As art educators we want to encourage students to try new materials and different ways to use common art mediums. When an artist lets go of the restraints of expectations we open up the opportunity for creativity.  I am starting off the second semester with PLAY.
Students will be encouraged through a variety of TASKS to help loosen up the art making and hopefully shed fear for laughter and FUN in art making. During class students will be inspired by artists like Oliver Herring, part of the Art 21 PBS Episode "Play". If you are not familar with the idea of a TASK Party I invite you to check out Oliver Herring's- Task Party website. In 2006 I was fortunate enough to be a chosen participant in a Task party held at the Hirshhorn in Washington DC. The event made me feel like a kid again for a day!

In a season of testing and assessments our school environment fills the minds of our students with stress and fear. I want to give my students an opportunity within the day to find joy in learning, experimenting, and discovering their personal artistic voice. A series of artistic challenges will provide artistic skill building and provide small tasks to complete. The series of tasks will culminate in a mixed media creation inspired by how my students define and cherish the concept of PLAY.
As artists and art educators how do we continue to play, experiment and find joy in creating? What inspires you to create? Mid year for students and educators can pull us into the grey season of winter slumps. Instead of feeling dreary, I challenge you to take a moment in the midst of the great Jonas snow storm of 2016 to work on finding your own personal joy in creating... now GO, PLAY!

The idea of time travel and getting the chance to meet artists throughout history piques my imagination.

Imagination makes us aware of limitless possibilities. How many of us haven't pondered the concept of infinity or imagined the possibility of time travel? In one of her poems, Emily Bronte likens imagination to a constant companion, but I prefer to think of it as a built-in entertainment system.
Alexandra Adornetto

One of my favorite clips from the show Doctor Who was when the time lord-Doctor Who character brings Vincent Van Gogh into the future to see how his art work has impacted others. Van Gogh painted over 9,000 paintings but only sold one in his life time. He never truly knew the inspiration he would have on others or how loved his work would become by the art world.

I love to share a variety of artists with my student to allow them to explore how others have created art. Each student can explore and choose from a variety of time periods, styles, cultures, mediums and find what might inspired the next great master piece. My classroom has access to a variety of tech resources and my students can be guided to explore a variety of online websites. I created a ThingLink image that has embedded links to a variety of my favorite online resources for art history time travel and exploration.

Websites are linked to the image below. Hover your mouse over the image and you can visit a few of my favorite web resources to help time travel through the world of art.

What are your favorite web resources are for sharing art history and artists with your students?
What artists, cultures or time period would you travel back in time to visit? What would you want to learn or experience? I would love to hear your time travel dreams!

Until next time... stay smART!

Students were also inspired by a variety of clips from the Art 21 episode, Memory.
My students and I would love to hear your thoughts on their creations,  below are a few of the heartfelt memories bravely shared by the Falcon Artists of Skyline Middle School.

We would love to know  what inspires your creative expression and fuels your visual voice?

Every year brings opportunities to learn, be creative and experience all that each day may bring. 2015 brought many new experiences, grants, presentations, travel, art shows and opportunities.

Here are a few highlights from the last year for Falcon Artists & their ArtLadyHBK:

• Creation of the smART SPOT- Thanks to a Lowe's Grant worth $5000 and an Harrisonburg Educational Foundation Grant worth $1500 I was able to create a gallery space outside of the art room in an under utilized space. The space is still developing and will grow to be an inspiration for our school.

• iPADS have now become an essential tool in the art room thanks to a Harrisonburg City Public School Tech Grant. In the fall of 2014 and throughout 2015 the iPads became a tool students used on a daily basis for creation, research, learning, assessment and sharing their work.

• Art Shows- Falcon Artists had their work displayed at the Youth Art Month Show, Winning the Middle Division YAM Flag Design for VAEA, and in Roanoke for the VAEA Fall Conference. While students shared their teacher took part in a HCPS Art Teacher show, the Larkin Arts Deck Show and had two paintings published in the book "If Picasso Went to the Zoo"

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• The year was filled with opportunities to share all the learning and events happening at Skyline Middle School through presentations for The Virginia Center for Excellence in Teaching- smART Technology, NAEA15 in New Orleans, LA- TEAM Middle & #artsedPLN, VAEA15 in Roanoke, VA- Fulbright-Hays Seminar to China & #artsedPLN, and presenting on behalf of PBS Digital Learning Media at the Bridgewater ShareFair event.

• Personal highlights of the year included the life changing experience to travel to China for five weeks to learn about the culture, arts and people of China, being recognized as the VAEA Middle Level Teacher of the Year and the Skyline Middle School Teacher of the Year. 

The year ahead gives us all an opportunity to dream, improve and grow. May you all find new experiences that will inspire a creative filled future!