UAYSFA Final Reflection

In the last sessions of the UAYSFA, I really think our students were able to realize their ideas and make something that they couldn't at school or on their own. This was obviously the goal all along but I was nervous that they would run out of time and be disappointed.

On top of being happy that they were able to finish their projects, I was also sad to know that our time would be running out and that the workshop would be ending. This was my first time teaching that age group and I found it to be both a challenging and rewarding experience. I think I will miss the weekly workshop even with all the prep work and planning.

The last full work day of the workshop, our students were working on the final touches of their pieces in full force. They needed little guidance as to what to do, they all seemed to have their ideas in site and just needed to deliver on their plans. For the most part my co-teacher and I were helping when needed and also trying to encourage one of our students to push their piece further. This particular student was very resistant to any suggestion but in the end she liked her piece. It was maddening to not be able to sway her but I guess that it is more important in this case the she enjoyed the workshop and her piece.

Overall I am proud of the students in my workshop and I am happy with the way it turned out.

UAYSFA Reflection 3

After last weeks session, we had given the students the homework of brainstorming ideas for their projects. All of the students had come prepared with some ideas as to what they wanted to work with and where they wanted to go. We checked in with each student about their ideas and where they wanted to go.

Talking with each student individually was a great opportunity to get to know what they wanted and they expected from the workshop. I think that we were able to get a good idea of where we were going to go with the rest of the semester.

UAYSFA Reflection 2

The second session of the UAYSFA was interesting as it was the first day that we were able to see our students work hands-on. They were given a pile of objects to choose from and we had them make a one day found object sculpture. The students dove into the project right away and were engaged for the duration of the period. They all took time to really think about the objects and how to modify them.

At the end of the class, all of the students had created a piece. It was interesting to see that the youngest of our students seemed to have one of the most developed pieces and that our oldest student seemed to not grasp the project as well as the others. Overall however, the students seemed to gain a lot from the project and were looking forward to the larger version.

UAYSFA Reflection 3/24

This week at the UAYSFA was quite successful for all of our students. From the get go the students took to their projects and all made solid headway towards their end goals for the project. They all seemed very invested in what they were doing and any issues with students having a lack of ideas has seemed to melt away.

There were a few issues that arose during the class involving timing. Some of the students found themselves having to wait for things to dry on their projects. For the most part they had other things to work on for their projects but if they hadn't it could have become a real issue. Another one of our students chose a project that is going to be finished before the rest of the class. We decided to have her make another project using the same guidelines and this seemed to satisfy her. I think this works due to the open ended nature of the project but for many lessons and especially those taught in the regular classroom, this would not work. Overall, the students seem happy and engaged in the work and the problems that arose were relatively unimportant and easy to handle.

This weeks workshop was great and I am very much looking forward to the coming weeks and to see their projects completed.

First Day of UAYSFA

The first day of the art school was pretty nerve racking. When the students first started coming and were looking at all the projects, I was nervous and wondering if any of the students would be interested in my work. Once the groups were chosen and we finally met our students, it began to sink in that I was now the teacher, and I wasn't the one being taught.

I had the opportunity to have the students in my group see my art show. This small field trip really opened my eyes about how students view art work, verse how teachers view what is being shown.  Overall I think the students responded well to the show and I was glad I had the opportunity to start this segment by showing them my work.

After that we headed back to the class room where we started brain storming ideas for their projects. Some of the students seemed a bit lost and confused about how to conceptualize their ideas. There was a moment of panic for me when where I was worried because their comprehension of the project relied on me to teach it. However by the end of the session I felt confident that the students grasped the concepts of the lesson and where looking forward to the next class.

Although the experience was overall very nerve racking it was also very rewarding. This being one of the first times I've been in a teachers position has helped me reinforce that this is the right career choice for me in life.

Drawings:

Drawing, is one of the most basic and important forms of art. I had a teacher once tell me, "The most important aspect of a drawing is having sure that you are confident in your mark making." I think that this is true, and I think that this idea can span realism and abstraction. Making certain that students are comfortable with their drawing tools and confident enough to take chances, that to me is how a teacher can balance a students want for realism and also the need for abstraction.

The following image is from a sketch book project I found online, I do not know the artist's name but this to me is an example of a successful drawing due to its bold marks and great composition.

Teaching Narrative

I knew I wanted to be a teacher when I was about 4 or 5 years old, I was asked for the first time by my teacher what I wanted to do when I grew up. Without really any hesitation, I said that I wanted to be a teacher. This was true for me all through elementary school, junior high and high school, I always wanted to be a teacher. Looking back, I think that I wanted to be a teacher because it was my first teachers who first pointed me in the direction of art and I wanted to do that for other kids. I want to be someone who could show kids what art is and what they can do with it.

How
 do 
you 
think 
your 
practices 
as
 an 
artist
 will 
help 
you 
in 
the 
classroom?
 What 
skills 
do
 artists

develop 
that 
also
 lend
 themselves 
to 
the 
art 
of 
teaching?
 How 
will 
you 
incorporate 
your
 work 
as

an 
artist 
into 
your 
teaching?
 How 
will 
you 
continue 
to 
make 
art 
while 
you 
teach?
 Why 
is 
it
important?


How
 does
 Vieth 
characterize 
the 
relationship
 between 
teaching
 and
 art
making?
How
 will 
you 
balance 
the
 need
 to 
teach
 technical
 skills 
with 
the need to 
help 
students 
make 
art
 that

is 
personally
 meaningful
 and
 creative?



Many of the methods I use in making my own art involve a lot of planning and thought. I think that the structure that is involved in my planning may make it easier for me to translate this knowledge to students. I think that in general, the nature of making art provides artist with many opportunities to learn skills that will be useful as a teacher, some of them include; flexibility, creativity and communication skills. These things are integral to a teacher being successful in the classroom.

Although much of my work involves processes that area bit out of reach at the high school level, I think that it is still possible to use my own art to show students so of the possibilities art holds and to let the students get to know me through my work as well as by being their teacher. Artwork can take many forms and even if I do not have the space or the time to do the work I would maybe like to be doing, there are still so many artist outlets one has if they know where to look. I think its important for teachers to continue to make art while they teach for many reasons, for one their actions inspire their students to do work and it also keeps teachers active in the art community.

I think that giving students a solid base of technical skills will help them to grow as artist and it better realize the creative ideas they have.

First Post

When I was a high school student, I was a back of the class kind of kid, I rarely spoke up or talked during class. I got good grades (A's and B's) but I had a hard time connecting with both my peers and the content of the classes. Having that experience, I think that as a teacher, I will seek to be more aware of those students, the outsiders and quiet ones. I think that I am most afraid that I won't be able to make the content of my lessons relevant for students and that I will fail to make them interested in art. I am excited however to help foster creativity in future artist and help others find art valuable.

This is the main piece for my show in a few weeks. All the objects show are the same sculpture. They can be shifted and changed because they are composed of metal sheets and hinges. When properly displayed, they will have a white square underneath them about 12ft x 12ft and 3/4in thick.