Whittier Elementary:

Fieldhouse Sit-in, Police Called, Dumpster Repelled
http://gapersblock.com/mechanics/2011/06/24/whittier-elementary-fieldhouse-sit-in-begins-police-called-dumpster-repelled/

Merging Two Worlds: The Classroom and Real Life

A video created to symbolize my teaching philosophy.

Intricate Paperworks of Simon Schubert

Simon Schubert is an artist whose medium is paper, and he achieves his vision with precise folds and nothing else.

Nassive Doodle art in Manila

Thought this was really cool, especially since so many of us enjoy doodling!

Summit on Science, Entertainment, and Education

I really enjoyed this video- thanks for sharing Lee. Interesting debates and conversations about about the business of trying to get the entertainment industries and  science industries around the same agenda.

Sir Ken Robinson states that, "Creativity is the pulse of science, if you steal that then you lose another generation. " Imagination, creativity, and innovation are essential when talking about reshaping today's education. Science, technology, and math alone cannot sustain our society because the arts/creativity is what makes them possible.
http://thinkdesignchange.com/why-stem-disciplines-are-necessary-but-not-en

Browsing Through Blogs...

Exploring my page a bit, I came across this "next blog" button located at the top of my page. It allowed me to browse through random blogs..some very interesting...some not so interesting but it was nice to see what others are blogging about and what they have to share with the world. I was very intrigued with some blogs...one was an adoption story and another was about a photographer. If you haven't already, you should try it out, just press "next blog".  :)

Orr High School Is Pushing Students Out…

          Thanks for posting this article Rayshawn. I would have to say that I disagree and agree with Orr's decisions for discipline. Some of their points are valid- students can get out of hand to a point where repercussions are needed to benefit the student and school community as a whole. Then again, turning away 150 students is absurd- this only demonstrates the lack of effort toward maintaining a school's main goal: "no child left behind". I understand that time and funding is needed to track missing students, but considering that most of them are said to be under 17 should make this a priority. It's a great possibility that these students are missing school due to other issues than those commonly assumed. Rejecting these students only ignores the possible private, social, and economic issues these students may be dealing with on a daily basis.

          Discipline is essential in a school community where violence, drug use, frequent absence, and swearing is prevalent but I don't think a zero-tolerance policy is the solution.  Orr student Edward Ward, 18, affirms, "We’re not saying don’t discipline them, we’re saying, take the proper steps … talk with them.” Of course talking by itself won't solve the problems either, but a balanced combination of both would be a start.

http://www.suspensionstories.com/2011/03/24/orr-high-school-is-pushing-students-out/

Creature Comforts USA - Art

This video is great, and when reading the comments below you can see that this video has been used in art education curriculum. Different perspectives of art are discussed (actual interviews) through the use of animated characters. Check it out! What is Art??? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDo_vs3Aip4

Art & Technology!!!

Here's a video I found relevant to our cyberpedagogy course. I never thought of traditional art techniques as a form of technology but after watching this video, it makes sense.

~About Art 21~

The Art 21 Series serves as a great resource for artists, educators, and students. I really appreciate how they categorize each artist's work by themes such as power, place, and identity. This becomes really useful when trying to address larger concepts, particularly for art lesson plans. The 15 min interview videos of each artist provide insightful first-hand information about the artist's work, but they can also be misguiding and almost function as a turn-off. After viewing some of the videos, a type of friction developed between my prior aadmiration and thoughts about certain works and the manner in which some of these artists discuss their work.

http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/index.html

Cabrini Green Marks End With Poetry and Lights

Wow, thanks Jessica for posting this article and the link to the project's website. I've been interested in the issue of gentrification for a while now and the community of Cabrini Green is a great example of its consequences, or as some would say, its benefits. There's a thesis written by former SAIC student Irina Zadov titled "Saying Goodbye to Cabrini Green: Self-Representation Through Community Mapping" that addresses these same issues with students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade from Cabrini Green. This sound and light installation accompanying the demolition of the last government housing high-rise is a great way to emphasize the importance of this community and an opportunity for residents to say goodbye. It's the least they can do- allowing former residents to have the opportunity to voice their thoughts, feelings, and past experiences before losing their homes and community. The time and effort put into this project shows respect to the Cabrini Green's legacy. Evian Bridgeman, a member of the Cabrini Green marching band said he saw the demolition as a beginning both for the neighborhood and for the former residents who had started new lives throughout the city. “It’s bitter,” he said. “And it’s sweet”. I agree, the only question is if it will be a good one.

http://www.chicagonewscoop.org/cabrini-green-to-exit-with-poetry-and-lights/
 Project: http://www.projectcabrinigreen.org/index.php

The 10 Best Apps. 4 Art Teachers

Thanks Lindsay and Emily for sharing this site, it's a really great resource!

http://theteachingpalette.com/2010/12/13/the-10-best-iphone-and-ipad-apps-for-art-teachers-2010/

http://theteachingpalette.com/2009/08/03/30-best-iphone-apps-for-art-teachers/

Teenage Curators

I think the idea of teenage curators is great! Museum's could benefit greatly from using youths' influential ideas. According to museum's director, Jill Medvedow, of the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, “So many contemporary artists deal with issues of identity, sex, politics, gender and authority...Those are the issues that so many teenagers deal with.”  Teenagers as leaders within the art world helps broaden the general audience by introducing innovative ideas that address a variety of interests usually not met in a common museum setting. Additionally, students are able to interact and immerse themselves in art through ways that would not be provided otherwise. More museums, and organizations in general, should implement programs as such that involve the youth- so much can be gained.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/17/arts/design/teenage-curators-at-the-institute-of-contemporary-art.html?_r=3&ref=artsspecial

Crazy Food Art

This video made me think of Sarah's and Jessica's possible thesis work.
Here's also a link to Balla Tamas's website (some of his work is featured in this video):
http://www.ballatamas.com/kreativ/en_creative.html
His food sculptures and manipulation of objects in general is really amazing! I highly recommend checking out his website...it's crazy.

Dirty Car Art

Thought this was really great....and wanted to share with you all!

Youmedia- Love it!!!!!

Thanks for posting Paulina, I've walked past this area many times never knowing what it was- but always seeing many kids. Youmedia is really amazing.....makes me want to be able to spend some time there to record some videos and play around with some tracks. For kids to become "makers and creators of things, rather than just consumers" is a great way to put it- and actually putting this goal into practice is even better. I really enjoy seeing spaces as such designated only for youth but I think more of them need to exist . It's not only empowering for youth but it also gives them an opportunity that they normally wouldn't have, and offers an alternative to being on the streets.

Tonight's Forum: Chicago School Reform!!!

Tonight's Forum was great! I really enjoyed being in the midst of this passion and energy that fueled the speakers, as well as, the audience. From the start, Kevin caught my attention as he compared the school system to a competitive children's 'water cup' game. The questions that arose were: Why are we losing? Who made the rules of this game, or in our case, this system? What's the story we tell the losers to make them keep playing the game? -But rather than adequately exploring these questions, we ask how can we fix the losers? The system is analyzing the end results rather than looking into their initiating causes.

So many good points were raised, but I'll start by just reflecting on those that left a deep impression on me. During the discussion of vision 1, it was stated that studies showed a strong correlation between test scores and income. Although I agree with these findings, they also only analyze the end result. Poverty itself is not causing low test scores, but the hardships that live within it: not getting adequate sleep, not eating enough/healthy, underfunded schools in the district, not enough/quality school supplies, often less motivated or qualified teachers, more violence and drug distractions, less parent involvement due to more time spent at work and or other reasons, less curricular programs/activities and aid, and the list goes on. Certainly all these aspects are not the case for every child living within a low income family, but there’s no doubt that at least half of them are.

I'll end with Jitu Brown's fitting quote, "School of choice is a coward’s way of saying the school system is still not equal!" -couldn't have said it better.

Digital Interactive Game: "Museum Hunt"

The is one image representing Kelsey's and my proposal. Our written description, as well as, more images can be found on her page.

Google Art Project in Question...

Thanks for posting this Kelsey, this article is interesting and very thought provoking. To be honest, I don't really know what to think about the Google Art Project. Although the work becomes more accessible, I just don't know if it takes too much away from the traditional museum scene. Yes,  one gets to look at various work from different museums all under one website, but the authenticity seems to be lost along with it. the texture, the date, and the size are absent from the work. On the other hand, it is amazing to be able to zoom up that close to any work of art. We are able to see things we usually wouldn't, but that might also be an indication that we need to be more observant. Should the experience of an artwork be about seeing the work through the artist's eyes, and those of the computers?

The Artist Woman!!!

The artist woman, also a fellow blogger, shares some great lesson plan ideas that could easily be connected to larger concepts. I came across her blog while searching the net for another class project.  Her descriptions are short and to the point- filled with photos of exemplars and student work. I think it's amazing when teachers share their work, lesson plans, and pictures with the community. Part of being a great educator is being able to educate and collaborate with other educators. She has some really great stuff...you guys should all check it out!

Here's the link:
http://thatartistwoman.blogspot.com/

"Next mayor needs arts agenda" Response

Thanks for posting this article, Devan. I don’t know too much about Chicago and its campaign and mayoral history since I just moved here, but what I found most captivating was Ronne Hartfield’s quote:

"Orchestras go out into communities to play Beethoven without any attempt to connect it to the lives of the people." Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony, for example, is "all about celebrating nature, all about celebrating the country," she said, adding, "Get [young people] to talk about their experiences with the country, so they could hear something they know in the music."

I love this quote and strongly agree with Hartfield's message. The bigger picture is addressed, rather than merely issues related to orchestras or even music in general.  This concept should be applied in every classroom. She goes on to explain that, “The arts are therapeutic and engaging.” Again, this sense of connection and therapy can be linked to many aspects of life, especially if youth are given a voice. This offers an opportunity to relate what they hear, see, feel, and do to something they actually know.

ABC's

As I was looking for the Alphabet after we got out of class last week, I came across this "Q". It was laying there on the ground in front of the Palmer Hilton on Monroe. I think it was the same earring I saw someone wear in class, but I'm not 100% sure. I'll bring it to class on Tuesday, in case it belongs to you. :)



Take Away Art and We are Left with Nothing but……..?

As for our discussion about Emily’s article today, I don’t think there needs to be a measuring tool for art.  The only question that is relevant is how has art largely affected our world in the past and still is today? Eliminate artistry and we will be left in an extremely dry society. Take the entertainment industry for instance, yes, maybe not every rapper, singer and or songwriting has went to school for their talents but you can be sure that somebody helping them succeed has- such as advertisers, producers, the filming, sound, and lighting crew, etc. The same applies to the movie and theater industries- there would be none. Great singers, rappers, actors, etc. will still exist but there will be no one to help them become seen or heard.  The list goes on: no new clothing lines without fashion designers, no clothes period without craftsmanship, no extraordinary furniture without furniture designers and carpenters, no websites without web designers, no fancy ipods, ipads, and iphones without tech designers, no improved buildings and streets of any type without architects, no infrastructure period without a skilled construction crew. Each and every one of these individuals are artists. They each have a sense of aesthetics, problem-solving, creativity………and overall a “voice”- that will never be heard unless we encourage and implement the arts in schools.

 Take away art and we are left with nothing but……..?  (Fill in the blank, your thoughts are appreciated)    

Myself Digitally

http://www.michiganhumane.org/site/PageServer