Friday the 13th Art Teacher PD

Last Friday all of our district art teachers were given the wonderful opportunity to visit the Thomas Hart Benton Home in Kansas City.  Friends, it was amazing and awesome and smells like old books in there.  This was not my first visit, so I just enjoyed the experience rather than taking pictures (because I took them on my first visit and it's a museum--so duh, nothing changes).  I was sure I'd blogged about it before, but I can't find it (maybe it's time to organize my blog a little better???).   I also looked for all my photos on my work computer, my camera and my phone and couldn't find them (I'll look for them on my home computer later, and I pinky promise if I find them I'll add them).  Until then, some Benton facts, in no particular order: Thomas Hart Benton was born in 1889 in Neosho, MO.  He was married to Rita, and they had two children (their daughter is still living).  Benton was only 5'2 3/4" (there's a life size cut out of him on the walkway to his house). They were able to pay cash (!) for their beautiful home from his earnings painting murals ($6000 in I think 1939).  He taught painting at the Kansas City Art Institute.  One of his students is non other than Jackson Pollock.  Benton had a reputation as a hard drinker, but in reality, every drink (bourbon and water) was cut with more and more water each time to give the impression he was drinking you under the table.  He started painting most days at 6am. He died in 1975 of a massive heart attack in his studio before signing his last painting.  
If you're in the KC metro area, consider a visit to the Thomas Hart Benton Home.  You can learn more about it here.  The staff was so easy to work with and were so generous with their time.  All 19 of us (elementary art teachers from my district) were impressed with the knowledge and enthusiasm of our tour guide.

All of us outside Benton's home and studio.

Selfie with the man himself.

And I photobombed one of our newest teachers
(you're so welcome, Mia!)

 I found this quote from Benton that I added to the bottom of our agenda for our day:
"The artist's life is the best life... if you can get through the first forty years." 
Gives me some hope for a full-time art career of my own someday.
Now you can go sniff some old books to feel like you were there!

Are You A Member Of Your State Art Organization?

I (maybe wrongly?) assume that if you're the type to be reading art teacher blogs, then you're probably pretty aware of and involved with your state art education organization.  If you're not a member, you should be.  If you haven't gone to events, you totally should! Just that time around all those like-minded people is worth it's weight in gold.
My state (Missouri) has two conferences a year: fall, at a state park, and spring, in a city (it rotates to various parts of our state).  Fall conference was last weekend, and here are just some photos of some of the workshops:

Some yarn bombing.  Inspired me to yarn-bomb the tree in my front yard.

A lesson from our Drag 'N Brag, which is at night
and in the rec hall, where the light is terrible.

Stitched portrait from a Drag'N Brag session

Getting ready for some printmaking luscious-ness

I also attended a session on automatas, and here are some videos from that session.  The first one is one of the presenter's student work.  The second one is Mr. Hodes, of previous-student-teacher fame if you're a regular reader of my blog.

My automata is currently under construction, because I made it way way complicated, so it's taking me a while to figure it out.
I do understand that your weekends are precious and you might not want to be away from your family, but trust me, it's so very worth it.  You'll meet other amazing art teachers, you'll have this whole network of people to call on.  You can use it to your advantage when a new-to-your-school student mentions where they came from and you just might know their previous art teacher.  It helps, it works.  We all need vibrant communities of like-minded friends.  Your state art education association can be that for you.

Yay for Art Teacher PD!!!!

Yesterday (election day, in case you forgot) was a professional development day in my school district, and our elementary department went to the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art in Overland Park, KS.  Friends, it was totally wonderful and I wish we could've stayed there all day.  Their education staff did an amazing job, went above and beyond and I can't wait to go back.  We did a sort of scavenger hunt activity (I think they call it a "3-D Art Hunt") when we got there/until the museum staff arrived.  We were provided booklets for that portion of our morning, then split into two groups for a guided tour and finally went back to the studio classroom to do some artwork.  Here's items from my day:

See that black and shiny piece of artwork? CLEAR scratch art paper! We were supposed to put one color underneath, but I love me some collage, so I collaged mine and now I have about 1000 ideas for my classroom.

 I never knew I needed it until now, but now I must have some.  With my budget totally spent (including the entire mini-grant I was awarded from my PTA), I'm trying to make my own with black tempera, liquid laundry detergent and old clear overhead sheets:

I mixed the paint and detergent together and applied it with a sponge roller.  I'll let you know how it turns out (crossing my fingers for fabulous).
I'm also leaving for sunny California tomorrow after school to visit my super-wonderful brother for his 40-and-fantastic birthday.  I wish I could wander into some elementary schools while I'm there and see what's going on, but I'm afraid that's frowned upon.  Guess I'll go to the beach instead.  I'll send you all perfect day vibes while I'm there for your lessons to go smoothly, your students to be engaged and your budgets to be increased. (Hey, all of those things could happen!)

181 Photos of Chicago & NAEA

Don't worry, I won't post them all.  And I probably got a little carried away.  But before I left I told all my students that I would be gone and where I was going. A sweet little kindergartner asked 'will you take pictures and show them to us when you get back?'  How could I refuse?  Here are a few of the highlights/the condensed version for all of you:

Getting of the train in Chicago--carrying WAY TOO MUCH stuff.

View from our hotel/elevator (we were not at the host hotel).

Craziness in the vendors.  Note: I was so overwhelmed by all the vendors!

Phyl Brown from there's a Dragon in my Art Room and Cassie Stephens from Cassie Stephens blog.
And yes, I was near the back of the room. 

Tiny little view of some of the 5000 art teachers there.
And the lake.

Such an amazingly beautiful lake view, right outside the convention center.

The Artisan Gallery was held in a very ornate and beautiful ballroom at the Hilton.
Also nice that I sold a few Gelli-printed magnets.

Box collaborative art in the lobby outside the vendors.

Oh, Field Museum! Terra cotta warriors!
We drove by it on the shuttle multiple times and
then spent our Sunday there.

I'd only ridden a city bus twice in my life before this.
My fellow passengers didn't look as ecstatic as I do in this photo.

I was totally drooling over these new sketchbooks
that are soon to hit the market from Strathmore,
I can easily name 5-10 students who would LOVE these.

Bill Strickland from Pittsburg--look him up, he's a life changer.

Stuff I made in the vendors when I was feeling overwhelmed
(and my name tag).

Sculpture I saw, liked and photographed on the street.
Totally came in handy later when we were a teeny bit lost and needed some landmarks.

Terra cotta warriors!!!!!  Amazing!

Me +  Herb Alpert sculpture

Taking the bus really pays off! Wandered by this 'Flamingo' walking to our next bus stop.

Getting off the train in KC.

Now, don't you feel like you were there?  It was amazing and draining, educational and exhausting--totally worth it!  In just over two weeks, Missouri Art Education Association's spring conference will be in St. Louis, so I'll be enjoying some more art teacher schmoozing time.  And only 8 more weeks of school! I'm feeling rejuvenated and ready to tackle these next two months with a smile!