/art-classroom-management/
Guess who I have on as my guest today! Long-time listeners know that I love the Harry Potter and the Sacred Text podcast. One of the co-hosts, Vanessa Zoltan, has similar views about connecting with literature as I do with artwork. In this episode, she and I discuss her book Praying with Jane Eyre and how to use sacred text (or sacred art) as a tool to help you deal with some of life’s problems, do good in the world, and become a better person in the process.
2:24 - Vanessa briefs us on her background in education and chaplaincy
4:46 - Vanessa explains why she loves Jane Eyre so much
8:15 - What it means for something to be sacred, according to Vanessa
10:22 - Exploring the idea of how treating text as sacred leads to treating your neighbor as sacred
16:35 - The gift Vanessa recently received while reading Jane Eyre that we can all heed
19:25 - A brief description of Vanessa’s book and why her chapter on destiny shook me so much
21:27 - How a recent controversy involving JK Rowling tested people’s capacity to separate art from the artist
26:05 - How problematic elements in Bronte’s Jane Eyre reflect a dark side of the U.S.
30:42 - How to find your own sacred text or art and work with it
36:02 - Why re-reading the same exact text can still produce a different experience every time
40:20 - The artwork that has changed Vanessa’s life for 20 years running
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/81
The percentage of U.S. students who graduate from high school has never been higher in our history. But have schools ever been structured, resourced, or intended to educate everybody’s child?
During Jeffrey Benson’s time as a teacher, mentor, and administrator for over 40 years, he worked with neglected, abused, traumatized, and autistic students who struggled with mainstream education. He now focuses on helping schools be more successful with more students through a better understanding of how people learn. In this episode, he and I discuss social-emotional learning and how to use it to improve your lesson planning and boost your students’ engagement for greater success.
2:21 - Jeffrey’s background and the unorthodox way his imagination helped him make lesson plans
7:18 - Exploring the meaningful question from Jeffrey’s webinar that I loved
11:26 - How Jeffrey defines social-emotional learning and its main characteristics
16:06 - So many examples of how Jeffrey would incorporate SEL into an art lesson
29:43 - The value of praising versus redirecting students in class
35:28 - Digging into the idea of positioning yourself as a learner while teaching
38:41 - Advice to help you be more intentional about adding SEL elements into your lesson plans
41:39 - Other simple ways you can intentionally put social-emotional learning at the forefront
45:55 - Jeffrey’s SEl recommendations for teachers
49:07 - The artwork that changed Jeffrey’s perspective on art
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/80
We sometimes talk about using art to make a difference. And while some may be cynical about that claim, my guest today isn’t one of them. Dani Coke has an incredible story to share about how her art went viral overnight, made a difference, and really changed her life, and she explains her artistic process. As you listen to her describe her journey, you’ll get chills at the power of her art, just like I did!
2:01 - Dani briefly explains her history as a lover of art and creativity
5:56 - Dani reveals the events behind her art going viral on social media
11:45 - Dealing with the duality of personal, empowering success under awful circumstances
16:34 - COVID and Asian hate as an example of Dani’s process for creating art with a message
20:42 - How Dani manages to avoid dealing with people nitpicking her over semantics
25:07 - The teacher with an assumption about Dani that almost put her off the art path for good
30:01 - The chorus teacher who encouraged Dani on her creative journey
32:48 - Advice for teachers who want to have difficult conversations with their students about race, gender, and privilege
39:29 - Using your sphere of influence to bring about change for causes that matter most to you
43:43 - Where Dani gets her creative inspiration from and some book recommendations from her
47:48 - The work of art that changed Dani’s life
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/79
In the wake of the pandemic last year, I recorded a conference, Called to Art, that brought together educators from across the U.S. It was an amazing experience where I used real-world examples of myself to discuss what we learn from looking at art, how we can become emotionally connected to particular pieces of art, and why you should show more works of art to your students. It was all about discovering and rediscovering the emotional power of art, and I want to share that presentation with you in today’s show.
3:50 - How I developed my deep connection to art
10:36 - Why I switched from art history to art education
14:02 - A question to think about as you listen to the rest of the episode
16:02 - What you get out of art when you really slow down and look at it
20:36 - Embracing uncertainty and answers within through artwork
23:47 - The surprising amount of emotional fluency of the average person
29:37 - An exercise to discover your emotional connections with art
36:25 - Examples of my powerful, personal connections with art
49:06 - Four areas where you can prime your students to have their own emotional art connections
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/78
The 20th anniversary of 9/11 is right around the corner. So many people, including your students, weren’t alive when it happened. That’s shocking when you think about it because of how it changed our world practically overnight and still influences current events. So in this episode, I want to use the 9/11 Memorial artwork as a case study for bringing past (and present) events into the classroom and using art to process, reflect, practice empathy, and better understand complex issues.
4:57 - How the 9/11 monument lesson inspired one particularly creative junior high student
8:59 - How art serves as a way for students to experience history, past and present
13:12 - A description of the memorial, who created it, and what it feels like to view it in person
20:10 - One of the lesson activities provided for the monument and other activity ideas
23:01 - Various ways you can apply this lesson (and others available in the Library) to your classroom
26:01 - How incorporating lessons like this can help you in other ways
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/77
Imagine that you’ve never experienced a whole lot of grief before. Then something devastating happens to you and leads to something beautiful. It happened to my guest today, Beryl Young. I’ve known her for several years, ever since I first started Art Class Curator at a blogger conference. Before working with teachers and schools on photography curriculum, she taught kindergarteners and 1st graders for 10 years. Listen as she shares the powerful story of how she started her photography business and how it’s evolved.
2:54 - The painful incident that triggered Beryl's transition from photography hobbyist to entrepreneur
9:29 - How Beryl taught herself photography and what inspired her to create her first class
13:21 - How the pandemic served as a huge catalyst for Beryl to shift her business
21:04 - An overview of Beryl’s approach to the teentography curriculum
26:16 - Why Beryl focuses on making photography as accessible as possible
31:37 - Beryl discusses her teentography and kidtography kits
36:01 - The platform that changed Beryl’s life
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/76
Art as a defensive weapon? It seems strange, but Pablo Picasso demonstrated its power in his painting Guernica. I’ve brought Jennifer Easterling back onto the show for another art conversation, and this time we discuss Picasso’s famous artwork. Both of us had strong gut reactions to it, so in this episode we talk about what it’s taught us and its importance in history.
1:47 - Jenn recalls her reaction when she first laid eyes on Guernica
6:02 - I discuss my unexpected emotional experience seeing it in person
9:10 - Painting a picture of what this Picasso artwork looks like
14:20 - The diabolical history behind why Picasso created this painting
18:21 - Why we had such a strong reaction to seeing Guernica in person
21:48 - How the pandemic impacted Jenn’s connection with the artwork
25:18 - Legacy of the Jewish woman who secretly taught art to children in a concentration camp
33:06 - What I kept seeing in my mind when I went to view the painting
37:26 - Picasso’s ultimatum and Guernica’s lengthy journey from Paris to Spain
42:22 - Picasso’s view on symbolism in art
44:51 - Discussing the symbolism we see in his painting
48:08 - A difference I noticed in his drawings versus the final painting
54:08 - Picasso’s experimentation with the drawings
56:40 - How our husbands reacted to Guernica
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/75
Does the idea of writing a grant proposal intimidate you? Barbara Lardner is an art teacher who’s taught in multiple grade levels throughout elementary, middle, and high school for over 25 years. She also happens to be an expert at grant writing for the classroom. So in this episode, I’ve invited her on to share her experiences, tips, and best practices for how you can write a great grant proposal.
2:56 - How Barbara was granted a trip to Paris
5:14 - Different types of grants offered and where to begin your search
8:54 - Crucial tips, steps, and goals to begin the grant writing proposal process
14:49 - One thing you might need (and shouldn’t put off) when writing your proposal
18:47 - Examples of vagueness, specificity, and clarity in proposal writing
22:49 - Why Barbara missed out on receiving an extra $2,000 for her school this year
24:39 - The kind of assessment requirements you need to follow after you get a grant
28:06 - Advice for making the grant writing process easier and less scary
31:11 - What to do before you finally submit your application
35:50 - Recap and more tips and best practices for writing your grant proposal
38:49 - Biggest piece of advice that gave Barbara the grant to attend graduate school
41:44 - What sparked Barbara’s interest in art as a 4-year-old
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/74-getting-great-at-grant-proposal-writing/
What in the world is a SPARKwork? At Art Class Curator, we love to do things differently than what you’ll find anywhere else. Recently, I relaunched The Curated Connections Library with SPARKworks, a new name with new features for an established framework. In this episode, I walk you through what a SPARKwork lesson is, how to follow one step-by-step, and offer tips on how to use these sorts of lessons in your classroom.
3:21 - Why The Curated Connections Library became more than just about art history
5:21 - Goals of the membership for teachers and their students
10:22 - What a SPARKwork is and where the name comes from
14:22 - SPARKwork step #1 and the 4 Cs to curate a good work of art for your lessons
19:48 - Leading your lesson with art discussion and the goal you should aim for
25:25 - How SPARKworks encourage student engagement and impress your administration
29:29 - Discussing ways to complete the 4th step in the framework
33:07 - New details and benefits of joining the recently relaunched membership
39:28 - Why becoming a member is a preventative self-care gift to yourself
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/73-sparkworks-to-light-up-your-art-lessons/
Ever since I started Art Class Curator in 2014, I’ve heard a lot of teachers who haven’t tried our lessons tell me that their students can’t do them. They think the lessons are too high-level or their students won’t connect with the works of art. Oh how wrong they are! So today I want to dissolve the myth that your students can’t handle higher level thinking and gain a deeper connection with art in the classroom.
8:18 - The only difference between age groups during art lessons
9:39 - One of the biggest fears of art teachers and why the worry isn’t necessary
14:32 - Why you shouldn’t underestimate your students’ ability to think critically
16:53 - How haiku and thinking like a math teacher can help you teach art
24:33 - Other ways we can help students engage with art lessons
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/72
This year was one of, if not the hardest, for teachers in their entire career. Many reached a breaking point and decided to leave the classroom or retire early. And while it might be better going forward, everything isn’t fixed. The pandemic goes on, and teachers will still face many of the same worries as last year.
The question to ask yourself in preparing for this year is, “How do I get the spark back and re-take power in my classroom?” So I decided to create an empowering program using our SPARK framework to help you do just that. Today the Reclaim Your Classroom free course begins, and in this episode I go through the program, giving you an overview of what you can expect after you join.
2:14 - A quick overview of the 5 steps in the SPARK framework
5:32 - What to expect when you first sign up for the program
6:59 - How to take inventory of what’s going on with you right now
10:57 - The emotional exercise to expect on Day 2 and the tool that can help
14:52 - The simple, cool tool and method you’ll use for completing step 3
18:41 - Taking the A in SPARK and using it twice
20:39 - Bringing it all together for step 4 to start moving toward where you want to go
22:48 - What the K stands for this time and how to create your battle cry for this year
24:27 - Reading the manifesto I wrote for Art Class Curator
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/71
The personal connection you have with works of arts--what it does for you and how you use it in your life--rubs off on your students too and impacts their lives and those around them. Author John Butler once said, “Art changes people and people change the world.” How? I did some research to discover what looking at art does for us as people and the countless ways art can change you.
In this episode, I discuss how it benefits the broader spectrum of humanity physically, mentally, emotionally, and more.
5:38 - Hormonal and other health effects that just 30 minutes of art gazing has on your body
9:16 - How art rescued me during an emotionally vulnerable time on a week-long retreat
10:55 - How art alleviates feelings of isolation and increases empathy, tolerance, and compassion
18:56 - Why engaging with works of art makes you more insightful and creative
24:22 - Ways in which looking at art can transform and improve your thinking skills
29:32 - The impact of art connection on your relationships, communication, and emotion
31:46 - How seeing Picasso’s Guernica reflected in a real life event shifted my inner kaleidoscope
35:06 - Why yawns are contagious and what they have in common with looking at art
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/70
Jenn Easterling is back on the show today! She’s been in the classroom for 11 years teaching grades K-12 and has taught drawing, painting, and a little art history in her studio. Jenn joins me to talk about how learning and teaching art powers personal connection
We also talk about some of the lessons offered at Art Class Curator as well as the fun, impactful insights and conversations those lessons sparked in our students and ourselves personally.
7:01 - Jenn’s emotional perspective on teaching Art Class Curator lessons
10:23 - How teaching works of art fuels your personal connection
15:20 - Why using the same art work lessons for multiple grade levels still works
20:52 - How looking at artwork impacts students’ art creation in the classroom
24:52 - A lesson that bridged the gap between the art and the personal for Jenn’s students
34:58 - Why you don’t need to worry about bringing any works of art to your students
38:34 - What you’re not doing when you’re looking at and talking about a piece of art
40:22 - How students often have way more interesting interpretations of art than the official story
44:13 - Examples of fun lessons for Jenn’s students that also encouraged art connections across campus
49:19 - Ways that teaching art can instigate outside-the-box thinking
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/69
Believe it or not, the pandemic had its bright side. During this tumultuous year, we’ve had so many teachers across the nation successfully use our SPARK Hybrid curriculum. They're sharing amazing stories about how they are SPARKing interest with art students and connecting with works of art. Today, I interviewed one of those teachers, Staci Sterenberg, who’s taught grades K-8 at a Chicago parochial school for 19 years.
Staci Sterenberg is a teaching artist living in Chicago. Her work as an art educator has brought her into classrooms and learning spaces for all ages and her art practice ranges in media from mosaic to sculpture to crochet. Her mission as an educator is to promote and value the creative experience while facilitating exploration in a variety of media. Her perfect world is a place where curiosity and creativity are free to discover and where mistakes are detours and not dead ends. Staci holds a Bachelor's in Studio Art from Michigan State University and a Master's of Art Education from the School of the Art institute of Chicago.
In this episode, she and I discuss her feelings about being an artist, how the Coronavirus impacted her classroom, and the unexpected gifts she received from the pandemic. We also dive into some of the amazing lessons from SPARK that her kids participated in and greatly enjoyed this past school year.
4:18 - How Staci’s history lead her to teach art
6:19 - How SPARK influenced Staci’s education philosophy in the classroom
8:27 - Why Staci felt with her district and administration at the start of the school year
13:09 - A SPARK lesson that went particularly well with Staci’s 4th graders
17:24 - What made the lesson Staci found for her 7th and 8th grade classes so timely
23:01 - The art piece that proved to be a misstep for Staci’s e-learning students
30:23 - How the art teacher community online came together at the start of lockdown
32:16 - Staci’s big, one-word takeaway from this year to use in future years
35:54 - A false belief many people have about being a good artist
38:29 - How art got Staci through the pandemic and her identity crisis as COVID hit
44:42 - The blanket decision that prompted Staci to leave her school district
47:13 - A life philosophy that Staci learned from an old boss and wants to pass down
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/68
Like I said in last week’s episode, this summer, we’re focusing on getting a good feel for what teachers have gone through this year. What struggles you’ve had, and we want to acknowledge you for the work you've done and empathize with you for how hard that was. We also want to celebrate, but right now doesn’t feel like the right headspace for that. So this week I want to encourage you to take stock of the year.
In a survey we did, many shared that this year was a wake-up call, but they weren’t sure what they were waking up to. I think a lot of teachers are waking up to the fact that teaching has become toxic, that teaching has become too much to handle. They are expecting too much out of teachers, they are not respecting the work that we're doing, and they are not giving us the support that we need. This year, I heard story after story about districts giving webinars on self-care, telling teachers, “Don't forget self-care,”
And this summer, taking stock is a great way for teachers to practice self-care.
3:01 - Ways toxicity in public education took its toll
9:46 - Long history of lack of support for teachers boiling over
14:40 - Reflecting on your wake-up call from this year
19:53 - Positives that came out of the pandemic for educators this year
23:14 - How to make next school year different
Transcript at artclasscurator.com/67
For this summer, I really want to focus on art teachers and what they went through in the last year teaching through the pandemic. Every teacher has a different story to tell about what they faced, and I want to talk about one of the hardest years in memory for teachers and celebrate getting through it.
Looking forward to the new school year, what have teachers learned from this experience that’ll change the way they teach moving forward? Let’s take back the joy of reconnecting with art and reclaim our power as teachers and individuals by first reflecting on what we’ve gone through and the lessons learned. So in this episode, I start off by welcoming my first guest in a series of teacher interviews: Mary Greim-Gallo, a K-5 elementary art teacher in Rhode Island.
4:33 - Mary’s art teaching philosophy and the classroom environment this past year
11:44 - Particular artwork lessons that connected really well with Mary’s students
14:20 - Regional art and having to carefully choose what to teach students
21:08 - What changes Mary plans to incorporate for future years
28:28 - Why Mary feels a little unnerved about planning the upcoming school year
31:56 - Going forward with a focus on social-emotional learning and diversity
37:45 - The artists that changed Mary’s life
Transcript at artclasscurator.com/66
Today, I’m here with Jennifer Easterling who is another wonderful staff member of Art Class Curator. She writes lessons for our membership at Curated Connections Library and our curriculums. In this episode, she’s chosen Shirin Neshat’s Rebellious Silence for our conversation which she’s been enraptured with ever since she came across it when looking at an AP Art History class. Recently, this artwork came to Fort Worth, Texas and Jenn got to go see it!
4:22 - What the art piece looks like
9:23 - What surprised Cindy and Jenn about Neshat’s photographs
15:05 - The nuances of the photographs in person vs. online
21:51 - Opening eyes to Muslim women’s rights
26:13 - Discussing the symbolism of guns in Neshat’s artwork
31:34 - Getting lost in Neshat’s dramatic eyes
33:46 - What Neshat wants from us looking at her work
36:58 - Speculating about the meaning of the poem
44:10 - The artistic beauty of the Farsi language
47:48 - Going back home never being the same
52:10 - Watching Neshat’s video art
59:49 - Key personal connection for Jenn to take forward
1:04:38 - Insights from Jenn teaching this art in the classroom
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/64
Today’s episode is a recording of a webinar I did recently with Kris Bakke at Nasco Education. I talk all about social emotional learning, it’s importance, and how we accomplish that in the art room through working with works of art. In the process, I use a Molly Crabapple portrait as part of an exercise for the webinar group and give an overview of the new curriculum, Art Curator Class Perspectives (in partnership with Nasco).
4:58 - What I’m aiming to accomplish in this webinar
13:11 - Ways in which education isn’t focused on learning to be an effective adult
16:46 - What social emotional learning looks like in the classroom
23:48 - CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) and the 5 competencies
34:24 - Attendees and I engage in the Reflect Connect worksheet activity for Crabapple’s artwork
45:09 - Ensuring the inclusion of artwork diversity and artist representation in the curriculum
48:29 - An overview of the Perspectives curriculum
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/64
As an introvert, it always fascinates me how I can get into a really deep conversation with someone for a while and feel energized and motivated by it, and can keep talking all night. Then there are other times where talking to someone just sucks the life out of me and takes my energy away. In this episode, I discuss small talk versus big talk and how to go beyond small talk to have deeper, more meaningful conversations and teach our students to do the same. I also share some strategies you can use in your classroom to help develop these skills in your students.
5:10 - Defining small vs. big talk and small talk’s vital purpose
14:25 - Revelations from a small talk/big talk research study
16:50 - Benefits to having deeper conversations, especially for art students
19:23 - Ways to encourage and teach your students to have substantive discussions
27:40 - Vulnerability in deep conversations and creating a safe space for students
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/63
I rarely comment about the Internet, but sometimes I have to speak up when something bumps up against my values. This impromptu episode is brought to you by a little argument about Van Gogh I got into online.
I realized I had some really strong feelings that I don’t know if I’ve really discussed in any format here. It’s a very important perspective that we need to consider so that our students don’t end up perpetuating elitist thinking when it comes to art, and so that we can create a space where we make art accessible to all.
2:44 - What sparked the argument and my reaction
7:22 - Examples of elitism built into the art museum system
11:46 - Kids’ reactions to the immersive Van Gogh show in Chicago
16:28 - The argument for “being educated” and making art accessible to all
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/62
Last week, I had a fascinating conversation with Madalyn Gregory discussing Gustav Klimt’s Death and Life. I left that conversation so excited, only to discover that we weren’t done yet. Even after going off the air, we kept talking about it and realized we missed a lot of important things. So we decided to do a follow-up conversation to share even more of our insights with you!
4:55 - Awareness of a gender issue from last week and what it says about our conditioning
13:40 - Impact of gender and gender limitations as human-made constructs
16:37 - Diverse racial representation (or lack thereof) in art
24:14 - Importance of authenticity of different perspectives shown in artwork
28:23 - How the patterns in Death and Life resemble quilt work
31:57 - Ruminating over what the circles in Death’s robes symbolize
36:23 - The negative space between Death and Life more effective as black to represent the unknown
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/61
Today, I’m excited to try a brand new type of episode where I have art conversations with other people and talk about favorite pieces of art, personal connections to art, and what drew us to the world of art. For my first guest, I’ve brought on one of my best friends for the last 10+ years, organizer for all things at Art Class Curator, and brilliant writer Madalyn Gregory. In this episode, she’s chosen to discuss Death and Life by Gustav Klimt, an artwork that stopped her in her tracks when she saw it in person in Vienna during one of our curator trips.
3:09 – What it felt like for Madalyn to see the artwork for the first time
6:13 – Describing what Gustav Klimt’s Death and Life looks like
9:34 – The many observations we had while interpreting Death and Life
15:04 – Possible meanings and symbolism behind the skin tone used
24:20 – The loneliness and personality of Death
30:44 – An important lesson for art teachers to realize about their students
32:45 – Why we connected with Death and Life and the messages imparted to us
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/60
Thanks to a Facebook group and a friend, conversations around visualizing the apple have grabbed my attention lately. My brain works differently than others, though. I don’t really see things in my head. But when I saw the responses to the apple conversation, I felt really validated and had some profound realizations. In this episode, I talk about those realizations, what this means for art teachers, and how we can better serve diverse learning styles among our students.
5:46 - The judgment I’ve made about myself for my entire life
7:58 - Limited diverse learning types and how I “visualize” things
11:29 - The impact of learning differences on the way you teach
14:36 - Strategies to address differences and accommodate diverse learners
22:53 - The disservice done to us while learning art history in college
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/59-diverse-learning-types/
If you’ve been following us for a while, what we do here at Art Class Curator is much deeper than art appreciation or history. Appreciating art is great, but it gives off the vibe of being better than you and puts up a divide between the art and those who can enjoy it. In the last year, we’ve been emphasizing art connection instead of appreciation.
Connecting with art has taught me something about myself that I didn’t know, helped me get through something, or given me clarity or a safe space. So in this episode, I’m gonna talk about ways to use art to have moments of clarity and connection where things suddenly make sense.
3:26 - My realization that art isn’t about the details but the feelings
9:29 - What I mean by spirituality and spiritual practices
14:56 - The aesthetic experience incorporating both mind and body
23:05 - How we can use art as a spiritual practice
30:11 - What to do if you can’t make it to an art museum
32:12 - A couple of caveats
Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/58-art-as-spiritual-practice/
Today's episode is a part of the day 5 lesson of our free e-mail course, Beyond the Surface: Teach Students How to Dive Deeper Into an Artwork to Make Connections and Meaning. The topic for today is THERE IS JUST NOT TIME: Making Time for Experiences That Students AND Admins Will Remember.
Sign up for this free e-mail course at https://artclasscurator.com/surface
Join the Curated Connections Library at https://artclasscurator.com/join
Today's episode is a part of the day 5 lesson of our free e-mail course, Beyond the Surface: Teach Students How to Dive Deeper Into an Artwork to Make Connections and Meaning. The topic for today is ENTHRALLING EXPERIENCES: Get Students Engaged and KEEP Them Engaged.
Sign up for this free e-mail course at https://artclasscurator.com/surface
Today's episode is a part of the day 4 lesson of our free e-mail course, Beyond the Surface: Teach Students How to Dive Deeper Into an Artwork to Make Connections and Meaning. The topic for today is ARTWORKS THEY’LL RELATE TO: Finding the Right Art for YOUR Students.
Sign up for this free e-mail course at https://artclasscurator.com/surface
Today's episode is a part of the day 1 lesson of our free e-mail course, Beyond the Surface: Teach Students How to Dive Deeper Into an Artwork to Make Connections and Meaning. The topic for today is CURATING THE CONVERSATION:Helping Your Students Get “All In” on the Art Discussion.
Sign up for this free e-mail course at https://artclasscurator.com/surface
Today's episode is a part of the day 2 lesson of our free e-mail course, Beyond the Surface: Teach Students How to Dive Deeper Into an Artwork to Make Connections and Meaning. The topic for today is From Crickets to Connections: What to Say to Get Them to Go Beyond What They See.
Sign up for this free e-mail course at https://artclasscurator.com/surface
Today's episode is a part of the day 1 lesson of our free e-mail course, Beyond the Surface: Teach Students How to Dive Deeper Into an Artwork to Make Connections and Meaning. The topic for today is FLIPPING THE SCRIPT: Overcoming The Challenges That Keep You From Showing Art.
Sign up for this free e-mail course at https://artclasscurator.com/surface
When students connect with artworks, the art becomes a part of them—shaping who they are in life. But how do you get students to connect when there’s not enough time, you don’t know enough about the artwork, and your students have nothing to say?Beyond the Surface is a FREE email series starting March 22nd all about how to overcome these challenges and get students to connect with works of art in a way they’ll remember and admins will love.
Sign up at https://artclasscurator.com/surface
In this episode, I talk about why it's vital that we don't avoid the hard conversations or difficult subjects as educators, especially in art.
In this interview from the Call to Art Unconference, Dr. James Rolling Jr., NAEA's President-Elect, discusses his role and vision for the newly created commission on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. In addition to supporting systemic changes, we discuss how teachers can create a classroom culture that supports connection, communication, conversation, and understanding.
While activists are taking to the streets around the world to protest racial inequality, we're opening up about our company values and the importance of diversity and inclusion at Art Class Curator.
Teachers around the world are taking their lessons online. Teaching art from home is a challenge, but when we work together, it gets a lot easier. Learn about some of the free distance learning resources art teachers are sharing in this episode.
The whole world in one big ball of stress and anxiety as coronavirus continues to spread. Let's talk about how we can use art to deal with all of this.
What do you want your students to know? What do you want them to remember from art class next year? What about in 5 or 10 years? In this episode, we're talking about the power of moments and how to create a curriculum with the big picture in mind.
Have you ever wondered how Mona Lisa was feeling? Or wanted to know what your students were thinking when they look at art? Discover the emotions behind Mona Lisa's smile, learn how long the average person looks at an artwork in a museum, and much more as I talk to Dan Hill, a facial recognition expert who wrote a book about how people react to famous artworks.
What are your top ten values? What about your top three? Are your values as a teacher the same as the values in other parts of your life? Living in your values and teaching from your values is essential to living a balanced, healthy, happy life.
In this episode, I talk about my values and how my life changed when I started being true to them and give you the tools you need to discover your true values.
In this episode, I'm joined by Joan Marie. Joan is a former art teacher who now creates personal power portraits for her clients. We discuss Joan's educational obstacles, her creative process for each personal power portrait, and the importance of living and teaching from your values and strengths.
In this episode, I'm talking to Trevor Bryan, art teacher and author of The Art of Comprehension.
We discuss how art is more than self-expression, the value of art in education, what it means to be creative, how interpreting art is possible at all ages.
Bryan offers us insight on his signature access lenses and how we can use mood to help students personally connect with art.
Plus, hear about the artwork that changed Bryan's life.
1 out of every 10 students in the United States is an English Language Learner. ELL students face unique and often overwhelming challenges, but the art classroom is the perfect place for them to thrive.
Art is a universal language and can become a vital touchpoint and creative outlet for ELL students. When we give all of our students opportunities to look at and connect with art from their home countries, we give them the chance to use prior knowledge and open up the world for our entire class.
Classroom art discussions where there are no right or wrong answers give our ELL students chances to speak up without fear—giving them the perfect opportunity to gain confidence in their communication skills.
Positive educational experiences in the art classroom can ease some of the frustration they may feel in other subjects, and we all know the emotional relief that is possible through the creation of art.While ELL students are busy learning a new language, mastering academic content, and negotiating new social and cultural contexts, they deserve educational experiences that are fun, connected, and special.
In the latest episode of the podcast, I share the story of the artwork that made my 7th graders cheer and talk about the importance of art in the education of English Language Learners.
While many art teachers still use Disciplined-Based Art Education (also known as DBAE) in their classrooms, it's picked up a bad reputation. A lot of art education pedagogy discussions pit Teaching for Artistic Behavior (also known as TAB) against Disciplined-Based Art Education. The opinions are strong on both sides, but does it have to be either/or? Let's talk about it.
Say hello to Jenn Easterling, a long-time member of The Curated Connections Library! She was one of our first members and now works for us creating lessons for the membership. Learn how she uses Art Class Curator resources in her classroom and how it has impacted her teaching and her life. For more information about The Curated Connections Library, visit artclasscurator.com/join.
Teacher burnout is so real it hurts, but there are ways to care for yourself and organize your life to avoid running on empty. In this episode, Cindy explores how teaching is impacted by purpose and joy. She shares her experiences from two vastly different schools, discusses how to prioritize your teaching responsibilities, and how you can avoid burnout.
Let's talk about why dead white guys are not enough in our art classrooms and why I'm not having a panic attack even saying those words!
Art is the perfect subject to battle xenophobia.
The fact that we even call it ‘Non-Western’ art points to how ingrained Western bias is in art education. An entire planet’s worth of cultures and artistic traditions are defined by what they aren’t instead of by what they are.
The only way to change the paradigm is to do the hard thing, the right thing: Introduce our students to artworks by artists from across the world, even if we never learned about them, and have classroom discussions about how art historians have traditionally labelled and discriminated against art from other cultures.
When I teach Non-Western art, I always start the unit with a lesson on cultural sensitivity and ethnocentrism. Students may call something "weird" or laugh at a work by someone from a different culture. When our students (and we do it too sometimes; I don’t think anyone is really immune from this) make judgements about the artworks of other cultures using their own Western perspective, they are deepening the divide between cultures and people.
It’s vital that we address the subject with our students and there are ways to do so across grade levels. When we teach art in a thoughtful, inclusive way, our students learn to recognize and combat bias in themselves and others.
In this episode, I share the lesson that I go through to introduce my students to these concepts!
In this episode, Cindy comes to the realization that exposing students to works of art is not for the end goal of "appreciation." It is much, much bigger than that.
Where is the passion, the delight, the wonder, the heart-pounding experience with art? Where is the feeling in your heart, that drop in your gut, that makes you a CHANGED PERSON? Let's keep talking about THAT.
In this episode of the Art Class Curator podcast, Cindy talks about why art matters and what makes art connection so very important for our students and for the world. From creating more connected and empathetic humans, to understanding and connecting with the past, to learning how to slow down and become comfortable with uncertainty, meaningful connection with works of art hands-down just creates better people.
In this episode, Cindy discusses how to engage students’ natural born curiosity as well as how to spark a curiosity mindset through modeling, exciting artworks, and more.
In this episode, Cindy discusses how to engage students’ natural born curiosity as well as how to spark a curiosity mindset through modeling, exciting artworks, and more.
Whether you're a new teacher, an old pro, or you've just run into a particularly difficult set of students, it's vital to have a solid classroom management strategy in place. Cindy talks about the importance of experimenting, finding support, protecting your energy in the classroom, firm routines and procedures, and making sure you and your students are engaged.
Visit the show notes at artclasscurator.com/31 for the links and resources mentioned in this episode.
How is perfectionism stopping you from being the best art teacher you can be? Cindy shares her thoughts on how to get over having to do everything little thing right and why perfection=failure.
Visit the show notes at https://artclasscurator.com/30 for the links and resources mentioned in this episode.
If you’ve ever found yourself on the edge of breaking down in the classroom, today’s show is especially for you. There is hope and there are so many resources to help you - today’s guest is one of those resources!
Anna Nichols had lots of experience outside of teaching before she became a teacher at age 31. Being an outsider to the public education system, since then she’s feels like she’s been trying to figure out what makes students tick!
Anna runs the blog - Managing the Art Classroom. She started the blog after finding out that the number one issue for teachers was classroom management. She talked to many teachers and they felt like it was a struggle to even get children to a space where they could actually learn.
Show Highlights:
- Anna’s dream job teaching everybody is the job she has now!
- Once a month elementary art isn’t ideal for the kids or the teachers
- Anna’s biggest challenge for elementary art classes
- How Anna’s blog was created to help teachers.
- Ways that Anna’s consulting business is providing oxygen for teachers.
- Advice for teachers who are on the verge of breaking down.
- Classroom management was the #1 variable in student achievement.
- Anna is the last person she ever thought would influence other teachers in the classroom.
- Warm/strict is how Anna describes her classroom management style.
- Being a teacher is a psychological mine field!
- The power stance can be a secret weapon against fear and anxiety.
- The power of “decide first” as a mindset practice.
Resources:
Episode 3 - Michael Linsin
Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People by Vanessa Van Edwards
Dream Class by Michael Linsin
artteacherhelp4@gmail.com
Managing the Art Classroom Website
Managing the Art Classroom on Facebook
Balancing education and artistic expression can be a difficult task in todays’ school system. Finding ways to incorporate art into students’ daily lives and help them find relevance in artistic structure in the world is important. Ilona Szekely is passionate about helping students understand the technicalities of art but also the dynamics of creativity. She has worked in various professional settings, including colleges and public schools, along with being a practicing artist herself. Tune into this episode of Art Class Curator to learn more about balancing your classroom education and helping students cultivate personal expression in art.
Show Highlights:
- Background and experiences
- Finding your right place in the education system
- Shifting focus and utilizing visual experiences
- Incorporating art projects that students think are important
- Art Ilona likes to make and materials to use
- Translating every day issues to art
- Balancing being an artist and an educator
- Using art to spend time with your kids
- How parents can influence creativity
- Validating art experimentation
- Body image in the art room
- Being introspective in terms of our own beauty
- How to tactically address insecurity in the classroom
- How to teach technique and personal expression in art
- The key to discipline issues in a classroom
- Lifechanging artwork
Resources:
Facebook: Ilona Szekely
http://www.ilonaszekely.com
https://art.eku.edu/people/szekely
Artclasscurator.com
Artclasscurator.com/28
I’m so excited to welcome Phyllis Brown on the show today! Phyllis has taught art for 36 years, and she’s here to share her experiences, her invaluable advice, and lessons she’s learned in her career. She’s passionate, realistic, and brings a fresh perspective to teaching art, i.e. pre-technology in the classroom.
Show Highlights
- Phyllis tells how she "accidentally” ended up teaching art
- The benefits of running an art blog
- Cindy and Phyllis discuss how teaching has changed since she started
- The passionate feelings surrounding kids, technology, and art
- The quiet skills that art classes teach kids
- How seasoned art teachers can discourage new art teachers
- Why it’s important to consider what message you put out, to students and future teachers
- Phyllis shares her strong feelings on unions and why she encourages them
- Phyllis’ number one rule in her classroom
Resources
http://plbrown.blogspot.com/
School can be tough, but it can be even tougher on kids with special needs. Teachers are there to help their students, but what are the best ways to help those who need extra assistance? Today Heidi and Melissa join me to share their experiences as teachers and as parents of a child with special needs.
Show Highlights
- What Heidi considers to be key when it comes to teachers and parents of kids with special needs
- Melissa explains why she’s a “little extra” with her daughter’s teachers
- Heidi shares how having a kid with special needs has affected her teaching
- Why incidents sometimes happen and how they could have been prevented
- School performance and whether a kid is right-brained or left-brained
- Why art is the answer for allowing kids to communicate
- The power of noticing your students
- Ways teachers can model compassion to their class
Resources
http://talesfromthetravellingartteacher.blogspot.com/
hohanley@ios.org
@sweetlyvoiced
Melissa Bayland Lee on Facebook
Not everyone is lucky enough to get to teach an intimate group of students who are passionate about art, but Marcia Beckett is one of those lucky few. Marcia teaches at a school for gifted students, so not only do her students have higher artistic abilities, but her class size is smaller as well. Join me in today’s podcast as we hear an experience outside of the public school setting.
Show Highlights
- Marcia shares how she started her own art blog
- What makes Marcia’s school different from most
- How Marcia and her fellow teachers work together to reinforce lesson plans
- Marcia shares examples of how her school is “hands on”
- Tips for making art projects from other cultures relate to students
- Marcia shares a few collaborative projects her students have been a part of
- The importance of growth mindset in the classroom
- Why some students may not put in as much effort
Resources
https://www.artisbasic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ArtisBasic
When most of us think back to our previous art teachers, most likely we’re picturing a favorite art class in high school or an art camp of some sort. Fortunately, times are changing and art teachers have more possibilities now than we have in the past. Tim Bogatz joins me today to discuss the opportunities and possibilities the Internet makes possible. Tim is here to share his experiences and how he can now reach more people than when he was teaching in a classroom setting.
Show Highlights
- Tim discusses teaching in the classroom versus writing and podcasts
- The topic that Tim enjoys teaching and why people struggle with it
- Why it’s important to exchange ideas and perspectives with other art teachers
- What Tim doesn’t miss about teaching in the school system
- Tim shares why he’s not a fan of Picasso
- Tim and Cindy discuss the influence of an art teacher’s opinions on their students
- How Tim makes art history entertaining for his students
- Learning more about an artist’s life can change your relationship to the artist and his/her work
Resources:
The Art of Ed
Art Ed Radio Podcast
Twitter: @TimBogatz
Could anything be better than art and creative expression? Maybe if it involved a group of people traveling foreign countries appreciating that art together. Today, Alex Thorniley joins me to share her experience of attending this last art trip. It can be intimidating stepping out of your comfort zone to enjoy something you’re passionate about, especially when you don’t know anyone. So, join us in this podcast as Alex shares her worries, the highlights of her trip, and advice for those who need a little encouragement.
Show Highlights:
- Alex shares what appealed to her most about going on the Art Trip
- Learn what Alex’s biggest worry was
- Why Alex got annoyed when she heard people speaking English on the Trip
- The art that excited and reminded her of home most
- The most memorable museums and art pieces she experienced
- Alex shares some advice on those hesitant to sign up for an Art Trip
- The great thing about going on a trip and not knowing anyone
- Alex talks about how the trip changed her opinion on a certain art piece
It’s October, so we’re going to get a little spooky! Today’s guest runs his very own haunted house. He takes this unique experience into his classroom by creating a one-of-a-kind special effects class for his high school students. Listen in to today’s show to get inspired to take your unique skills into your classroom.
Show Highlights
- Chris shares details about his career and his current teaching position in Alabama.
- In addition to teaching general art classes, Chris shares about the special effects class he teaches where he incorporates prosthetics, prop-making, set design, make-up application, and costume-making.
- Chris tells about how he allows his students to create their own presentations to showcase in front of judges.
- Chris uses many project-based lessons in preparation for the students’ showcase.
- Learning new process ahead of the students is something Chris shares with us.
- Beginning in October, Chris’ students narrow their focus for the April showcase, including writing proposals and creating characters.
- Students were allowed to develop their characters and ideas for months leading up to the showcase, sometimes in a team situation.
- Chris discusses how he grades students including their active participation.
- Chris shares his pride for how well the students prepared for the showcase last year, including making some very intricate prostheses.
- Students may take the special effects class year after year.
- Chris shares how haunted house design and filmmaking overlap
- Allen Hopps is a YouTube sensation Chris has his students study because of his great tutorials. Stiltbeast Studios
- Todd Debreceni wrote a special effects book Chris uses with his students.
- Chris discusses supplies how supplies are funded.
- Behind the scenes tours vs. going through the haunted house for those afraid
- Chris shares ideas for inexpensive materials to use with students on a smaller scale.
- Chris shares how/where he shares his personal love of teaching mask-making.
- Chris shares about the artists who inspired him.
Resources:
Allen Hopps’ YouTube Channel
Todd Debreceni books on Amazon
Monster Clay on Amazon
Insanitarium Haunt
Instagram page
Facebook page
Neal Adams
Rick Baker’s transformation scene from An American Werewolf in London
When it comes to school, students are taught young to go for the A. Period. So when students get to Art Class they freak out when you tell them not to worry about the grade. Clara Lieu is here with me today to talk about that and other differences Studio Art offers.
Show Highlights
- Clara shares her passion about the art making process
- Why Clara felt it to be critical to put her art column into videos
- The effect of the physicality of art
- The part of the art process that you should learn to embrace
- How art can teach us how to fail and to be vulnerable
- The misconception a lot of Clara’s students have made about her taste in art
- Clara talks about how a work of art makes you feel
- The component of art that her students think about least
- Ways to get students to think about art on a deeper level
- Advice for art teachers who lack confidence in their Studio Art
Resources
http://claralieu.com/
Art Prof
Art Prof on Instagram
Most teachers know that when they leave school their work is not finished. Sometimes there are papers to grade, lessons to plan, and evaluations to give, etc. Devon and Tiffany are two examples of teachers sharing their passion for the arts. Outside of being art teachers in the classroom, they’re both actively involved in the Wisconsin Art Education Association. Listen to how they advocate art in any given situation and how you can too.
Show Highlights
- Devon and Tiffany share their roles in planning and graphic design
- How to get involved with the Wisconsin Art Education Association (WAEA)
- The election process to becoming a member of the board
- The importance of networking with other art teachers
- The opportunities the WAEA’s annual fundraiser provides
- How Devon and Tiffany’s art leadership carries over to the school level
- Ways to be an advocate for Art Education
- The art pieces that inspired Devon and Tiffany most
- Ways to get others to take art, and your artwork, seriously
Resources:
http://devoncalvert.weebly.com/
Wisconsin Art Education Association
As teachers, as coworkers, and even as humans, we want people to know that we’ve got it together, that we don’t need any help. “No, thank you, I’m fine. “ One thing we don’t talk about enough is anxiety, especially in highly-sensitive introverts. Today, Monica Wright & Amber Jordan are here to share their experiences with anxiety and the classroom. Coping mechanisms can be anywhere from the way the lights are adjusted in the classroom to having marked personal space between you and student. Join us as we share and connect through being highly-sensitive introverts.
Show Highlights
- How to deal with a highly-sensitive introvert with anxiety
- Amber shares how she’s able to hide her introvert tendencies in public
- What exactly does “highly-sensitive person” mean?
- How to deal with constant noise in the classroom
- How to set the mood/tone of your classroom from the first day
- What you should do the first 3 weeks of school that will help in the long run
- The biggest thing that’s helped Amber the most
- Embrace change in order to find where you truly fit
- Monica shares her coping mechanisms at public events
- Giving students the space to be heard
Today on the Art Class Curator Podcast, Cindy Ingram will share a personal story about a recent art encounter that called her to action and helped her cope with a profound tragedy. Please join her in considering how art can console and restores us. Find out what you can do to help our students utilize art to connect, heal and take action. If you want to see how art can change your life then you must listen to this episode.
Cindy Ingram is a dedicated teacher that strongly believes that art can help people deal with the tragedies that we see in today’s society. She wants to help children use art as a way to feel less alone in this world. She feels that children need more exposure to art in order for them to make a personal connection to art.
More in this episode:
- The recent tragedies that schools are facing in today’s society. How has it affected schools, art teachers and students?
- How art can help people through these situations and how art provides solace.
- Her trip to see Hamilton in Houston after the tragedy in Santa Fe, Texas and the description of the musical and its impact on her.
- Cindy talks about the podcast “Harry Potter and the Sacred Text” and how it connects to some tragedies that are happening today.
- Art can be a comfort tool and we can teach children to use art in this way.
- Finding ways for non-artistic kids to connect with art, find deeper meaning in art, and see themselves in a work of art.
- How to use art to cope with tragedies, release stress and how to connect art in your life.
- The need for teachers to talk to students about these tragedies and issues and the idea that using art is a safe way to do this.
- Special Guest Speaker, “Jim O’Donnell” will talk about his experience with a school shooting and how he spoke to the students about it and how art affected him through all of this.
Resources Mentioned in the Show:
Hamilton Broadway Hip Hop Musical
Harry Potter and the Sacred Texts the podcast
The Soup of Europe painting by Miguel Barcelo
If taking art trips with your students seems like a daunting and unachievable dream, you won’t want to miss today’s episode. There are ways to get your students out into the world to experience art first hand by seeing it and touching it. You’ll want to learn some of the tips that have allowed Kristen Wilcox to consistently expose her students to art first-hand!
Kristen Wilcox is an art teacher that teaches different levels of art classes at Samuel Clemens High School in Texas. Much of Kristen’s art centers around her love for photography, but she dabbles in as many mediums as it takes to get the creative process started. She loves to travel and she tries to inspire her students to travel in order to learn art through the experience of seeing it in person. She helps her students earn the money and helps them plan their trips in order to facilitate this amazing hands-on exposure to art. She believes that students need to travel in order to get the full experience of learning art.
More in this episode:
- Steps that you can take to get a group together in order to travel with your students
- People and organizations that will help students go on this adventure
- The benefits of going on these educational trips
- Ideas to help students raise money for their trip
- Differences between Go Ahead Tours and EF Tours
- Kristen shares her travel experiences in Europe and her favorite places
- Tips for students on preparing for the trip and getting them ready for a successful trip
- The artwork that changed Kristen’s life
Resources Mentioned in the Show:
Go Ahead Tours (adult tours)
EF Tours (for students)
Art Class Curator the podcast
Today’s guest is an elementary art teacher who writes a regular column for Arts and Activities Magazine, and his blog, Shine Brite Zamorano, where he shares his student’s projects. He masterly infuses contemporary art into his school and community in exciting and relevant ways. He contributes so much inspiration, motivation, and support to art teachers everywhere.
Don Masse grew always interested in art. Teaching at a creative art camp 3 summers in a row called Buck Rock Creative Art Camp, is where he found passion in working with children. When Don met his wife and they moved out to San Diego where he then went back to school to become certified and got an education background. Masse began to work at Zamorano and has worked there since. Masse started his blog around 2010, after starting to use the internet more for researching. Taking a trip, studying abroad in Ravenna Rome, in his undergrad is one place he will never forget. He went to the mausoleum of Galla Placidia which was full of mosaics. One section in particular, spoke to him the most and he still uses them to this day, as it stuck with him.
Show Highlights:
- Background on Don Masse
- Working at Zamorano teaching kids art
- Masse’s Blog when and why he started it
- Started to use the internet to build his curriculum
- Masse’s blog is mostly based on Contemporary artists
- Masse uses his blog to help focus for his curriculum
- Masse tells us some of the main internet search places he used
- Tips on how to have projects based on artists but still be unique
- How to incorporate writing and reflection in Masses lessons
- Masse tells us about some of his favorite lessons
- How Masse approaches talking to the kids about their work
- How you need to embrace the silence
- The artwork that changed Masse’s life
As teachers, not only do we strive to make an impact on students, but we also strive to continue learning. Sometimes this means trying new methods to see what works best for us as well as the students. George Szekely is with me today to talk about his hands-on approach with teaching art, and how to expand your students’ exposure to art.
Show Highlights:
- Why George says that Show & Tell should never die
- The difference between Art and Lecture
- The one method George could never get rid of
- The benefits of teaching Adult Art with Kids Art
- How to integrate more art into lesson plans
- Why it’s important to give kids art they can physically handle
- Advice to Art Teachers about options for showcases
- George shares his thoughts on teaching art in high school
- Techniques on how to connect with teenagers
- The importance of letting students know they’re artists
Resources:
http://www.georgeszekely.org/
Today I’m doing something I’ve never done before, and instead of having a guest, I’m going solo today. Join me as I answer frequently asked questions from listeners and students.
Show Highlights:
- Art Making versus Art Looking
- How to facilitate discussion during Art History
- Techniques to try so your students will know you’re listening
- How to keep students engaged
- Why you learn to find comfort in the silence
- How to deal with insecurities of your knowledge of an art piece
- The versatility of teaching Art History
- Advice on how to teach art when nudity is involved
- Why we need to embrace being uncomfortable
- How to avoid copycat artwork from students
Social Media Pull Quotes:
Cindy:
“You are modeling curiosity. You are modeling excitement about art. They are learning from you and your delight.”
“Even if you don’t know the answers immediately, you have the skills and techniques to get them.”
“There are things in life that are worth not avoiding. Learn to be okay with being uncomfortable.”
Resources:
Resource Library
Eric Gibbons joins Cindy on the podcast today to share his passion for teaching art. While in college, a professor noticed Eric’s talents in art and teaching, and encouraged him to become an art teacher. Eric says he may have been the first student at his college to switch majors from pre-law to art education, but he has no regrets. Eric has nearly 30 years of teaching experience and has been able to carry his love for art to both Egypt and Japan, where he was able to teach art. Currently, Eric teaches high school art in New Jersey, and was recognized by the state for his excellence in art education in 2015. His classroom lessons have been featured by Davis Publications and other books on art and education through Firehouse Publications of Bordentown, NJ. Eric’s best-known book is If Picasso Had A Christmas Tree.
Eric’s work has been featured in international exhibitions and in many publications. Additionally, Eric is a blogger on his website, Art Ed Guru, and his blogs are appreciated by educators worldwide.
Show Highlights:
- Eric shares how his love of art began at an early age.
- Cindy and Eric discuss components involved in teaching art in a public school
- Eric shares why there has been some push-back to his philosophy of teaching art.
- Students find relevance in art when they have a personal connection to it.
- Cindy discusses how art can give students a method to express their emotions.
- Eric tells about how he has his art students partner with students at other schools for a project.
- Eric discusses how he uses a universal rubric for 2D and 3D artwork in his classroom.
- Eric shares how he has his students reflect on their work.
- Eric shares tips for ensuring uniqueness and individuality in student work.
- Cindy and Eric discuss incorporating art history in the classroom.
Resources:
Art Ed Guru
Firehouse Publications
Art Grading
Tips for Ensuring Individuality
Tips and Tricks in the Art Room
Eric’s Philosophy Diagram
Ken Vieth
As most Art Teachers may know, it can be easy to fall into catering to what students and administrators want and need, but in turn, we lose sight of what we need ourselves. Lana Jelenjev is with us here today to share the importance of “checking in”. Join us and learn the questions to ask yourself in order to figure out your own needs and the imperativeness of doing so.
Show Highlights:
- Lana’s method of making thinking visible
- In the entrepreneurial world, how to know when to pivot or pull the plug
- The powerful tool of “checking in”
- What the concept of Reverse Mind Mapping has to offer
- The questions to ask in order to identify your personal needs
- The danger of becoming too attached to the idea of an end product
- The practice that can help teachers and students in the classroom
- The importance of defining what you need
- What is compassionate communication and how it can benefit you
- The difference in being selfish and being self-full that society doesn’t tell us
Resources:
Blog: Dream See Do
Lana's Interactive Learning Site
90 Day Action Planner
The Power of Full Engagement
Essentialism: Mastering the Art of Less
We’re following up with art class teacher Holly Bess Kincaid from Episode 5. Holly Bess is changing the world within the walls of her classroom. Her students make up a strongly diverse community of learners, so different languages, cultures, and life experiences are something she not only plans for but leverages to create powerful learning moments, using art as the conduit.
In this episode, Holly Bess shares her experiences and practical tips on how she has found success in getting grant funding for projects and resources that enrich her students’ learning.
Show Highlights:
- Why an art teacher might need a grant
- Holly Bess’s shares her favorite grant she’s ever received
- How Holly Bess has used grant money she earned
- Tips from Holly Bess on how to find and apply for grants
- Places within your community you can seek grant funding for projects
- How to tailor your grant to potential grant funders
-
- What is your goal?
- What are you going to do with your funding?
- What’s the impact to students of completing your project or using your resources?
- How will you share updates of what you do with the product or finish the project?
- How will you give recognition to your donor(s)?
- Tell a good story and include a budget
- Effective tips for thanking donors
- Whether or not you should re-apply to grants you’ve already received
- Why Holly Bess uses her voice recording feature on her phone often
Links Mentioned in the Show:
Donors Choose
Holly Bess on Instagram - @artladyhbk
Holly Bess on Twitter - @artladyhbk
Capitol of Creativity
National Art Education Association (NAEA)
Art Class Curator
Amy Bultena and Danette Albino are here to talk about their experience in teaching at Title 1 Schools, lower-income students. These ladies hit on a variety of topics from the importance of actually respecting your students as people to taking time to prioritize yourself. If you’re a soon-to-be-teacher wondering what to expect or a seasoned Vet looking for reassurance you’re not alone, this podcast is for you!
Show Notes:
- How to teach low-income kids when their most basic needs aren’t met
- The most important thing kids need in the classroom in Title 1 schools
- Why the Public Education System doesn’t necessarily know what’s best for its students
- The skills teachers were not prepared for, to nurture students
- The key to connecting with students in the classroom and cultivating those relationships
- The benefits of treating kids as people and not just as students
- Why it’s important to prioritize yourself alongside teaching
- Alternatives to self-help and therapy for Title 1 Teachers
- The thing we lose in stressful jobs, such as teaching low-income schools, that’s important to get back
- How to address your own “privilege” in the classroom
- The importance of talking about race, in and out of the classroom
The rigidity of rules may be hindering creativity for young artists.
Jim O’Donnell didn’t take his first art class until he was almost graduated from high school. Jim is proof that you’re not doomed if you didn’t learn the technicalities at a young age. Listen to him share his experience with how his art painted its way into his life and, in return, has done the same for his students. Jim shares his pedagogies of inspiring and teaching future Elementary Education majors, the importance of failure, and how to get find balance with a school system focused on a grade letter.
Show Highlights:
- How Jim traded Advertising for Art
- Jim explains the idea behind his blog Kill Your Color Wheels
- How assessing art in the classroom isn’t as easy as a multiple choice test
- Why perfectionism is the enemy of creativity
- Why it’s important to encourage kids to fail more
- Learn how art teachers can find the balance between imposing letter grades and nourishing growth
- How art teaches us to slow down in a fast and furious society
- The non-academic way of grading that’s difficult to measure
- Jim talks about how he handles the difference between naturally talented artists vs. those who work harder
- The importance of relaxing into what’s uncomfortable
- Impactful artwork for Jim: Abbott H. Thayer Winged Figure, 1889 - http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/artwork/59798?search_id=1
Links Mentioned in the Show:
Kill Your Color Wheels
Walking on Water by Derrick Jensen
Why I Hate the Elements and Principles of Art
Stephen Krashen, Linguist
Sheila Kriemelman
Grading on Standards for Achievement - Brookhart
Art competitions are actually beneficial for teachers and their students.
Brad Le Duc, an Art Educator, is here to share his passion for art and educating the young artists of the future. Brad has taught 2D art in several states across the country for the past 17 years. Brad here to talk about the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, the positive effects of art competitions, and how art teachers can get involved in helping their students submit their art pieces.
Tune in for a refreshing and inspiring interview with Brad, and walk away with new insights on art, competitions, passion, and vulnerability.
Show Highlights:
- Brad explains what the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes is and their mission
- Learn what the Discovery Award Competition and ArtEffect Project are
- How students discover their “Unsung Hero”
- How to get students involved with the Lowell Milken Center
- How to reach kids who lack motivation
- Brad tells a story of a former student whose artwork brought him to tears
- Brad and Cindy discuss the importance and impact of passion
- Two questions that Brad asks his students to initiate conversation
- A free 10 Step Lesson plan to help art teachers get started
- Brad shares one of his personal favorite art influencers from Brazil
Links Mentioned in the Show:
Lowell Milken Center
Brad LeDuc"s Blog
ArtEffect Project
Wasteland - Vik Muniz
Irena Sendler
Alice Seeley Harris
The Art the Brought Brad to Tears
Kara Walker
Ai Weiwei
10 Step Lesson Plan
Susan Riley is bringing it all together through art. Her website, EducationCloset is the go-to resource for teachers working to integrate art into other disciplines and create STEAM programs. In an educational climate that places a high value on standardized testing, art integration is an effective method to engage students and teachers alike and has helped to infuse creativity and critical thinking back into the classroom.
Tune in to hear Susan’s passion come through as she shares stories, tips, and reflections on how to work art integration into your lessons, and how it can add to your classroom environment.
Show Highlights:
- Why you shouldn’t be afraid of arts integration
- The inspiring way EducationCloset got its start
- How arts integration retains and reinvigorates teachers
- Susan shares some examples of her favorite art integration lessons
- How to incorporate peer reviews and partner work in art integration activities
- Addressing the meeting of educational standards for all disciplines involved
- How to be an advocate for both arts and arts integration
- Tips for building relationships with other teachers in your school that overlap with your integrated content
- Why you should never say, “That’s not my job”
- Susan shares her first experience falling in love with art
Links Mentioned in the Show:
EducationCloset
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Art Class Curator
It turns out that comics are good for kids.
Dr. Katie Monnin is here to tell you that art and language belong together, more than ever. She’s spent her career creating books on both how and why incorporating new graphic novels enhance visual learning and writing skills in students. More than that-- she’s also worked hard with a community of teachers to develop resources so teaching with graphic novels feels attainable and accessible to anyone.
Tune in for an energizing interview with Katie, and walk away with a plethora of tips and resources to bring into your first graphic novel lesson.
Show Highlights:
- Katie explains what Pop Culture Classroom is and what it does
- Why it’s important to let kids read graphic novels
- What students learn from graphic novels
- Kate shares a powerful story of how the 9/11 attack changed her perception of the need for graphic novels
- How graphic novels are different from traditional cartoons
- Tips for developing quality lessons plan for graphic novels
- Katie shares about panels, gutters, and balloons, and their place in the classroom
- How to find the balance of art and language in the study of graphic novels
- The graphic novel artists and publishers Katie recommends for teachers starting out
- A bit about the Denver Comic Con and why it’s worth attending
- Ways to get started teaching in your own classroom using graphic novels
Links Mentioned in the Show:
Pop Culture Classroom
Email Katie: katie.monnin@popcultureclassroom.org
Find books by Katie Monnin
Diamond Bookshelf Lesson Plans
Toon Books
Sara Varon
As The Crow Flies by Melanie Gillman
Lion Forge Books
Brave by Svetlana Chmakova
Maus by Art Spiegelman
Blankets by Craig Thompson
Spill Zone by Alex Puvilland
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Denver Comic Con 2018
Art Class Curator
Art class teacher Holly Bess Kincaid is changing the world within the walls of her classroom. Her students make up a strongly diverse community of learners, so different languages, cultures, and life experiences are something she not only plans for, but leverages to create powerful learning moments, using art as the conduit.
From practical tips on how to work with a variety of native languages in one classroom, to what projects have created the most excitement with students of all backgrounds, Holly Bess provides insights so that you can help students learn more about the world by learning from one another.
Show Highlights:
- How to adapt your learning environment to a multilingual classroom
- The way art lessons can bring out cultural lessons between students
- Holly Bess shares an anecdote of celebrating Holi with a student’s family
- Ways teachers can get to know their students’ communities better
- Holly Bess shares about a particularly successful kite art project
- Tips on managing students’ behavioral issues related to trauma
- How to address tough conversations and fear with art lessons
- The ways social media can isolate us from forging connections with others
- How Holly Bess tailors her curriculum to her student’s needs
- Why reading, writing or speaking are included every day in art class
- How Holly Bess created a weekly lesson to critique art
- The art that scared Holly Bess
Links Mentioned in the Show:
Google Arts & Culture app
T.H.I.N.K. About Art - Weekly Lesson Guide
Holly Bess on Instagram - @artladyhbk
Holly Bess on Twitter - @artladyhbk
Capitol of Creativity
National Art Education Association (NAEA)
Art Class Curator
Art that scared Holly Bess: Ann Hamilton's Offering (1991) https://www.mattress.org/archive/index.php/Detail/Collections/71
Michael Linsin knows that positive classroom moments don’t just happen magically. In fact, a well-run classroom makes teaching-- and learning-- fun. His practical guides and tips come from years of experience and have culminated in his own online resource called Smart Classroom Management. In this episode, we dive deep into the how’s and why’s of best practices in classroom management, with a focus on art classrooms.
Tune in and be ready to mix up your classroom management style, so you can have more fun with your job and create a learning environment that transforms the lives of your students.
Show Highlights:
- How Smart Classroom Management got its start
- Michael shares his tips on having a well-run classroom
- The importance of having a classroom management plan
- Why it doesn’t really matter what consequences you use in the classroom
- The most effective way to model behaviors you want students to emulate or avoid
- How to create an engaging lesson on classroom management for your students
- Why Michael doesn’t like reflection forms
- Misconceptions other teachers have about having a well-managed classroom
- Tips on how to build rapport with students
- How old is too old for time outs
- Types of consequences that work well for older students
- How reward and points systems in your classroom can be ineffective
- The importance of follow-through with your classroom management plan
Links Mentioned in the Show:
Smart Classroom Management
Facebook - Smart Classroom Management
Book - Classroom Management for Art, Music, and PE Teachers
Art Class Curator
Sometimes our most challenging moments are the times that create the biggest spark. For Megan Hildebrandt, one of those chapters of her life was while she was earning her Masters Degree in Studio Art at the University of South Florida and was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
This experience completely changed the way she views art, community, and remaining present.
In this episode, Megan dives into how her art transformed during her cancer treatment and how, now that she is in remission, she finds more and more ways to bring art students to communities in need of healing, inspiration, and consistency.
Show Highlights:
- How cancer changed Megan’s perspective on art
- Her evolution as an artist through cancer and the different mediums that captured her attention
- Megan explains an artistic series that she produced while undergoing chemotherapy
- How Megan got her experience as an art teacher
- The story behind Megan’s course, “The Aesthetics of Health”
- How cancer care experiences are enhanced with art in the waiting room
- Anecdotes from figure drawing cancer patients
- The difference between sympathy and empathy
- Megan explains the importance of consistency in serving communities with art
- How Megan sees her art programs scale to other schools and communities
- The freedom and shared ownership of interpreting art
- Megan shares 2 artists who have inspired her
Links Mentioned in the Show:
Megan Hildebrandt
For over 15 years, Nic Hahn has worked with students of all ages in various schools and districts around the Midwestern US-- and if there’s one thing she’s discovered, it’s the importance of community in teaching art.
She started a blog called Mini Matisse in 2010 to connect parents to the art projects that were coming home in the hands of their children, but the online connection was just the beginning. Her quest to bring people with interest and experience with students thirsty to try new forms of art has sparked local, nationwide, and international interest and participation-- demonstrating that the invitation to create is universal and that we all have a lot to learn from one another.
Show Highlights:
- What prompted Nic to create her blog, Mini Matisse
- How often she creates blog posts, and what her philosophy on blogging is like
- The ways blogging has impacted Nic’s teaching
- Nic shares her favorite community art projects, and why they’re important
- Ways to proactively manage emotionally challenging art lessons with students
- Tips for engaging families and volunteers in art class support
- How to find and support classroom volunteers
- Unexpected benefits of having volunteers come in to support students
- Tips and advice for teachers starting a community-driven art learning program
- Nic explains what an Artist’s Trading Card is
- How Nic’s classrooms began trading art with schoolchildren in Japan
- Nic shares her artistic inspirations
- Why Nic named her daughter Matisse
Links Mentioned in the Show:
Community Project from Mini-Matisse
Bit-O-Bios on Teachers Pay Teachers
Artist Trading Card Project on Mini-Matisse
Lisa Congdon Art Project on Mini-Matisse
Mini Matisse
Instagram - @minimatisseart
Twitter - @minimatisse
RSVP
Welcome to Art Class Curator! This podcast is something that’s been in the back of my mind for years and I’m excited that it’s finally happening. Each episode will dive deep into different aspects of teaching art - from passionate art teachers sharing their work, to mini trainings on art appreciation strategies that you can use in your classroom, to conversations about the highs and lows that come with being a teacher.
Show Highlights:
- We’re launching-- the Art Class Curator podcast is happening!
- What the Art Class Curator podcast will be about
- Hear highlights of a few upcoming interviews
- The one telling question I ask guests at the end of every episode
- A personal story of how host Cindy Ingram came into studying and loving art
Links Mentioned in the Show:
Art Class Curator