International Baccalaureate Visual Art Conference

I attended a four day conference to learn about IB Visual Art standards and evaluation practices. The International Baccalaureate is a wonderful organization whose mission is to promote intercultural understanding and respect, not as an alternative to national and cultural identity, but as an essential part of life in the 21 st. century. I teach 11th. & 12th. grade high school IB Art: Students experience the creative process as a practicing artist. Research, planning and independent studio production are part of this college level course.

Like a Ghost

It seems that Andy is everywhere, even at an IB academic conference. My students know that I am not inspired by pop art. I was lucky to have gone to Yale when there was an old guard abstract expressionist teacher, Lester Johnson, who contended that Warhol ruined everything. I whole heartedly agree. Warhol blurred the distinction between commercial and fine art, low and high culture, beauty and ugliness. His paintings are poor quality silkscreen prints on canvas. In his own words, he admited the con artist nature of his work, "Art is what you can get away with."

Art Teacher, Sept. 3rd. 2010

I am teaching high school art at Mystic Valley Regional Charter School. The students are great enthusiastic learners with wonderful manners. The yellow document on the wall, is the school's mission statement, flanked by the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution.

I like Boston!

"Dry River Bed" High School Drawing Class

This is my exemplar for an India ink drawing. The goal was to explore the qualities of line from thick to thin to describe deep space. Cross contour lines describe the undulating surfaces of rocks and river bed in an imaginary landscape space. Optional additions to be chosen by the students were local woodland animals and trees.

Power Point Presentation, High School Printmaking

My cooperating teacher, Judy Flamik, brought me a yukata (men's kimono) to wear for my Japanese multicultural printmaking class. Judy who had been to Japan helped me explain what a Japanese art class was like: The teacher and the students show imense respect for each other by bowing down as a greeting.

High School, Beggining Painting Class

I provided each student with a board to which they attached still life objects. A spot light was arranged and the students painted from the model set up. Below is my example, "Figs, The Gravity of Desire" which is painted on a much larger scale. The rule of trompe l'oeil painting is that objects are painted life size.