ARTIOWA

Educatorsof

Volume 3 ~ Issue 7 ~ March 2012

themessageDeviant Art: Pixelnase

Blue Balliet andthe Artful Trio

Artful Reading:

...just “eh”; ourEarth needs art!

eARTh

Taking Art Education outsidethe walls of the classroom.

Community Based Art

What’s it all about?Youth Art Month

Prezi and Pinterestand helpful ways to unleash

the creativity in your students.

Talking Resources

AND MORE...

A book review by Ronda Sternhagen regarding

Blue Balliet and the Artful Trio

Artful Reading:

EARTH without “ART” is just “eh”;

what exactly is “eh”?

eARThA piece from Wendy Miller

of UNI’s Art Education Department

Community Based Art

Susan Noonan informs onwhat going on.

Youth Art Month

An article by Lisa M. JorgensenPrezi and Pinterest and helpful ways to unleash

the creativity in your students.

Talking Resources

Submitted by board memberand compiled by editor.

Biography of:

Cover Photo credit to“Pixelnase” from Deviant art.

All articles are submitted bymembers within Art Educators of Iowa.

Art Educators strives to helpcompile and supply resourcesfor the art educators and supportersthroughout all of Iowa. If you areinterested in working with “The Message”or Art Educators of Iowa please visithttp://www.artedia.org

Editing is done to the best of abillity. Ifthere are concerns about incorrectinformation or misleading articles;please do not hesitate to contact theeditor so the problem is addressed.

If there are topics you would like to seecovered but you would rather not writethe article, please submit the necessaryresources to the editor and the topicwill be addressed in a following issueto the best of her ability.

If you have an event of signi�cance toadd to the information within The Messageplease submit that as well; this can includebut is not limited to art shows, contests,conferences, seminars, workshopsand more. This will only help supplyresources for future issues.

Editor, The MessageLisa M. Jorgensenmarketing@artedia.org

Articles:

Remember to encourage students to submit to the

Iowa Architecutral Foundation’s 2012Architecture by Children Drawing Contest. Entries must

be recieved no later than April 13th. To �nd out more visit

www.iowaarchfoundation.org

A Note Fromour PresidentHere it is the night before delegate's assembly at the NAEA convention in New York City and I sit in the hotel room reflecting on the position statements that we will take a look at in the next day in a half. The position statements are broken into sub categories such as students, art educators, relationships, instruction and assessment. The position statement involving students is about equality for all students. The position statements under the art educators category involve collaboration between the art educator and teaching artists as well as excellence in art museum teaching. The position statement under the heading relationships discusses the relationship of art educators to

decision makers. The position statement under the category of instruction talks about the benefits of art museum learning in education. Lastly there is a statement on the purposes of assessment. As I attend delegate's assembly I will be thinking about all of my fellow Iowa art educators as I help to make decisions at the national level. I will have a summary of the work done at delegate's assembly for next month's newsletter.

On another note, how do you all plan to celebrate Youth Art Month? For me, it involves attending the Youth Art Month celebration in Des Moines on March 11. At this celebration, we will celebrate the accomplishments of K-12 students, as well as Scholastic Award winners.

It is truly great to teach in Iowa. I would be remiss if I did not thank the State Historical Building and the Department of Cultural Affairs for their role in supporting these events sponsored and endorsed by AEI.

I will also be attending the Governor's signing the proclamation of Arts Month at the Capitol on March 15 with members of the Iowa Alliance for Arts Education.

Now get out there and make some art and celebrate Youth Art Month!

Taking Art EducationOutside the Walls of the Classroom

by Wendy Miller, University of Northern IowaArt Education Department Professor

Higher Education RepresentativeArt Educators of iowa

ant to find ways to empower your students, help them to become more socially and politically aware, encourage them to see the world in a new light, develop deeper connections to your school’s community, and help students see that art can be a powerful way to help improve their community? Consider seeking out an opportunity to get involved in a community-based art project. What does that mean?

Community-based art is a term “to describe works of art produced by people living within the same locality, and defined by common interests such as shared concerns, cultural heritages, traditions, and language patterns” (Adejumo, 2000). Examples could be art educators working with local groups outside of school or creating outreach programs that support marginalized people in the community, such as at-risk students, disabled individuals, immigrants, or homeless people. Other ways to develop a community-based art project could involve collaboratively creating public art with your students and the local community that promotes social interaction. Lastly, art educators could develop a service-learning project for their classroom.

What is service-learning? “Service-learning engages students in working with the community and contributes to the development of their civic responsibility. Though learning undoubtedly occurs during community service, service-learning is a structured and theoretically grounded practice in which service experiences are directly connected to academic objectives” (Taylor and Ballengee-Morris 2004).

I have been working with several of my classes over the last three years to develop partnerships and integrate service-learning into my curriculum at UNI. Why is this important to me? I want my students to get out into the community and meet people that come from diverse backgrounds and have unique stories to share with my students. I want my students to have real-world experience teaching and I want them to see that their teaching and art making can make a difference.

This year my students are working hard to get out in the community. They are running volunteer art clubs at a local private school that lacks an art specialist, while also helping this school prepare an annual art show by matting work

W

image compliments of University of Northern Iowa

and writing artist statements with children to go with their work. They are creating ceramic bowls for the upcoming “Empty Bowls Project” that raises money for our local food bank and they are serving dinner at the Empty Bowls fundraising dinner. Students are creating art projects to teach to children at YAM in Des Moines next month.

You may wonder what is a good way to get started in developing a project of your own. The first step is to see where there is a need in your community and start small. Talk to an organization that you may want to work with and see what their needs are. The best projects are ones that are reciprocal, meaning the community’s needs are met and the students and teachers learn from the experience as well. See how your project will connect to your art curriculum and promote 21st Century skills. It should go beyond the mere warm fuzzy feelings that students can walk away with after they have done a good deed. We work with the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley. The youth program coordinator here will come to your classroom and teach your students step by step how to develop and complete a service-learning project with your k-16 students. See what resources are available in your community. When developing a service-learning project, the key is reflection. Consistent reflection needs to be embedded into the project to allow students to reflect and grow as learners during this experience.

The best advice I can give to you is to continue to build relationships with the organizations with which you want to work. The stronger the partnership, the deeper the learning and the more results you will be able to give back to your community. My students are walking away knowing how to manage 20-30 kids after school in a gymnasium making art, how to throw on the wheel, how their artwork will help to feed another human being, and how to help kids skillfully talk about their artwork. These are important skills that can’t be learned in my classroom, they must be experienced outside the walls of my classroom.

CommunityBased

ART

Left: Students fromMiller’s Art Educationclass gain uniqueexperience by usingtheir knowledge toteach outside of theUniversity and Public School settings.

Youth ArtMonthschedule

12:30pm-1:45pmRegistration and ActivitiesFeaturing Magician Michael Osman and the UNI “Gang”

1:45pm-2:00pmWelcome

2:00pm*Governer’s Awards and Sargent Art Awards~ Middle School, Junior High, Senior High will go to the auditorium when dismissed to receive their awards.~ Elementary will remain in the Atrium for the Awards

*Students will remain with their groups until professional photographs are taken by Ms. Almelien. Parents will be able to take photos before and after the awards ceremony. Photographs will be made available to parents by going to artedia.org and clicking the linkor by asking your child’s teacher to make a copy for you.

Door prizes will be given at the end of the ceremony.You must be present to win.You will need to have your number in hand in order to claim your prize.

Feel free to wander the museum or visit your student’s artwork for a personal photo.

What’s it all about?

YAM CommitteeSusan Noonan, Liz Lyons, Janiece Kinzle, Erin Almelien, Hollie Reilly, Haley Nikkel

Plan to attend the YAMReception and Celebration at the

Historical Building in Des Moines onMarch 11th, 2012

TalkingResourcesLisa M. Jorgensen

Webster City Middle SchoolMarking/Promotions Chair

Editor of The Message

Prezi is an online presentation tool that is one step in the future from Power Point. This presentation tool uses a “canvas” environment (so of course art teachers would prefer it) in which the presenter (student or teacher) creates a presentation that can flow in, around, over, out, and back again with perfect ease. Rather than using a left to right (and clicking back 15 times until you’re back at a different point), Prezi uses a “path” tool in which you outline how you want to walk around your canvas. Beyond making your own Prezi, you can also search and find other presentations that cover your concepts...and even some are edit-able so that you can tweak it as needed. I would be un truthful if I said it hasn’t been handy for myself.

extremely helpful in finding you resources as well as becoming resources which are Prezi and Pinterest.

We are often told by ouradministrators to find new

resources constantly to helpinstruct our kids and createnew ideas. But where do we

find these ideas and resourcesthat we are excpected to keep

updated?

Tech Savvy “folk” know where to goand half the time they can find new

resources by putting the right wordstogether and hitting “search”. For

those of us that struggle just to find theresources, here are two that will be

Prezi uses tools, resources, and collaboration to create an effective online tool that educators and students can both be successful using. Find out more at http://www.prezi.com

Continued...learn about the famous and addicting “Pinterest”.

Pictured: Pinterestand Prezi - two newer and fantastic

resources.

Pinterest is less effective for students and more effective for the teacher who is constantly trying to come uip with new ideas and bring new resources into the classroom. One reason Pinterest is so fantastic is because the picture reminds us of the “why” to our wanting to remember it, but beyond that, the picture also takes us directly back to the website, blog, etc. that the picture is hosted on.

A basic example is a recipe. Is there a recipe you saw and you wish you knew the ingredients? Well, pin the picture and it will bring you back to the recipe when you decide to indulge.

For educators it’s a great change to pin that project you had been eyeing so that you can come back to the source and figure out the details later.

You can simply search for “art educa-tion” and hundreds of resources and blogs are linked through pins. You can search a theme and more ideas come up.

Once you create a following or follower base (friends) you can also

Pinterest is a no-so-new but newly famouswebsite that has gained a lot of attentionboth through facebook and word of mouth.Your membership is only available throughrecieving an invite from a friend alreadyon the network of “pinners”.

In short, Pinterest is an online communityof bookmarkers...you know, that tab fullof links that you have and you can’t remember why? Pinterest is quicklyreplacing the age of text bookmarks withvisual links to the source. And it’s purpose can be anythingfrom entertainment, humor, educational, organizational...and it continues.

Warning: Pinterest is uncensored...so if you are faint of heart just brace yourself for the unexpected at times.

find yourself in a wonderful network full of ideas and concepts you may have never considered. If you’re tired of bookmarking and forgetting why you bookmarked, Pinterest is a perfect alternative. A formal last warning? Pinterest isn’t for everyone of course, but those who really get into may find themselves addicted right away. If you need an invite to explore the resource, shoot me an email at marketing@artedia.org and I will be glad to help you experience it. For other information visit http://www.pinterest.com.

eARThOur Earth Needs Art. Because Earth without “Art” is just “eh”.

What better way to show your part in art by being actively involved in AEI.

Thoughts from Kathleen Almelien and

Tempest Kukendall,AEI Retired Co-Chairs

and Representatives

Retired from the classroom, but tireless in your commitment to visual art education? ... You need to consider your retired membership to the NAEA/AEI. Your role is to help guide our future in visual art education: To make sure our earth will still be filled with art.

Retirement can well be summed up by Dr. Seuss in his OH The Places You’ll Go! “Congratulations! Today is your day. You're off to Great Places, You're off and away. You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”

Art Educators of Iowa is connected to a large world wide network, and you are also the grass roots of your school's commitment to the visual arts. Students are searching their resources and need the art educator to guide and lead idea formulation. The school needs a core in which art is a strong component in education. The retired teacher can rally parents more easily because you are not on the payroll, and your passion is not seen as self-serving. You are advocating for the student. You have seen the seeds of knowledge grow to successful problem-solvers.

You are passionate about the essential role of the visual arts plays in the education of our youth. You are committed because you know the value of delivering a high-quality, effective, sequential, and balanced education in our schools. Your expertise has not been tapped, and Art Educators of Iowa are looking for ways to guide you with your involvements.

and

what

is

“eh”?

Here is our short list for effective involvement:•Read the award winning website www.artedia.org.

•The National Convention becomes a great place to start your retirement activities. Have you ever attended this gathering? If not you have missed pre-sentations by such artists as Judy Chicago, Alice Neals, Christo--Just to name a few artists who have been highlighted at the NAEA yearly convention. www.arteducators.org

•Joel Franken in his roll as the advocacy chairman has appointed an ad-hoc committee called VAAS. VAAS stands for -Visual Arts For all Students. -Many ideas have originated in this committee. They are right now involved in explaining to legislators why elementary art education must be delivered by licensed art educators. Please read the mission state-ment on www.artedia.org

•If you would like to make the first year of teaching less chaotic for a novice, you could say YES to Chris Noel’s need for mentors in the first and second year classrooms of beginning teachers. Many retir-ees are active mentors.

•You can organize a state AEI presentation and meet at the Bluffs October 5,6,7 -2012. Presenta-tion forms are again found on the web. www.artedia.org

This is a call for membership as you leave the class-room and a plea to stay involved in AEI as ” you can steer yourself any direction you choose”....Dr. Suess

eARTh continued...

The ARTcher’s ARROW!Kelly Rae Martin’s new column in The Message will target

various important issues, including:

1. Helpful resources for lesson planning2. Useful websites for discovering contemporary artists3. Recommendations for integrating social justice and

technology in the K-12 art classroom4. Providing information on art-related non-pro�t organi-

zations.

By publishing descriptions and quick links to online resources, pre-service and experienced teachers alike will discover opportunities they may not have known existed and become even better teachers than they already are!

COMING SOON!

ARTFULreadingRonda Sternhagen

AEI PresidentGrundy Center MS/HS

Blue Balliett has written what is now a three-book series of upper elementary / middle school novels. (I'll admit that I couldn't put them down as an adult! Shhhh.) Each book focuses on the work of an artist and a trio of friends that solve a mystery related to that

artist or a work by that artist. Let's briefly take a look at each book. Check it out! (Literally...go check them out from the library.)

Chasing VermeerCalder, the main character, is a peculiar young man that adores his pentominoes. He uses these pentominoes to help him solve thoughts or ideas floating around in his head, and they come in handy as he and his friend Petra are tossed together to solve a mystery that also involves his friend Tommy, who had moved recently. Tommy and Calder keep in contact writing letters to each other in code. (There are coded messages throughout the book to keep you interacting with the story line.) The duo literally chases a Vermeer painting that helps them solve a crime that has even baffled the FBI.

The Calder GameHere we have a double play on Calder...the boy, and Alexander Calder. The boy Calder travels to England with his father and finds himself caught in a maze, literally. Petra and Tommy travel to England to help find Calder in only a way that they can...thinking like Calder and finding the patterns. Calder uses his supreme "sixth sense" to find his way out of yet another situation.

continued...

Blue Balliett...If you are reading this, please, please, please write more in this series! I, I mean my students, would love to read more about these three youngsters intertwined with artists and works of art.

All three books are in the Accelerated Reader system, and would be a great way to read aloud to your students as they are working in the classroom or as a suggestion for those art and mystery lovers in your classroom to take art beyond the walls of your classroom. Who knows? Maybe you have a Calder, Petra or Tommy in your room or the next Vermeer, Wright or Calder...

Book images (and more information and activities related to the book) from http://www.scholastic.com/blueballiett/chasingvermeer.htm, http://www.scholastic.com/blueballiett/wright3.htm, http://www.scholastic.com/blueballiett/caldergame.htm.

ARTFULreading

The Wright 3You guessed it! The trio of pint-sized problem

solvers work together to save a Frank Lloyd Wright house in their neighborhood of Hyde Park

in Chicago. Of course, they run into plenty of trouble along the way, but saving any FLW house

would be worth the trouble, don't you think?

BIOG

RAPH

Y OF A

BOA

RD M

EMBER

Lisa Marie JorgensenMarketing and Promotions ChairWebster City Middle School

Lisa Marie Jorgensen is a second year teacher at Webster City Middle Schooland began teaching in 2010 after she graduated from UNI. Her �rst job wasa long term substitute position at Waverly-Shell Rock Junior High for ChelsieMeyer in a 7th grade classroom. After that, she found her �rst full time teachingjob in Webster City, Iowa where she teaches 5th through 8th grade.

Lisa became involved with Art Educators of Iowa through the in�uence ofRonda Sternhagen, a cooperating teacher during many of Lisa’s UNI placements.Her love for AEI grew over time and she began to take in interest in leadershipopportunities.

Lisa has attended a regional conference and all state conferences since shebecame a member in 2008. Her goals with AEI include creating a line of merchandise that will help project the role of AEI throughout Iowa as wellas continue to �nd ways to incooperate AEI branding.

Lisa is also the editor of The Message, something she is learning runs in andout of her teaching and daily life. Her goal with The Message is to create a modern and informative source of inspiration and help for educators in artacross Iowa, perhaps further.

She currently lives in Ames with her boyfriend and two dogs (whom she treatslike her children). Her gateway to happiness includes Thin Mints and anythingrelated to the piano whether it be listening or playing. Her favorite color,�avor, concept, smell, etc...is orange. She hope to continue growing as aneducator and being a key part in AEI.