Shows
Teaching Artist Podcast#99: Brenda Presil: Pushing ForwardBrenda was inspired to become an art teacher from a young age, but was told not to pursue teaching by one of her art teachers whom she respected. She talked about freelancing as a creative and working across disciplines to make a living as an artist before coming back to teaching. It was inspiring to hear how she continues pushing forward and challenging herself as an artist while also becoming a better teacher. She shared how she connects with students and sometimes struggles to make those connections. We also got to talk about her process and materials and how...2022-09-171h 17
Teaching Artist Podcast#98: Kayla Louviere: Coming to VoiceKayla Louviere talked about the juggle of parenting and making art while teaching. She shared how she approaches and structures her art practice and how that has shifted over the years. It was helpful to hear how that structure can move the dial little by little even when the amount of studio time available isn’t a lot. As she brings up topics of artistic voice with students, she also examines her own artistic voice and the themes of her work.
Kayla shared how she’s working with students who have been through not only the pandemic, but...2022-08-0845 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#97: Cbabi Bayoc: Trusting YourselfCbabi talked about his journey as an artist and how he continues to grow both his practice and his business. He shared his creative process and the ways he overcomes challenges while creating. He also talked about painting murals in schools and how he becomes a role model for students, making his thinking visible and encouraging the use of mistakes as learning opportunities. It was so helpful hearing how he adjusts pricing and also has to work to overcome money mindsets - that made me feel less alone in this struggle!
Cbabi (pronounced Kuh-bob-bi) Bayoc is an...2022-07-1049 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#96: Emily McMullan: Practices in ArtEmily talked about her path as an artist from a young age, but also discovering her love for teaching and working especially in special education. She shared how all-consuming those first years of teaching were and how art had to take a back seat. I so related to that feeling of needing to re-discover the artist self, especially after becoming a mother. Emily aslo shared some great advice as a veteran special education teacher in not only encouraging students, but also encouraging yourself.
Emily has been a special education teacher for 19 years. She currently teaches reading, language...2022-06-211h 06
Teaching Artist Podcast#95: Meera Ramanathan: Grounded in CollageMeera talked about coming back to art after a long hiatus while teaching and moving from one country to another. She shared beautiful advice for artists and educators around diving into art-making and giving yourself grace as you grow your art practice. Meera also shared her experience through this pandemic and how meaningful it has been coming back to in-person teaching with tactile art materials.
I loved hearing about her work and the process of selecting colors, tearing paper, collaging, and then adding embroidery. She shared advice around how she seeks opportunities and plans for solo shows...2022-06-0658 min
K12ArtChat the PodcastEpisode 80 - Rebecca Potts Aguirre - Does Being an Artist and a Teacher Make Sense?The host of the Teaching Artist Podcast – Rebecca Potts Aguirre joins Team Grundler for this episode to talk about the balance between being a working artist as well as an art educator. Which comes first, your own art or teaching art? Rebecca and the Grundlers discuss how they juggle both careers and the inevitable overlap that happens between the two. 2022-05-2652 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#94: The Grundlers: The Creativity DepartmentIt was such a pleasure talking with Laura & Matt Grundler, who host the #K12artchat on Twitter and The Creativity Department podcast. We talked about helping kids navigate a world that wasn’t built for them, as both parents and teachers. Laura and Matt both shared their paths as artists and educators, which included struggles with school and learning challenges, giving them empathy for students. I also loved hearing about how they weave visual journaling into not only their curricula, but also their lives. They both talked about journaling to process emotions and information, and a beautiful collaborative journal pr...2022-05-231h 13
Teaching Artist Podcast#93: Suzanne Joyal: Something From NothingSuzanne Joyal had great advice about working with students with disabilities, which really applies to working with all students. I loved hearing about her path to teaching through motherhood and how she advocated for the arts in schools. It was also inspiring to hear about her art practice and how she overcomes artist block.
Suzanne has exhibited her fine art at ArtWorks Downtown, Youth in Arts, O’Hanlon Center for the Arts, Albany Center, the Mill Valley Library, and Thornton Thomasetti. A visual artist with extensive teaching experience, Suzanne holds a degree in Art History from Wellesley Co...2022-05-0952 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#92: Aimee Sones: Mountain MoversAimee talked about supporting her students through this pandemic and beyond in part through shifting mindsets and reframing negative thinking. I loved how she talked about our role as educators as focused around teaching students to care and to prioritize what it is they care about, ideally moving away from stress about homework towards empathy and care for each other. Aimee puts the same passion into supporting fellow educators and artists through coaching. She shared some great advice around selling your artwork and thinking through all the questions to ask around creating art objects. It was also so interesting...2022-04-171h 03
Teaching Artist Podcast#91: Amir Whitaker: Free The Youth!Dr. Amir Whitaker Esq. weaves together his experience and knowledge as an educator, musician, and human rights lawyer and spoke about how those things have inspired each other throughout his life. I loved how he talked about following a question, which led to more questions, as he pursued degree after degree. He spoke about how his multiple titles and roles really come back to passion for justice and the arts and his mission to free the youth. He touched on his own personal background with the (in)justice system, which he shares more of in his book, “The KnuckleHead’s Gu...2022-04-091h 00
Teaching Artist Podcast#90: mikewindy: Gratitude & InspirationsMike talked about his winding path to art education and the myth of the art professor with abundant studio time. He shared how he fits in studio time in the gaps and how rich and fulfilling this winding path has been.
Mike also shared a project he does with students that provides useful data for teachers in assessing student learning, being able to offer data to administrators, while also letting students see their own growth. He talked about thinking in similar ways within his studio practice to shift to a growth mindset as an artist. I loved...2022-04-031h 25
Teaching Artist Podcast#89: Lionel Cruet: Rhetorics of an Uncertain FutureLionel Cruet spoke about his teaching practice as well as his exhibit, Rhetorics of an Uncertain Future, which is in its third iteration at Play + Inspire Gallery. He talked about the process of developing the exhibition in all three iterations, from private viewing at Yi Gallery in NYC to exhibit at El Lobi in Puerto Rico to online at Play + Inspire. The title was chosen carefully to encompass the writing that accompanies the exhibition, while also exploring the visual arts as a mode of persuasion, a mode of rhetoric. We talked about how apt the idea of uncertain futures...2022-03-271h 09
Teaching Artist Podcast#88: Eric Anthony Berdis: Imagining A Queer SpaceEric Anthony Berdis shared his story of finding refuge and courage in art. He talked about imagining a queer space and how he creates that imagined space. He also spoke about the idea of being a parallel player alongside his young students and his continual work to move away from facilitator or director in the classroom. I loved hearing about his process and all the research behind his work. I also loved how he is able to incorporate play and whimsy among all the references and context that goes into his work. If you can, take a look at...2022-03-1359 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#87: Abhishek Panchal: Centering StudentsIt was so great to reconnect with Abishek and hear more about his art and teaching practices. He participated in one of our Artist Talk sessions through the Teaching Artists Lounge last summer and I was so inspired by the way he wove teaching and artmaking together in that brief talk that I wanted to hear more. He shared wonderful advice for working with students of all abilities and adjusting his own expectations as a teacher during constantly shifting situations as a result of the pandemic. We got into what student-centered teaching can look like. He also talked about...2022-02-2746 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#86: Marianna Jimenez Edwards: Re-EmergingMarianna talked about the support she felt from teachers and her parents as an artist, but also the challenge of learning to draw. She shared a method for teaching drawing that she longed for as a young person, working to improve her technique.
The way she shifted from teaching full-time and feeling the burnout so many of us have felt was so inspiring. I loved hearing how she found a semblance of balance with part-time teaching and part-time art-making as she re-emerged as an artist. Marianna also talked about the move from Miami, FL to Boise, ID...2022-02-061h 08
Teaching Artist Podcast#85: Valentine Svihalek: Embracing Your CreativityValentine Svihalek talked about embracing her creativity and shifting in her career as she moved physically and emotionally through life. I love how she dove into being an artist and then working with fellow artists, especially mothers, to bring out their creative voices.
Valentine Svihalek is a Belgian and American contemporary visual artist, international educator, and mother. Living and teaching in diverse communities around the world, she cultivated a desire for discovery and development. After the birth of her first child in a village surrounded by people who spoke a different language, she felt isolated. Turning inward...2022-01-301h 04
Teaching Artist Podcast#84: Ana Guzmán: Reframing ELLAna Guzmán talked about her experience as an English Language Learner and reframing that term to Emergent Bilingual as she now works to help students who are learning a second language. I love that reframing, focusing on the impressive fact that these students already know at least one language and are learning an additional language!
She shared some strategies art educators can use in reaching and teaching emergent bilingual students as well as advocating with administration and higher level bureaucrats.
I loved hearing about her art journaling and how she’s taking time to refle...2022-01-2252 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#83: Amanda Gorman: Finding Your VillageAmanda is a childbirth educator who uses the Birthing From Within methodologies. She talked about incorporating art-making as part of the preparation for birth and shared her own experience of moving from a “not creative” person to wholeheartedly believing in the power of art. She shared her process for building trust and working with students who don’t have art experience as well as the reasons art-making is included in a birthing course. We also talked a bit about the racial inequities around childbirth and Amanda shared some wonderful links, including episode 16 of her own podcast, Finding Your Village, in whi...2022-01-1634 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#82: Melissa Parke: Black Teaching Artist LabMelissa Parke shared her journey in bringing an idea to life through Black Teaching Artist Lab where she conducts research, offers workshops and professional development, and so much more. She shared so vulnerably about mental health and struggles with feeling confident despite being certain of the importance and value of her work. She has created the Afrocentric Social-Emotional Learning Framework, which centers social-emotional learning (SEL) for the Black learner through arts education. Melissa talked about developing this framework and using it within professional development for Black teaching artists.
Another major part of her work is the Pan-African...2022-01-091h 03
Teaching Artist Podcast#81: Stories from the FieldStories from the Field: A curated selection of conversations around equity in the art classroom.
This episode is a special one and will be the last one of 2021. This is a longer version of the presentation I gave at the California Art Education Association conference last month. I prefaced the presentation by saying that I am not an expert here, but have been learning and listening and working to share the advice of those who know more than I do, to share the experiences of those who experience racism firsthand, to share the voices of those who...2021-12-0648 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#80: Isadora Stowe: Wearing All The HatsIsadora Stowe shared her winding journey teaching in several settings before landing in community college where she embraces the student centered approach. She talked about learning on the job how to connect with students and truly listen to find their unmet needs. It was so helpful hearing about the mindset shift from thinking of behaviors as problematic to thinking of behaviors as expressing something that may be painful and is not being heard.
I also loved hearing about Isadora’s work and how she pursues her interest in physics through installation in collaboration with scientists. She talked ab...2021-11-141h 07
Teaching Artist Podcast#79: Cynthia Hauk: Mindfulness & ArtCynthia Hauk shared her experience teaching mindful art workshops, including trainings for teachers and parents around bringing these practices into our teaching. I was so grateful that she also shared a specific exercise that can be done with no materials or extended to create incredible works of art. We talked about somatic work and what that means, as well as overcoming the shame story many of us have around creativity. Cynthia also shared some of her favorite books, which I’ll link to in the blog post. She talked about fitting in art-making while juggling so many other parts of...2021-10-2449 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#78: Mary Beth Flynn: Artfully AgingMary Beth Flynn shared her experience growing both her house portrait business and her art education business. She talked about being a lifelong artist and a lifelong entrepreneur and it was amazing to hear how she really embodies both. I also loved hearing about the therapeutic aspects of the work she’s doing through her Artfully Aging programs. She ties in storytelling and song to add an oral component to her watercolor projects.
We can probably all relate to the necessarily fast learning curve with technology during this pandemic. Mary Beth revamped her website, but also shifted he...2021-10-171h 01
Teaching Artist Podcast#77: Lizz Denneau: Guided By AncestorsLizz Denneau is making incredible artwork while teaching with a focus on contemporary art in a rural Arizona high school. I loved getting to learn more about her work and the ideas and processes she pursues as an artist. She talked about leaning into her intuition and the incredible paths that leads her down. Her striking visuals have so much depth of form and texture as well as meaning and history. She talked about her childhood as a bi-racial person and how she’s been digging into the history of the Black half of her family and processing through he...2021-10-031h 12
Teaching Artist Podcast#76: Lorna Ritz: Drawing & Redrawing MountainsLorna Ritz talked about her process and the meditative work of creating space with paint. It was inspiring hearing her dedication to her work and how she shares that with students. We talked about modeling as a teacher and helping students learn how to see. Lorna also spoke about her beautiful large barn studio and the intensive process of renovating it - both when she first moved in back in 1986 and again more recently to abate a mold problem and save the barn. I loved hearing about her lifelong passion for oil paint and the way she thinks about c...2021-09-2744 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#75: Lauren Scott Corwin: Uncovering HistoriesI love how Lauren’s work talks about the history of the land through the history of her paintings. Her process of layering, covering up what’s underneath while leaving hints of the past, is so meaningful. She talked about making quilts as well as paintings and where the 2 inform each other. Lauren also spoke about meeting students where they are and truly getting to know students as humans while also sharing yourself as a human.
Lauren Scott Corwin is a semi-abstract artist who works with oil paint, printmaking, fiber, and installation. Her bold palette is meant to i...2021-09-1958 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#74: Judy DeSimone: Abstraction BreakoutJudy DeSimone shared her experience of over 30 years teaching and had some great tips for teachers. She also talked about her ceramic work and inspirations. I loved hearing about how careful she is about the finishes, keeping areas matte while allowing some bits of gloss. Her transformation from realism to abstraction was also inspiring to hear.
Judy DeSimone is a ceramic artist living and creating art in West Chester, Pennsylvania. She earned a bachelor of science degree in art education at Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her degree allowed her to pursue a...2021-09-1251 min
Brewing Up CreativityTime Management as an Art Teacher, Artist, Curator, and Parent with Rebecca Potts AguirreIn Episode 26 of Brewing Up Creativity, Danielle is joined with Rebecca Potts Aguirre to discuss time management as an art teacher, artist, curator and parent. It is no doubt when you're tackling multiple creative careers on the go, time is precious. Rebecca and Danielle discuss how Rebecca got into the art industry and how it led her to create her own studio, curate exhibits, and teach children in an extremely positive and nurturing environment.Find the breakdown of the episode:- Getting started into the art industry- How to run a...2021-09-1033 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#73: Nicole McAfoose: Big Ideas & Choice-Based ArtNicole McAfoose shared fantastic and really practical tips for teachers interested in moving towards choice-based teaching or TAB. She talked about the transition phase and the power of giving students more autonomy in the classroom. She also spoke about assessment in a TAB classroom and how she documents learning. Her passion and care for her students was so clear.
Nicole also vulnerably shared how she lost the artist side of herself and is coming back to being an artist now. She talked about imposter syndrome and naming limiting beliefs. It was so encouraging to hear how she...2021-09-0550 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#72: Andy Harris: Super Powers, Scissors, & GlueAndy Harris talked about teaching with a focus on bringing out the super powers within his students. He shared some amazing projects that use art to consider identity and build relationships within the classroom.
He also shared some great advice for artists around seeking opportunities and being ready when doors open. I loved hearing about his process - from collecting images to painting, cutting, and glueing paper, drawing on his experience hanging wallpaper.
Andy Harris graduated from VCU, currently works out of his studio in Norfolk Virginia and teaches art in Virginia Beach City Public S...2021-08-291h 18
Teaching Artist Podcast#71: Erin McCluskey Wheeler: It's Just Paper!I loved how Erin talked about being an art cheerleader for her students! Her mantra of “It’s just paper” and encouragement to play and explore without getting stuck on unattainable ideas of perfection were so helpful. She shared such great advice around piecing together a career as an artist, which feels connected to piecing together her gorgeous collage work. A game changer for me was her goal of 50 rejections per year. What an incredible mindset shift that creates - going from mourning a rejection to celebrating it as part of a larger goal!
Erin McCluskey Wheeler is a p...2021-08-221h 16
Teaching Artist Podcast#70: Kate Moynihan: Tenacity & ResilienceKate was so uplifting and encouraging of artists. She shared her experience as an artist, writer, gallery owner, as well as a nurse and teaching artist. It was inspiring hearing how she took initiative to move from her career as a nurse that wasn’t fulfilling her into a career as an artist. She had some wonderful tips for artists around mindset, overcoming creative block, and working with a gallery. A few of the tips she shared:
Realize your time and then respect that time. (When do you work best? When do you have time to focus?)
Start wit...2021-08-1555 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#63: Jeannie Siegler: Generosity of SpiritJeannie Siegler was my high school art teacher!! We reconnected a few years ago and she’s shown the same generosity she always embodied. She was one of those teachers that made me want to teach and now remains a mentor full of encouragement. I loved getting to know more about her background in this episode! Jeannie began her teaching career through the Peace Corps in Sierra Leone, then taught in Washington D.C. public schools including Western High School, which later became Duke Ellington School of the Arts. She spent time teaching on the Rosebud Sioux reservation in So...2021-06-201h 14
Teaching Artist Podcast#62: Kathryn Rodrigues: Reflections, Refractions, and ShadowsKathryn Rodrigues talked about being a 3rd culture kid, growing up in many countries and returning to the U.S. as a teenager, but not feeling at home. I loved how she talked about the space of transition, that time in motion and trying to capture that feeling in her work. She also shone a light on the world of freelance teaching artists, balancing teaching with art-making and parenting. Kathryn talked about the structure of her teaching time before the pandemic and how she brought the city of Chicago into the classroom through field trips to art venues as...2021-06-131h 06
Teaching Artist Podcast#61: Nisa Floyd: Come Back As A FlowerNisa Floyd talked about honoring her feelings through her internal and personal art practice and how that also allows her to honor her students’ feelings in the classroom. Her gardening and plant metaphors are so beautiful and meaningful and woven throughout our conversation. She shared her experiences feeling the need to be a savior and then checking that need and asking how she could turn that urge to something truly helpful. She talks about art as a solution, as a way to create space for dialogue, and a way to tap into some of the deeply rooted beliefs that we...2021-06-061h 21
Teaching Artist Podcast#60: Sarah Pimenta: Conducting CreativitySarah talked about her participatory work with a wide variety of groups, from children in schools to community groups to corporate groups. She thinks of herself as a sort of conductor, using questions to pull out imagery and marks reflecting a story or theme. I loved hearing how she’s worked with a psychologist to publish books, but also develop programming, with the power of the arts for reflection and healing in mind.
It was also interesting to hear about her own personal work with mosaic. The idea of allowing ourselves to make art that is “just” for us...2021-05-3059 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#59: Jill Forie: Sink or SwimJill Forie talked about how she started and runs her custom sneaker business, Sink or Swim Kicks, alongside teaching. She shared tips and encouragement for teaching on a cart and really advocating for yourself. Jill also talked about anti-racist pedagogy and the importance of acknowledging her whiteness and both recognizing and celebrating the cultural differences present in her classroom. I loved the idea of realizing how many micro-decisions we make as artists during the creative process, but also how those begin as more macro-decisions that become intuitive through repetition.
Jill is a Los Angeles based artist and...2021-05-231h 07
Teaching Artist Podcast#58: Beth Welch: So What? You Can Draw...Beth Welch talked about finding her voice and discovering what she wanted to say with her artwork. She shared so many valuable tips for artists about working with museums and improving your chances when submitting to open calls or sending proposals to curators. Be organized! As hard as that may be, it makes such a big difference when you make the curator’s life easier. Her perspective as a museum professional offered insight into not only working as an artist with museums, but also connecting with museums as an educator and the ways museums serve as educational institutions.
...2021-05-161h 14
Teaching Artist Podcast#57: Kelly Marshall: Invisible LaborKelly Marshall shared such helpful tips drawing on her experience as a special education teacher. She also offered advice about starting her own business and working with galleries. I loved hearing about how her work has evolved and the ideas behind her work. Her series of portraits of physician mothers during the pandemic is so moving. What an incredible project to illuminate the collective purpose and sacrifices of these doctors.
Kelly Marshall followed her BA in Applied Art and Design with a career as a special education art teacher, helping students of diverse abilities in the classroom a...2021-05-021h 19
Teaching Artist Podcast#56: Tracy Brown: Being SeenTracy shared so vulnerably about body image and the importance of being seen and valued for who you are. She talked about struggling in school, but feeling power as an artist, and how her experiences shape her teaching. She shared so many wonderful resources for teaching and art-making, which I’ve also linked in the blog post, so don’t miss that!
Tracy Brown was born and raised outside of Detroit, Michigan, and obtained a BFA with a major in art education from Michigan State University in 2005. She has been an art teacher for the past 14 years and...2021-04-251h 07
Teaching Artist Podcast#55: Judy Richardson: TransformationJudy Richardson is a sculptor living and working in the high desert mountains of Magdalena, New Mexico, recently transplanted from Brooklyn, NY. Her work is assembled and cobbled together with many dissimilar materials, and inspired by many different sources, from the political to the personal. She is a former scenic artist for the San Francisco Opera, which had an enormous effect on her work.
Judy’s work was included in the Spring Break Art Fair in New York this past spring. For many years she showed her work with Ivan Karp at OK Harris Works of Art in...2021-04-181h 01
Ossa Lounge PodcastEpisode #32 | Rebecca Potts Aguirre, Host of “Teaching Artist” PodcastRebecca Potts Aguirre is a teaching artist originally from Montana who has spent years living NYC, St. Louis, and Prague and now resides in Los Angeles.
She uses polymer clay and play dough to sculpt paintings which reflect on ideas of gender, motherhood, environmentalism, and trauma. She is represented by Stay Home Gallery, is a member of Spilt Milk Gallery, and is listed in the curated directory All She Makes.
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Links from the episode:
www.teachingartistpodcast.com
www.rebeccapotts.com
@pottsart
@teachingartistpodcast
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Hosted by:
Meredith Reed, Editor-in-Chief & Social Media Manager, Ossa
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This podcast is brought to you...2021-04-1314 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#54: Pat Cruz: Teaching Teaching ArtistsPat Cruz speaks about her art form being teaching Teaching Artists and translating between artists and teachers. She has worked in arts integration for over 25 years and recently started TEACH, an organization that strives to address the urgent issues of both climate change and education reform through arts integration. Through TEACH, she offers professional development for teachers, artists, and teaching artists as well as providing a platform for teaching artists to share their own workshops.
As a first generation Filipino American, Pat Cruz loves to connect people from different cultures, something she has had to do from...2021-04-111h 14
Teaching Artist Podcast#53: Justin Bursk: Making Time for LookingJustin Bursk talked about embracing imperfections and wrestling with the work. He shared how his time has shifted over the years from pushing through an MFA program while parenting 2 small children to seeing that time open up as his children become adults. I loved hearing about the metaphors in his work and the idea of “moving mountains” in his small sculptures build precariously onto wind-up toys. He uses shapes, line, and color so intentionally along with his signature 2 circles representing eyes or binoculars and the idea of looking. It was inspiring to hear how he keeps a positive attitude duri...2021-04-041h 04
Teaching Artist Podcast#52: Jeremy Blair: Education is RhizomaticJeremy Blair had such helpful advice and encouragement from his perspective as an art education professor, educating future teachers. We kept coming back to the connections and rhizomatic nature of education - how these seeds we’re planting can grow and drop new seeds years down the road. Jeremy shared some exciting projects and ideas he’s exploring both in his own artwork and with his students. I loved hearing about his mobile darkroom, recreating Sol Lewitt’s instructional wall drawings in his STEAM Studio class, and plans for a room sized Rube Goldberg machine! I want to take his cl...2021-03-281h 21
Teaching Artist Podcast#51: Mallory Muya: Rooting In PlaceMallory Muya has such a thoughtful way of being and made some beautiful connections as we talked about land and place, engaging students and families, and claiming your space as an artist. I loved hearing about Bahar Behbahani’s project investigating water at Wave Hill. It connected to so many topics and sounded incredibly rich and meaningful. I’ve also been thinking a lot about water in my own work.
Mallory drew connections between decentering ourselves as educators in the classroom and thinking about personal geography, our place, and the spaces we occupy. It was so helpful to h...2021-03-2155 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#50: Gregory Quick: Creative Problem SolvingI loved how Greg talked about art being all about solving problems and how that was what excited him about being an artist. He shared how he sets parameters in the classroom and encourages students to solve problems in their own unique ways.
It was also so refreshing and helpful to hear how he focuses on the positive in his work and allows himself to step away and take breaks when things aren’t working in the studio. It felt like permission to not push so hard, which is sometimes really needed.
We talked a li...2021-03-1455 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#49: Kieren Dutcher: Breaking Through BarriersKieren Dutcher had such great advice to share about seasons in your career and writing children’s books and shifting to teaching online. I loved how she talked about not fitting everything in and re-prioritizing as you go. It can be so easy to beat ourselves up for not accomplishing enough, so it’s helpful to hear reinforcement for giving yourself more flexibility. I also always appreciate hearing from parents who are farther along the parenthood journey than I am. The common thread I hear is to give yourself grace and recognize that there will be times when parenting leav...2021-03-0755 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#48: Mandi Antonucci: Following CuriosityMandi Antonucci creates beautifully detailed and painterly drawings using colored pencils, ball point pens, and sometimes other materials. She shared how drawing was not always easy for her and she had to put in a lot of practice. She talked about dabbling in a variety of media and the rabbit holes she leaps down when a concept strikes her. It was wonderful hearing about her teaching experience and how she’s adapted to the bizarre situation of hybrid teaching.
Like some of our other recent guests, Mandi talked about collaborating with her own children and with her st...2021-02-2852 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#47: Don Masse: Shine Brite: Illuminating the WorldI have been inspired by Don Masse’s blog for years and loved getting to talk with him and pick his brain! He shared some great tips and inspiration for artists and teachers, including exciting ways of using digital tools for art-making with students. We talked about balancing art and teaching and family and all the things - or struggling with that balance. I loved his method of teaching collage as a playful, experimental art form by offering glue only at the end of class. He spoke about seeking and sharing contemporary artists, local artists, and artists that act as...2021-02-2153 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#46: Candido Crespo: Origin StoryI have loved connecting with Candido Crespo on social media and it was such a pleasure to chat with him! He spoke about the importance of taking the time to build relationships and get to know your students and offered tips for teachers. I also loved hearing about his work and the projects he has going on. Like me, he’s dreaming up more than he has time for, but is doing incredible work encouraging fathers through his CreativiDad Project, and encouraging artists through One Love Art Sessions, all while teaching and making art and parenting.
Candido ta...2021-02-141h 03
Teaching Artist Podcast#45: Jessica Kitzman: Putting the Pieces TogetherJessica Kitzman and I connected through the Stay Home Gallery where we are both represented for 2021!! It has been such a joy to get to know her and her art practice through the gallery and it was nice to connect about teaching in this conversation.
Jessica talked about her path to teaching through Americorps and how being in a classroom full of kids making art re-ignited her art practice. She shared how discovering TAB and shifting to a choice-based pedagogy felt right and led her to expand her own art career as well. “Opening up freedom for my...2021-02-071h 04
Teaching Artist Podcast#44: Flavia Zuñiga-West & Sydney Snyder: Adding VoicesAdding Voices began as a free virtual conference for art educators of color and allies, founded by Flavia Zuñiga-West. Soon after the first conference, one of the presenters, Sydney Snyder, came on board as a co-organizer for future conferences and editor and contributor to the Patreon resources. Their newsletter for patrons is almost a misnomer - it’s more like a beautifully designed virtual magazine with clickable links, curated images, articles and carefully developed lesson plans that include pre-learning resources for art educators and contextual information about the artists they feature.
It was such a pleasure tal...2021-01-311h 30
Teaching Artist Podcast#43: Kate Frazer Rego: The Studio Feels AliveKate Frazer Rego is an artist and educator living in the South Coast in Massachusetts. She attended the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth College of Visual and Performing Art, where she earned a BFA in Sculpture. She went on to earn her MFA from Boston University’s College of Fine Art. Kate has shown her work nationally and is currently in several private collections. She participated and performed in Art in Odd Places: BODY, an international performance art festival in NYC 2018. And was included in the Cambridge Art Association’s 2019 Emerging Artist Exhibition.
Kate has been a Visual Arts...2021-01-241h 13
Teaching Artist Podcast#42: Katie Bradford Osborne: Leap and You'll Find WingsKatie Bradford Osborne is an artist, mother, creative brand consultant, teacher, curator, gallerist, and, more than anything, a woman on a mission to empower other women!
She offered so much wonderful advice and great tips for artists. I took notes to implement in my own art practice. It was so helpful to chat with a curator and gallerist who is so giving and cares deeply about supporting artists.
I also loved hearing about her artwork and how she balances the more structured, planned out business side of her personality with the intuitive nature of her...2021-01-171h 03
Teaching Artist Podcast#41: Mahoganëë Amigér: Home is Where the Magic IsMahoganëë talked about how she and her husband started Responsible Artistry with a studio in their closet where they helped teens produce music. They have grown the organization tremendously, always working as a team.
I also loved how she talked about home and food. Sitting at the feet of the elders and listening and remembering. Her music is so moving. Go listen to it and buy her work!
Mahoganëë, a South Carolina native & East Coast based artist blending a style of Southern soul, funk, jazz, blues & hip-hop with African & Caribbean influence (deemed Funky Organik Soul) is a ren...2021-01-1148 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#40: Reflecting & Recapping 2020This 40th episode will be the last one of 2020 and I’ll be sharing some of my favorite moments from the episodes released this year.
As I reflect on 2020 and plan for 2021, I oscillate between excited & hopeful and overwhelmed. It’s been a YEAR. Whew. Last December, I was just starting to submit my artwork to open calls. I was teaching 4 days per week at 2 elementary schools, getting into the swing of TAB and being on a cart at one school. I had shared the idea of a podcast as a way to force myself to make it a...2020-12-301h 11
Teaching Artist Podcast#39: Hannah Zimmerman: Your Voice is ValidI loved hearing about the ideas behind Hannah Zimmerman's beautiful work. Lush greenery, the ephemera of an artist's life, and the occasional cat stare out from her paintings. Within the repetition of stripes, careful color choices, and chairs without bodies to hold are comments on feminism and space as Hannah contemplates her place in this world. She talked about how she uses collage as a way to experiment with ideas and aesthetics, a creative playground. Her use of found materials there is a departure from the intentionally personal materials in her still lifes, which she also uses for soft...2020-12-201h 12
Teaching Artist Podcast#38: Lauren Merceron: Art Feeds Your SoulLauren Merceron shared her struggles with dyslexia and how she’s learned to embrace her unique challenges and value her unique strengths. I loved how she talked about making art to feed her soul and thinking of showing and selling it as secondary. It’s easy to get bogged down in the business and admin side of art, so that was a good reminder.
Lauren Merceron is an elementary art teacher and artist based outside Atlanta, Georgia. She celebrates her language processing disorders because this unique wiring helps her visualize information stronger than imaginable. Feeling with lines, touch...2020-12-1353 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#37: Corbrae Smith: Forged Through FireCorbrae Smith is a middle school art teacher by day, dope afrofuturist illustrator by night. Based in Oakland, CA, he is active in the local art scene and has created and contributed to many murals in the Bay Area.
He spoke passionately about teaching and how he makes an impact with his students by continuing to push forward with his art career. We talked about critique, both in the classroom and with our own artwork, the struggles of juggling these two careers, and making your own opportunities while also defeating your ego.
I loved his...2020-12-061h 17
Teaching Artist Podcast#36: Emma Freeman: Endless PossibilitiesEmma Freeman spoke about studying philosophy and art and how the two continue to mesh in her work. I loved the metaphor she shared about breaking down barriers - this image of softening walls and opening doors. I imagine a space where the walls bend and squish as we reshape a more equitable, welcoming, uplifting world. She talked about the possibilities she sees in art education and how encouraging free creation is such a healing process.
Emma also shared her experience with opening a shop, putting her creative work out into the world in many different formats...2020-11-291h 08
Teaching Artist Podcast#35: Priyanka Parmanand: Painting At NightPriyanka Parmanand shifted from seeing art as a hobby to creating both a teaching studio and her own professional art practice. I loved hearing about her background in business and how it does - and does NOT - inform her work. She spoke with such encouragement about resilience. Don’t give up, even when things are hard!
What an encouraging and inspiring conversation! Priyanka pushed through self-doubt and continues to do so in her art practice. I especially resonated with how she fits it all in like so many other parent/teacher/artists by painting at night. Th...2020-11-221h 00
Teaching Artist Podcast#34: Alisha Mernick: Critical MulticulturalismI’m so impressed with Alisha Mernick's ability to so concisely and eloquently share knowledge about anti-racist pedagogy and critical multiculturalism. If you’re not following her on instagram, follow her! She talks about how she’s not only been through an incredible graduate program combining social justice education, critical race theory, and contemporary art, but has also been in the classroom putting that education to practical use for 10 years. This semester, she’s freelancing while mothering her toddler and using her teaching skills to share her knowledge with other educators.
Alisha creates incredibly detailed miniature paintings inspired...2020-11-151h 03
Teaching Artist Podcast#33: Natasha Rivett-Carnac: Words & PicturesNatasha Rivett-Carnac is a curator and writer with a focus on arts & culture, and education. She runs a blog that supports writers and other creatives to find practical and artistic resources about motherhood. She is a home educator. Until COVID, her family split their school year between Costa Rica and the UK. Her family also participated in The Greenhouse, an outdoor education project The Daily Mail called “Britain’s most hipster school”.
I loved how Natasha talked about how words and pictures split for her and for most people, but how she’s bringing them back together. She thin...2020-11-081h 03
Teaching Artist Podcast#32: Megan Driving Hawk: Creating CeremonyIt was so wonderful connecting with Megan Driving Hawk. We spoke about teaching and art-making, being white mothers of Indigenous and Latinx kids, and early motherhood.
I find her work so beautiful and deeply meaningful. The way she talked about her interest in the meeting place of science and faith, how truth lives in the overlap between seemingly contradicting things felt so connected to her series of double exposures.
Megan Driving Hawk is an Artist/Mother & Educator living in Phoenix, Arizona. She is in her 8th year of teaching and 3rd year of teaching Traditional...2020-10-251h 23
Teaching Artist Podcast#31: Adrienne Brown-David: Do What Works for You!Adrienne Brown-David creates gorgeous paintings, drawings, and paper dolls!
It was so helpful for me to hear that she doesn’t actually have it all together all the time despite seeming very put together and successful from the outside. She talked about how she allows herself to not be good at everything all the time - to have times where she is excelling at teaching and motherhood, but not painting; and times where she is making incredible artwork, but her home is a mess and her kids are eating cereal. Hearing this felt like permission to give my...2020-10-181h 08
Teaching Artist Podcast#30: Eileen Powers: Can You Make Hair For Me?Eileen Powers talks about looking at an issue from all sides and how artists are problem solvers. I love how she applies this both physically to the engineering feat of creating hair out of all kinds of materials and metaphorically to the challenge of adjusting to big changes and getting through and talking about hard things like illness and death. She also talks about embracing differences and finding joy in even the most difficult situations. There is so much in her project and in this conversation that is super applicable to the many challenges facing us here in the...2020-10-111h 02
Teaching Artist Podcast#29: Michael Millam: Finding Your VoiceI enjoyed hearing how Michael Millam took a leap to pursue adventure in China and has built these dual careers of artist and teacher alongside and intertwined with each other. He talked about finding his own voice in his artwork and helping students to find theirs. We also dug into failing, making mistakes, and developing resilience.
It was such a great conversation and I especially loved hearing about his process combining photography and ceramics!
Michael Millam has been an art educator for 13 years, 10 of those years in Southern California, teaching Photography, 3D Design, and Ceramics...2020-10-0457 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#28: Victoria Fry: Bringing Contemporary Art Into the ClassroomIn this episode, I connected with an incredible artist and educator who is working to promote artists and share resources for art educators. Victoria Fry is the founder of Visionary Art Collective, an amazing platform for contemporary art. She has taught in a variety of settings, including as a teaching artist traveling between many schools and as a classroom teacher working art into all subjects.
It felt empowering to hear how Victoria has shifted her mindset and approach to teaching. It’s helpful to hear about others making those changes. It’s so important for us as educ...2020-09-271h 00
Teaching Artist Podcast#27: Matt MacFarland: The Power of a StoryMatt Macfarland shared so many amazing books and artists! We teach for the same organization, P.S. Arts, and had met a few times at PD, but it was nice to hear more about his background and his work. I love how he weaves stories together combining truth and fiction. His “teaching chronicles” are hilariously accurate to the life of an art teacher.
I especially liked hearing how Matt uses books in his teaching to help discuss weighty topics. He talked about the power of stories to change minds and to empower those who tell them.
Ma...2020-09-201h 11
Teaching Artist Podcast#26: Melanie Anderson: Painting HappinessMelanie Anderson has been teaching for 18 years, but had a 15 year career in advertising before going into teaching. She talks about the difficult decision to leave her first career in order to devote herself to motherhood and then her path to teaching.
Melanie shared so much encouraging advice and experience. It felt so hopeful and helpful to hear her perspective as a parent. I definitely need that reminder to soak up this time with my daughter and give myself some grace with all the other things. This life is a marathon, not a sprint. There will be...2020-09-1348 min
Teaching Artist PodcastMini Episode #2: Moments of TimeBlog post with images and links
I’ve been thinking a lot about how to share the incredible work of more teaching artists and also share some of the amazing resources I’m seeing as well as my own tips and experiences. That’s where these mini-episodes come in. I plan to include a few segments here. First, I’ll share a bit about a featured teaching artist. Then I’ll share tips and resources. Then some challenges, and finally shout-outs.
Featured Artist
I’m so excited to share Maria Coit’s work! She makes beau...2020-09-0907 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#25: Reuben King: Letting Go Of ControlIt was so great to reconnect with Reuben King! I worked with him 10 years ago when I managed art education programs at the Bronx River Art Center. He was an incredible teaching artist there, teaching workshops in the center and in schools. I loved hearing more of his background and how he’s worked his way into his dream of having his own teaching studio. Reuben now owns Brooklyn Clay Industries where he offers his own classes, manages other teaching artists, offers production services, and creates his own artwork. He shared some of the business side of this venture, wh...2020-09-061h 16
Teaching Artist PodcastMini Episode #1: What's In A Name?Blog Post
These mini-episodes are a way to share more art by amazing teaching artists as well as some resources and tips, challenges, shout outs, and wisdom from my 5 year old. The goal is to make these weekly, but we'll see how that goes!
FEATURED ARTIST
I’ve been working on more ways to support and highlight teaching artists and one idea that I’m starting right away is a weekly featured artist opportunity. Featured artists will have their work shared on our social media and website as well as mentioned here...2020-09-0212 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#24: Blade Wynne: Teaching As ImprovBlade shared how he teaches with a focus on process over product and bringing his ways of looking and making into his classrooms. He shifted from teaching at the university level through a summer career shift program and just dove into teaching at the elementary level, primarily 2nd grade, this year. What a wild first year! Blade is constantly inspired by the work his early elementary students create and talks about the inventiveness of this age level. He also shares some of his favorite lessons so far and how teaching is akin to improv in some ways.
...2020-08-301h 01
Teaching Artist Podcast#23: Karina Esperanza Yánez: Representation MattersI loved hearing Karina Esperanza Yánez share some of her story. She offers insight to the challenges facing our Black and Brown students as well as ways to begin addressing them as a teacher. She gave me so much food for thought. As I continue the internal work of becoming anti-racist, while adjusting my curricula and seeking ways of using this platform for anti-racist work, it’s so helpful to hear from art educators who have been doing this work much longer, especially art educators of color. I deeply appreciate the time Karina has taken not only here on t...2020-08-2353 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#22: Yvonne Kunz: AffirmationsI had such a great conversation with Yvonne Kunz! We covered so many topics from using art to teach English as a second language to what’s working well with online teaching to finding and creating opportunities as an artist. Her work is beautifully layered and meaningful. I loved hearing how teaching kids helped her move towards a more nuanced style, away from shouting and towards a conversation around the issues of the female experience, domesticity, fertility, and the many issues women face. We also connected over being from Montana and claiming that place as one of the many pl...2020-08-161h 12
Teaching Artist Podcast#21: Anti-Racist Art Teachers: A Panel Discussion: Anti-Racist Teaching During A PandemicI had the pleasure of talking with 5 of the 7 amazing women who make up the Anti-Racist Art Teachers. A few months ago, Paula Liz, an art teacher based just outside of Washington DC, started compiling resources on anti-racism to aid her in sharing with fellow art teachers. This grew into a google site and now lives at antiracistartteachers.org! As the project grew in scope, Paula Liz also began collaborating with like-minded art teachers. The Anti-Racist Art Teachers are currently Paula Liz, Nylah Khan, Francesca Levy, Khadesia Latimer, Tamara Slade, Dr. Lori Santos, and Abby Birhanu. They represent an...2020-08-091h 18
Teaching Artist Podcast#20: Danielle Nilsen: Offering HopeIt was so nice talking with Danielle Nilsen! We’ve been instagram friends since we were matched up in the Artist/Parent/Academic peer support groups and I’ve loved following along with the evolution of her work. Danielle talked about making the shift from more representational landscape painting to abstract collage and textile pieces. She shared her teaching philosophy and how she dove into teaching for artistic behavior and has adjusted the structure of her curricula over the years. She was so encouraging and inspiring! It made me want to work on a simpler daily art practice.
Da...2020-08-021h 15
Teaching Artist Podcast#19: David T Miller: In Dialogue With The WorkI was excited to talk with David T Miller, whose work is so full of color and texture. He talked about having a dialogue with his work and encouraging his students to do the same - to listen to the work and what it tells you. I also love how David talked about his lack of confidence and not necessarily overcoming it, but realizing that all artists deal with that and just accepting it. He said he settled in to what he does and who he is.
David T Miller has been active in art education since 1980 w...2020-07-261h 41
Teaching Artist Podcast#18: Adjoa Burrowes: Telling Your Own StoryAdjoa Burrowes has had several successful careers and it was such an honor to talk with her about her art practice, teaching, and children’s books. She spoke about narrative and the importance of telling your own story and ensuring that students have opportunities to tell their own stories. I was so moved and inspired by this conversation. I hope you feel the same as you listen.
Her discussion of the empowerment telling your own story provides reminded me of this talk by the acclaimed author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, "The Danger of a Single Story."
Ad...2020-07-191h 00
Teaching Artist Podcast#17: Jennifer Love Gironda: Everything is EverythingJennifer Love Gironda is such an accomplished art teacher and artist. She shared really helpful tips on grant writing, teaching, and getting your art out there. I love how she approaches art and teaching and life with such a can-do attitude. She is so encouraging of other artists and teachers and committed to her art-making. She has been making a piece every day since January, 2012.
Jennifer Love Gironda is a teaching artist in every sense of the phrase. She studied art at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC where she obtained BFA and MAEd degrees. She has p...2020-07-121h 09Teaching Artist PodcastExhibit! "See Where It Takes You" opens July 10So, I said I wasn’t going to release an episode this week…and I’m not really. This is a mini-episode to share more about our upcoming exhibit. I am so excited to be working with Maria Coit of Curated for Kids on this project.
Contemporary Art For Young Audiences is what we’re calling this collaboration between Teaching Artist Podcast and Curated for Kids.
Our first exhibit is titled See Where It Takes You.
This is an online group exhibition opening July 10, 2020.
During this Great Pause while we are spending...2020-07-0508 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#16: Mark Rode: Advocating for Arts EducationIt was so much fun talking with Mark Rode! Our chat brought me down memory lane a bit as my path was similar in many ways to his. Living in New York in our 20’s, engaged in the art world there, with dreams of becoming an art professor. I loved hearing how Mark’s dreams shifted and how his art practice is also shifting to better align with other values in life - like family and stability!
It’s also been helpful doing follow-up chats about racism with the artists I’ve interviewed. I realize that these question...2020-06-281h 19
Teaching Artist Podcast#15: Chris Brandt: Letting the Process LeadIt was so great talking with Chris Brandt about her winding path to teaching, her art-making, and TAB. I’ve mentioned before how I started attempting to shift to teaching for artistic behavior (or TAB) this year, so it was so helpful to hear about how Chris structures her curricula and sets up her classroom.
Chris was generous with her time in recording a second time to talk about racism very honestly and with vulnerability. I really appreciate her openness and desire to continue improving how she works towards eliminating racism in her classroom and teaching. With th...2020-06-221h 41
Teaching Artist Podcast#14: Liz Brent: Making Art AccessibleSpeaking with Liz Brent was so refreshing! Her passion for art and for her students came through so strongly. I loved hearing how she balances it all and how she has adjusted during this time of social distancing. Liz also had such great messages of encouragement to share!
It was so evident in talking with her that she cares deeply for all her students - whether kids she’s working with in school, or adults she’s teaching through her membership program. I’m also so impressed with her business sense - something I’m struggling with - and ho...2020-06-1447 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#13: Aaron Bos-Wahl: Awe at the WorldI weighed skipping some time between episodes as we stand together for justice, freedom from oppression, and an end to police brutality. While I won't be and haven't been promoting podcast episodes nearly as much as usual, I decided to go ahead with this scheduled episode with Aaron Bos-Wahl, a talented artist and caring educator. I thought it might be helpful in some way to hear us (2 white artists) grapple with race and representation in the classroom. We talk about a lot of other things as well of course, but back in April when we recorded, representation was on...2020-06-071h 19
Teaching Artist Podcast#12: Cassie Stephens: Being Fully YourselfIn March, I spoke with Cassie Stephens! Yes, THE Cassie Stephens, art teacher extraordinaire. If you don’t know her, just google her name. I have to admit, I was suuuuper nervous during this interview. Cassie is such an incredible art teacher and has been so generous in how she shares her knowledge and experience with the world via youtube, her podcast, her books, and now her instagram live series.
I tried to ask her about things she hadn't shared elsewhere and loved hearing about her own creative process and practice, including hesitation to just dive into ne...2020-05-311h 04
Teaching Artist Podcast#11: Chloe Alexander: Presence & PersistenceSpeaking with Chloe Alexander was such a joy. She brings such positivity while keeping things very real and honest. She shared great advice for continuing to create art and push yourself forward. I also loved hearing about her work - both the physical processes with layers of drawing, print, and collage and the content with layers of meaning. I’ve probably mentioned here before that my background is in printmaking, so I just love talking with other printmakers!
Chloe Alexander is a printmaker from Atlanta, Georgia. Her most recent work focuses on creating visual narratives by layering va...2020-05-241h 06
Teaching Artist Podcast#10: Rachel Petrucelli: Making Time for the Artist in YouRachel Petrucelli had some great wisdom to share around technology and fundraising. We recorded this episode in February, before we were even aware of the pandemic that has now made technology such a vital part of teaching and learning. Rachel recently finished her masters in Instructional technology and has been Incorporating augmented reality into her lessons as well as teaching students to photograph their own work for their online portfolios. Did you know class dojo now has a portfolio option? So cool! Rachel also shares her favorite fundraiser options for art teachers and what she loves about them.
2020-05-1740 min
Teaching Artist Podcast#9: Austin Fabinski: Pursuing A DreamIt was fun getting to know Austin Fabinski! He was so honest and open about the challenges he’s faced as an art teacher and an artist - never enough time or money, a learning disability that made school difficult, and lack of business knowledge. Austin faced those head-on and took a leap to pursue his dream of being an artist.
Austin Fabinski is an artist from the Detroit Metropolitan Area in Michigan. He earned his BA from Oakland University with a K-12 Art Education certification. He has been teaching art to all ages for the past 5 ye...2020-05-091h 01
Teaching Artist Podcast#8: Nikki Brugnoli: Daily Ritual as Art PracticeI loved talking with Nikki! We discussed how and why she made the shift from teaching at the university level to teaching high school and the value allowing her career dream to change brought to her life. She talked about how she balances teaching and family and art-making and how her art practice is connected to every part of her life. She uses daily rituals to continue making throughout the busy times. She talked about embracing failure as an opportunity to learn. Nikki has such an incredible way with words and I found myself wanting to write down so...2020-05-031h 23
Teaching Artist Podcast#7: Christy L Culp: Dedication to a Studio PracticeI laughed so much talking with Christy Culp! It was a joy to hear her insights on teaching while building an art career. She talked about becoming a master questioner and learning to say yes to student ideas. She shared her road to gallery representation and how she seeks opportunities and creates community connections. We dig into how she balances all the things (hint: you have to say NO to some of them!).
Christy Culp is a studio potter and art educator making functional pottery. Her work is created to bring beauty and pleasure to objects of...2020-04-261h 04
Teaching Artist Podcast#6: Deborah Reilly: Encouraging the Artist WithinDeborah Reilly’s home is full of her beautiful artwork, but also beautifully decorated with calming colors, textures, and light. It was so nice to talk with her there over delicious snacks and mimosas! We chatted in a meandering way about teaching and art-making, yet kept coming back to encouraging artists - both our students and ourselves.
Deborah and I met through the organization we both work for, P.S. Arts. I was leading an art activity booth at a fundraiser and she arrived to help, wearing almost the same army-green hoodie as me, over our matching ev...2020-04-191h 15
Teaching Artist Podcast#5: Stephanie Barenz: Re-Imagining HomeStephanie Barenz teaches early childhood art at an international school in Shanghai. She shifted from teaching at the university level a few years ago, so we dig into how that change impacted her art making and her teaching. Stephanie also shares great advice for moving forward with your art career during this time while giving yourself grace. I went to grad school with Stephanie, but had lost touch a bit, so it was amazing to hear about her travels, how her career has shifted, and how her artwork is evolving.
As an art teacher slash artist based i...2020-04-121h 08
Teaching Artist Podcast#4: Pamella Allen: Creating SpaceI loved re-connecting with Pamella Allen! She has always been an artist. Her love for teaching came when she was managing a bush camp in Malawi and decided to volunteer at the local school. From there, she went on to teach in India after an artist residency there moved her to get involved in the community, and then in NYC where I met her. She has taught all ages and continues to teach as a teaching artist for several non-profit organizations working in schools and senior centers. We met when I helped manage art education programs for the Brooklyn...2020-04-051h 08
Teaching Artist Podcast#3: Kate Hessin: Papier Mache and Motherhood While TeachingI’ve followed Kate’s work on Instagram for a while and it was so nice to talk with her!
Kate Hessin is an emerging multimedia artist, who lives and works in Port Hope, Ontario, Canada. Kate’s work moves fluidly from sculpture to works on paper. She is interested in exploring the ways in which society’s deeply held expectations for mothers manifests themselves into the lives of modern parents. Kate playfully uses a folkloric whimsy and humour to create an inviting space for unpacking the darker aspects of motherhood, such as: postpartum depression, breastfeeding struggles, shame, e...2020-03-291h 02
Teaching Artist Podcast#2: Morgan Auten Smith: The Hustle and ExperimentationI had such a meaningful talk with Morgan Auten Smith! I felt like we were sort of peeling back an onion and just kept finding more little commonalities and points of connection. Yet so many of her super personal struggles and pieces of advice resonate widely. I hope listeners feel that connection, too. Morgan’s openness in sharing her motherhood experience made such an impact on me. I was floored and wanted to just soak in her strength. I, like her, don’t share a lot of pictures or info about my kid, but I related deeply to her experi...2020-03-281h 03
Teaching Artist Podcast#1: Hilary L Hahn: Carving Out the Career You WantHilary L Hahn has worked as a teaching artist for over 15 years. She shares how she began teaching and how she has shifted her career over the years. While continuing to teach at elementary schools, Hilary has been hosting workshops and private lessons, collaborating with stores and companies, and creating a niche for herself in Los Angeles. She is now offering an online course for creatives to share what she has learned about creating and promoting workshops. We dig into time management and just how she does it all while also mothering and making time for her own creative...2020-03-1543 minTeaching Artist PodcastIntroduction to A Podcast About Making and Teaching ArtJoin teaching artist Rebecca Potts as she talks with artists who teach kids about teaching art, making art, and all things in between. This podcast was born out of a desire to highlight artists who teach at the pre-K-12 level while maintaining their own studio practice. It dives into how making and looking inform teaching and how teaching informs making. We discuss the nitty gritty details of time management, classroom management, and studio management. What does a day or a week look like for a teaching artist? How does a full-time art teacher fit in their own art-making? How...2020-01-2803 min