Artists that inspire us...

My art story starts at home. As a child, I was blessed to be taken by my mother to see the local artisans in the community where I grew up in WV yearly for craft shows. The community where I grew up didn't have an art education program available until I was in Junior High School. The artists that started my love for making things and sharing my creativity started within my own community. Hidden in the hills of WV are some amazingly creative individuals that have long traditions of craft and expression that have been passed down through the generations. In my own home town of Beckley, WV you can quickly stop by Tamarack to see a variety of artisans in their studios hard at work or browse through the gallery. The community of artists is an ongoing source of inspiration and pride.

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Growing up the first "famous" artist I was exposed to was Georgia O'Keeffe. In high school I had a project to recreate a painting that spoke to us in some way. We all dove through a variety of images and I was drawn to one piece. To my surprise the artist was the ONLY female artist represented in our choices. There has been a continued sense of pride and interest in other female creatives through out my life thus far and in my post you will find the strong female visual voices that have spoken inspired me.
At West Virginia University in the early 90's I found great pride in knowing one of my professors helped to publish one of the first art history text books that included women.  ​

Memories of traveling up to Pittsburg on occasion to be inspired still are vivid in my memory. One day is clear in my mind when I went to see work at the Mattress Factory. The docent led me down a row of old houses where she unlocked a door and let me in. Alone, I entered the home to experience Ann Hamilton's art installation that would forever change how I view art experiences.

Ann Hamilton

I climbed the three floors of the abandoned house scared yet curious. The first floor only showed small stalagmites of wax building up on the ceiling above. The creaky steps led to the second floor where wax remnants were seen on the floor and the ceiling but an additional scratching sound could be heard.

At first I feared going to the top floor but reminded myself that this experience was ART. On the top floor to my surprise I found birds nibbling away at the bird seed suspended in the wax melting beneath the coffin shaped container of face forms. ​ There was a beauty within  the decay and I found myself frozen in that moment questioning life, materials and how I define art. Later, I was fortunate to meet a Professor Beckley at an art reception and he asked me about the art that inspires me and Ann Hamilton's work fueled a long discussion. Later that year I was thrilled to be contacted and invited to a lecture and diner with the artist afterwards. She remains a source of inspiration, strength, and humility that shows in all of her artistic installations or experiences.

Lenore Tawney

I was introduced later to the artist Lenore Tawney through a book Retrospective published by the American Craft Museum. Over the years I have visited exhibits that included her collages, drawings, and weaving installations. There is a decay, a revival of materials and sensitivity to the way she composes her pieces. Woven threads, drawings, or simple strips of paper she elevates the meaning and use line.

​Artists inspire and speak to each of us in a different way. I find beauty within each of my students in much the same way as I look at art.  

Each child has a visual voice ready to reworked, polished or woven together in a new and exciting way. Beyond the tough exteriors of a typical teenager, we must, as educators push forward to explore the creative inspiration inside us all. 
What art or artistic experiences have molded the way you view art? 
​Students also have a wonderful opportunity to share their own inspiration through the Doodle for Google Annual Contest.
Be sure to check out the other wonderful art educators sharing their own artistic inspiration via the links below!

This post is a part of The Art Ed Blogger's Network: Monthly Tips and Inspiration from Art Teacher Blogs. On the first Tuesday each month, each of these art teacher blogs will post their best ideas on the same topic.

Participating Art Teacher Blogs:

• Art Class Curator - Artists That Inspire
• Art Ed Guru
• Art is Basic
• Art Room Blog
• Art with Mr. E
• Artful Artsy Amy
• Capitol of Creativity
• Create Art with ME
• MiniMatisse
• Mr. Calvert's Art Room Happenings
• Mrs. Boudreaux's Amazing Art Room
• Mrs. T's Art Room
• Party in the Art Room
• shine brite zamorano
• Tales from the Traveling Art Teacher
• There's a Dragon in my Art Room