A Guest Posting by Frank Juarez
In early 2014 I found myself thinking about my current teaching
practice, the idea of literacy within the art room, and wondering if what I am
doing inside the art room is preparing my students to become successful after
graduation. In my district we need to implement strategies to address literacy within
our curriculum and instruction. How does this look like inside my art room, I
ask myself?
I often hear art educators say that they want to have
students “just” make art. The reality is that there is so much more we need to do
such as creating opportunities for students to present, respond, and connect to
art. In what ways do I do this so that learning continues to be exciting,
relevant, and enriching while addressing literacy? How can I get my students to
invest in reading, writing, and discussing about different types of art, artists,
influences, and processes.
Josie Osborne behind the scene |
I began thinking about my personal and educational projects
such as the North High Artist in Residence Program, Artist Lecture Series, Frank
Juarez Gallery, my own studio practice, and the 365 Artists 365 Days project. Through
these experiences how I can create something totally unique for my students?
What can I do to infuse different aspects of the aforementioned
projects/programs to create an even richer art experience for my students and
still be able to do what I need to do as an art teacher?
The answer was to create something that will expose students
to local and regional artists, educate them on various processes, techniques,
and media as well as engage them in art-making process and to create an opportunity
for my students to interact with artists.
When you think of successful artists or where artists live what
do you think of? Do you think about New York, Los Angeles or Miami? How often
do we think about artists in our own art community or living in our state or
region? This inquiry drove me to focus on artists living in the Midwest resulting
in a series of studio visits aimed to document them inside their studio, to interview
them on their practice, to learn how their art education experience inspired
them to pursue their artistic career, and to hear their advice for our next
generation of artists.
Suzanne Torres behind the scene |
The project that I designed is called The Midwest Artist
Studios™ (MAS) Project. This
project connects two areas - contemporary art and art education. The thought of
traveling the Midwest and the idea of visiting studios was overwhelming. I knew
I would not be able to do it alone so I was able to put together of team of art
enthusiasts, Erika L Block (writer), Pat Ryan (photographer) and Jonathan
Fritsch (assistant), and myself.
The MAS project is a 3-part project resulting in visiting 4
states each summer starting with the summer of 2014 and finishing in the summer
of 2016. This past summer took us to Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin
visiting a total of 9 artists.
Todd Mrozinski behind the scene |
After our first set of studio visits we
began to edit our interviews, photographs, audio, and videos. This would result
in the publication of the Midwest Artist Studios™ catalog,
curriculum workbook and our website, midwestartiststudios.com. The catalog
features all 9 artists, which will introduce my students to their studio practices
along with full interviews. The workbook features lesson plans designed to
introduce students to varied processes, techniques, traditional and
non-traditional media based on our artists’ work. It also provides me with
opportunities to Skype these artists inside my art room, ways to differentiate
instruction, implement technology, incorporate literacy, and to have access to videos
and a gallery of images via the MAS website. This unique opportunity allows interactive
lesson planning!
What I find personally rewarding is the
fact that these artists have agreed to be accessible to talk to my students. This
is such a great way for my students to talk “art speak” with these artists
whose art will influence them to create with their own artistic voice. What
started as a personal journey developed into a project that I believe can
benefit art teachers across the Midwest and beyond. The Midwest Artist Studios™ Project
connects contemporary art with art education through studio visits, curriculum
development, and opportunities for educator outreach.
This year I will be repeating this
process of recruiting artists for this summer. This project will take us to
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. If you are a practicing artist, I would
love to hear from you. Perhaps I can
design a lesson plan based on your work.
For more information on The Midwest
Artist Studios™ Project contact Frank Juarez, founder and art educator, at midwestartiststudios@gmail.com
or visit midwestartiststudios.com.
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