Report Card Season Self Portrait

Yes, those are beans.

Recent Projects

I just finished the poster design for our upcoming dessert theatre:

Inspired by Tape

It was almost Halloween when the 'caution/danger ' tape on my desk inspired me to create this self portrait.

I think it speaks to the need for teachers to constantly consider the potentially negative impact of what they say in and out of the classroom.

Students Sara and Alex generously offered to help me with the project (THANK YOU).

Last week, I found a roll of tape at the dollar store marked 'fragile.' Hmmmm...

Where did the summer go?

I started updating my website today to fit the new job that I will be starting in September.  It's hard to believe that it's getting to be that time of year already!  Where did the summer go?  Here's where:

1.  After moving;

2.  I spent a lot of time researching, reading, and writing for my final M.Ed. project.  It's a long way from being finished, but I think I've done some decent work accomplished.  I usually read a lot in the summer, but I've really gotten into it this summer.  4-5 hours a day has been the norm.  I've really enjoyed reading inside and haven't felt so bad that this has been a rainy summer.  The weather has really worked to my advantage.  I especially like what I've been reading from Sandra Weber and Claudia Mitchell:  That's funny, you don't look like a teacher;  

3.  I've been studying the work, lives and processes of several artists who I knew a little bit about, but never spent a lot of time considering:  Laurence Gartel, Jane Ash Poitras, Barbara Kruger, Guillermo Gomez Pena, Diane Arbus, Chuck Close, Ryoko Suzukim, and Cindy Sherman.  There are more, but these are the biggies.  I've also been looking at self-portraits created by women artists for insight into my own self-studies.  It's been fun, maybe a little scary, pretty confusing and a delightful challenge.  I know that I am going to enjoy responding visually to the looking experiences;

4.  I bought a new Fugi camera, my first.  I dare say that it kicks Canon and Sony butt.  I'm going to enjoy using it this year while I prepare the digitally manipulated photos for the project;

5.  I also treated myself to a new LG mini-notebook.  I'm impressed, so far.  The battery seems to last for a lot longer than I thought it would.  I've really enjoyed toting the little thing with me to the library and coffee shops where I've been reading and working when I've needed a break from home.

6.  Last but not least, I've really enjoyed spending time with my parents and helping my dad.  

It's been a good summer.

Former Student: Alejandro Saladin Cote

Anyone looking for exceptional Spanish guitar music

is encouraged to check this artist out!  

Alejandro is former student who's music 

is now available via his website

or itunes.

I count myself fortunate for having heard him play 

live. He is a truly beautiful soul.

http://www.coteguitar.com/index.html

From The Archives: The Dene High Mural Project

I recently uncovered photos I had of a project I created with my students in my first year of teaching:  The Dene High Mural Project!  I will write more about the project here as time permits.  At the present time, I am very busy with my M.Ed. writing and preparations for our upcoming "Frumpled Fairy Tales" Dinner Theatre (see advertisement  in the post below).  Because of building renovations and improvements, this mural no longer exists, but I have very fond memories of the teaching moments and processes it created at the beginning of my career in arts education.  The mural was 15.5 metres by 2.5 metres once finished, inspired by  artist Alex Janvier.

 

Here's an excerpt from his website:

Born of Dene Suline and Saulteaux descent in 1935, Alex Janvier was raised in the nurturing care of his family until the age of eight. At this age, the young Janvier was uprooted from his home and sent to the Blue Quills Indian Residential School near St. Paul, Alberta. Although Janvier speaks of having a creative instinct from as far back as he can remember, it was at the residential school that he was given the tools to create his first paintings. Unlike many aboriginal artists of his time, Janvier received formal art training from the Alberta College of Art in Calgary and graduated with honours in 1960. Immediately after graduation, Janvier took up an opportunity to instruct art at the University of Alberta.

While Alex recognizes the artists Wassily Kandinsky (Russian) and Paul Klee (Swiss) as influences, his style is unique. Many of his masterpieces involve an eloquent blend of both abstract and representational images with bright, often symbolic colours. As a First Nations person emerging from a history of oppression and many struggles for cultural empowerment, Janvier paints both the challenges and celebrations that he has encountered in his lifetime. Alex proudly credits the beadwork and birch bark basketry of his mother and other relatives as influencing his art.

As a member of the commonly referred to “Indian Group of Seven”, Janvier is one of the significant pioneering aboriginal artists in Canada, and as such has influenced many generations of aboriginal artists. By virtue of his art, Janvier was selected to represent Canada in a Canadian/Chinese Cultural Exchange in 1985. Although he has completed several murals nationally, Janvier speaks of the 450 meter squared masterpiece entitled “Morning Star” at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, as a major highlight in his career. In January 2004, one of Janvier’s works was displayed in Paris, France at the Canadian Forum on Cultural Enterprise. In recognition of his success, Alex Janvier recently received three prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards from the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, The Tribal Chiefs Institute, and Cold Lake First Nations. Janvier’s passion and natural talents for creative expression remains strong to this day.

On September 6, 2003 the Janvier family opened a gallery in the City of Cold Lake.  

Source:

http://www.alexjanvier.com/ata.htm

Photo credits:  Stephen King

Dinner Theatre Promo!