Scholastic Art Competition Deadline Dec. 1

If you didn't receive the packet, go to artandwriting.org for how to apply. There is a nice intro videos about those who have received the awards on youtube to show your students. (Start with the first and select the next, for example. They are short.) The deadline for our area is Dec. 1.

Inspired by Nature

Spend a Saturday outside at beautiful Carvin's Cove, near 81 in Roanoke while earning recertification points and getting new lesson ideas. Rich Moon will present a workshop based on the work of Andy Goldsworthy, at Carvin’s Cove on Saturday, November 7th 12-4pm.

Bring a visually inspiring food for a potluck picnic lunch. Workshop is free for NAEA members, $10 for nonmembers. RSVP REQUIRED to swvaea@gmail.com for us to pay your park admission.

Arts and Crafts Festival

The Titan Archery Club of Hidden Valley High School in Roanoke is holding an Arts and Crafts Festival on Saturday March 27th from 10am to 5pm in the gym. Adult vendors can take part for $50 for a 10' x 8' space. High school student vendors for $30. For more info and to receive the registration form (due March 5th), contact Lisa Sink-Morris, lsink@rcs.k12.va.us.

The Memory Project

We asked SWVAEA member Pat Carr to share her experience taking part in the Memory Project. She will also present a short q&a session about it during the Secondary Division meeting at the VAEA conference.

The Memory Project is an exciting art activity and service opportunity for skilled art students on an international basis. Ben Schumacher began this endeavor several years ago as a college student. It begins with deciding on a group of students to create individual portraits of children, registering through the Memory Project website, and paying a handling fee. Soon, you receive digital photos of orphans from another country – many of these orphans have no family and have lived in an orphanage all their life. Other orphans may have been displaced because of floods, famine, war, and death – and have been abandoned with no personal items from their childhood and families. Our students are always excited to receive and choose the child that they will recreate. I encourage our students to research the conditions of the orphan’s country - political, economic, social, and environmental. This will help them to personalize the portrait for a particular child. After completing the portraits, we display them, document them with a photo of the student artist, and send them all back to the Memory Project headquarters. Portraits should be 11”x14” or smaller, and can be rendered in any permanent to semi-permanent medium.

The NAHS club completed 25 portraits of children from orphanages in Myanmar, Kenya, and Uganda last year. Patrons and friends from the Taubman Museum of Art helped to fund this activity through their generous monetary donations. A feature article with lots of photos about the CSHS NAHS chapter can be viewed on the swo-co.com website, and in the Roanoke Times “SWo-CO” publication. Our club has participated in this activity for the last 5 years, creating portraits of orphans from Guatemala, India, Mexico, and Honduras. You can read about this world-wide “children helping children” activity at http://www.thememoryproject.org/

In addition, Ben recently sent this letter:

Dear Friends,

Well, it looks like the recession is officially affecting the Memory Project. There has been a 30% drop in artists signing up. It makes me wish more than ever that I could find a different way to fund the project, because the $15 participation fees have become too much for some schools during these hard times.

If you would like to participate this year, but are hesitant because of the fees, let me offer the following tips:

1. You are welcome to participate now and send your participation fees up to 6 months later. Just mail us this promise (www.thememoryproject.org/promise.pdf) and we'll send your pictures.

2. Consider approaching your local service organization such as Rotary or Kiwanis to request sponsorship for your artists. Such groups are eager to support youth engaged in service.

3. Form a partnership with a local bank, grocery store, or other business. The business would pay the participation fees, and then the finished portraits would go on display at the business before they are due to be sent to us. Customers would appreciate that the business is supporting local service activities.

4. Hold a gallery exhibit of the finished portraits and invite donations to cover the participation fees.

5. Students can present this letter (www.thememoryproject.org/sponsors.doc) to anyone interested in sponsoring their participation. In exchange, the student can write the sponsor's name on back of the portrait.I hope these tips can help your students participate!

Thanks very much,Ben

Arts Institute for Educators October 31

The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge in partnership with Virginia Tech is presenting an Arts Institute for Educators on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 9-3 at the Roanoke Higher Education Center, 7th floor, 108 N. Jefferson (next to the Hotel Roanoke).

The keynote speaker is from the Kennedy Center. The workshops are cross-curriculum involving not just the visual arts, but music and dance as well, so invite some non-art colleagues to join you. The cost is $20, which includes a boxed lunch.

For the details and descriptions of the workshops, check out the flyer.

Funds for the Arts in our Schools and Assessment of School Districts Support of Arts Education

Please read this important letter in full from Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education, which addresses the weaknesses of the current state of arts education in our country, and where funding is available and how it should be used, including professional development. Pass this information on to those who make funding and grant writing decisions in your district, and make your principals aware of the upcoming survey they will receive.


The Secretary of Education
Washington, DC 20202

August 2009

Dear School and Education Community Leaders:

At this time when you are making critical and far-reaching budget and program decisions for the upcoming school year, I write to bring to your attention the importance of the arts as a core academic subject and part of a complete education for all students. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) defines the arts as a core subject, and the arts play a significant role in children's development and learning process.

In June, we received the 2008 National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) in the Arts results for music and visual arts. I was reminded of the important role that arts education plays in providing American students with a well-rounded education. The arts can help students become tenacious, team-oriented problem solvers who are confident and able to think creatively. These qualities can be especially important in improving learning among students from economically disadvantaged circumstances. However, recent NAEP results found that only 57 percent of 8th graders attended schools where music instruction was offered at least three or four times a week, and only 47 percent attended schools where visual arts were offered that often.

Under ESEA, states and local school districts have the flexibility to support the arts. Title I, Part A of ESEA funds arts education to improve the achievement of disadvantaged students. Funds under Title II of ESEA can be used for professional development of arts teachers as well as for strategic partnerships with cultural, arts, and other nonprofit organizations. In addition, the Department's Arts in Education program support grants for model program development and dissemination and for professional development for arts educators. Moreover, local school districts can use funds under the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the arts along with other district expenses.

Because of the importance of the arts in a well-rounded curriculum, the Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) plans to undertake a survey to assess the condition of arts education in grades K-12. This fall, elementary and secondary principals will be asked about their schools' offerings in music, dance, theater, and visual arts. Next spring, NCES will survey elementary classroom teachers as well as music and visual arts specialists at the elementary and secondary levels about their programs and resources. In early 2011, the Department expects to begin reporting findings from this comprehensive profile, the first since the 1999-2000 school year. This data will help practitioners and policymakers make more informed decisions about arts education.

We encourage you to visit the Department's website for arts educaiton at http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oii/programs.html to learn more about our grant programs and find resources to meet the challenges ahead. Together, we can and should do better for America's students.

Sincerely,

Arne Duncan

SWVAEA Educator's Art Show

Before you get caught up in your students' art, it's time to think about an exhibition for your artwork. We will have the SWVAEA Educator's Show at WVTF in Roanoke for members. The hanging is October 1st. We will be collecting artwork at our workshop and meeting in late September (more info to come) and will also be willing to rendezvous with those of you that are too far from Roanoke to bring your work. You just need to email annepfeiffer@verizon.net to arrange a rendezvous pick up of your work before October 1st.

The open house will be October 16th from 5-7. Edible Vibe Cafe will cater the event and the Mike Mitchell Trio will entertain us. We can thank Jennifer Villa and WVTF for the catering, music and publicity of the show.

Your 2D artwork must be framed, or if a canvas, have hanging wire attached. There is also room to exhibit sculpture and fineart crafts. On the back of your 2D work (or attached to your 3D work) attach a note with name of artist; NAEA membership number, contact information including mailing address, email and phone; title; medium; dimensions; and price (or NFS). We will have a number next to each work of art with a list at the front door. Please also add a note if you give us permission to take a photo of your work for our blog and/or a future VAEA newsletter. If you have an artist statement or postcard please include several copies for display in a binder, as well as to pass out for those interested in your artwork.

Please think about participating, especially those of you far from Roanoke. This exhibit is one way to remind the community of our presence and to build relationships, especially important during this time of budget cuts. You can also get recertification points for participation and we will mail you a certificate.

If you have anymore questions, email annepfeiffer@verizon.net.

2009 Electronic Gallery

It's that time of year again to think about what you would like to enter in the 2009 VAEA Educator's Electronic Gallery. This is a juried show of member artwork that will be presented as a continuous slide show at the 2009 conference in Richmond. The wonderful thing is that you don't need to schlep your artwork to the conference if you are accepted –all we need is the digital image. If you need more incentive other than letting more people see your artwork, most school systems accept participation in juried shows for recertification points.

Please refer to the forms and information under "Special News" on the VAEA website. The early deadline is September 1 ($3/entry), and the late deadline is October 1 ($5/entry). If you have additional questions, please email Anne Pfeiffer: annepfeiffer@verizon.net

Taubman Museum of Art and VMFA Summer Institute

Taubman Museum of Art and

the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Summer Institute for Educators

American Vision of Art & Culture, 1778-1950

at the Taubman Museum of Art, 110 Salem Ave., SE Roanoke, VA 24015,

July 31, 2009 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM, $20.00

8:30a.m. Coffee and Registration

9:00 a.m. Welcome and Introductions

9:15 a.m. An American Vision 1800 – 1950 (Lecture)

B. Scott Crawford, Deputy Director of Education, Taubman Museum of Art

What makes a work of art truly “American?” This lecture will explore the development of an American vision in painting, sculpture, photography, and film while defining the ways in which art represented the United States not only to the rest of the world but to its own citizens.

10:15a.m. American Portraits Speak (Workshop)

Tanya Gray, Museum Method Educator, Taubman Museum of Art

Following a brief introduction to American portraiture, teachers divide into small groups to work with props and selected background information that relate to American portraits. Each group develops and presents for the larger group a short living-history style presentation designed to bring their assigned American portrait from the Taubman collection to life.

11:15a.m. American Landscape Aesthetic (Lecture)

Jeffrey Allison, Paul Mellon Educator, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Talk to illuminate how the landscape aesthetic in painting led to the great landscape photographers.

12:00 noon Lunch

At Norah’s Café – Free for Institute participants

1:00 Using Art as a Primary Source: The REED-LO Scaffolding Interpretive Matrix

(Lecture)

B. Scott Crawford, Deputy Director of Education, Taubman Museum of Art

This session will explore how to use primary documents and other manipulatives with works of art to find meaning in those works of art.

1:30 Reinventing the Textbook: Bringing the Page to Life (Workshop)

Twyla Kitts, Chair, Teacher and Student Education, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

In this hands-on workshop, teachers use primary sources, images from the Taubman’s and VMFA’s collection of American art, and loads of creativity to create colorful oversized textbook pages on American history topics. This versatile activity becomes an unforgettable learning experience for teachers and students alike.

2:30 Break

2:45 Harlem Renaissance and Writing/Collage Activity

Tanya Gray, Museum Method Educator, Taubman Museum of Art

As artist Jacob Lawrence painted he often abstracted signs of American life in witty, calculated and colorful ways. In this workshop you become a 21^st century American collage artist! Each participant will select on iconic American symbol to define, explore, and embellish. Using colored papers and many elements and principles of art and design, such as line shape, color, rhythm, space , and/or balance the room will come alive with large-scale, vibrant and attention-grabbing collages.

4:00 p.m Evaluations and awards of certificates of attendance

Teachers who complete this workshop will receive 5 recertification points.

4:30 p.m. American Architecture Walking Tour

Jeffrey Allison, Paul Mellon Educator, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

B. Scott Crawford, Deputy Director of Education, Taubman Museum of Art

Briefly showcase VMFA’s American Architecture Educational Exhibitions with a focus on Francis Benjamin Johnston and Minds Wide Open. Then, experience the rich and diverse architectural styles existent in the heart of Roanoke including distinct landmarks –historical to current day - all within walking distance of the Taubman Museum of Art.

Mini-Workshop

SWVAEA MINI CONFERENCE
Trash to Treasure- revisited!!

June 22, 2009
10 am – 3pm (ish)

At Patrick Henry High School, Roanoke, VA

Three projects will be taught by repurposing non traditional art materials. Handouts and most materials will be provided. This conference is free for members/ $10 non members. There will be a lunch break around 12pm.

We will do our best to have examples for all levels.

1. Panty Hose Sculpture- Ciara Corrigan
2. Printmaking: collagraph and dry point – Jennifer Fowler
3. Altered Books – Anne Pfeiffer

Please RSVP by Friday, June 12 (if you will be attending) swvaea@gmail.com

Call for VAEA Conference Presenters

The proposal form for this year's VAEA conference workshop presenters is online on the VAEA website. The VAEA conference will be in Richmond, November 19-21.

Call for Nominations

Nominations for VAEA Executive Board officers are now being accepted. Please contact Pat Carr at pcarr@rcs.k12.va.us if you know of someone you would like to nominate or have questions. Forms are due by May 8th and are available from the vaea.org website home page under special news. Position descriptions are also on the vaea.org website under the Board drop down menu.

Call for Lesson Plans

Our Trash to Treasure art show was such a success, we figured a collection of project ideas that uses at least some recycled materials would be in demand. If you have a Trash to Treasure lesson plan that you want to share with us, we will compile them on a CD. The compilation CD will be reasonably priced with the proceeds going to future SWVAEA workshop expenses. Email your lesson plans as a Word document or a pdf to swvaea@gmail.com. We encourage you to include a teacher example image, but remember not to include images that we do not have permission to publish. Collaborative classroom projects do not belong to the individual students but to the teacher and school so images of those are allowed. We will then send you a Permission to Publish form to fill out and send back.

Thanks!

Call for Presenters

The theme for our mini-conference is "Trash to Treasure", inspired by our successful YAM show. It will be June 22nd from 10-4 at Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke. We would like to hear from anyone who wants to share and demo a successful project that uses recycled materials. Please contact us at swvaea@gmail.com with your ideas.

Get Together for New Art Teachers

The SWVAEA board invites all art teachers who have three or fewer years of experience to meet at the Blue 5 restaurant at 312 2nd St in Roanoke on May 15 at 4:30 to whenever. The purpose is to give these new teachers a chance to get to know each other and share their trials and triumphs ... a sort of pep and vent session...as well as give them a chance to ask us questions.

These new teachers do not need to be members to attend, so please spread the word to any new art teachers in your area, in case they do not get the SWVAEA notices. RSVP at swvaea@gmail.com

Trash To Treasure Extended

The Jefferson Center has asked that we extend the Trash to Treasure show until about April 25 (take down April 26th 1pm-3pm). According the exhibition director at the JC, they have heard more positive comments about this show than any other in the past 5 years that he's worked there. Word of mouth is spreading about it and someone even brought their class in to critique the work. Teachers have been coming to get ideas. He would love to have YAM show again next year.

Kaleidescope CASA's 4th Annual Art Fest

Many local high school students have created paintings for this fundraising art festival and sale for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for children in the Roanoke Valley). April 9, 2009, 6-9 at Fitzgerald Hall at the Jefferson Center. Art sale begins at 7:15. Tickets and info: 540-344-3579. (Click on the image for a larger, printable poster.)

Roundtable at the Taubman Museum of Art

This is Taubman's last Roundtable for the year for high school art students and their teachers (teachers are not required to accompany their students). They will have time to explore the galleries including the new exhibition of the fascinating art of Devorah Sperber. Students are also encouraged to bring portfolios for critique. Our presenters, especially Andrew Day, are keen to view the student’s works and offer useful feedback.

At 7:30 pm the Taubman Museum of Art will screen the documentary film Women in War Zones (see below). That is a public event and the cost is $5. The students will get to meet Scott Blanding who is one of the filmmakers during the Art Club and they may want to stay for the film. They will need to purchase tickets for that.

As usual the Art Roundtable event (5:30-7:00) is entirely free for you and your students and includes dinner (pizza!) and this is all possible due to the generosity of Member One, who has designated a portion of their corporate sponsorship to the Taubman Museum of Art specifically support this program for High School Students. (Click on the image for a printable poster.)

Young Filmmaker from SW Virginia

Scott Blanding, a Cave Spring High School and Temple University graduate, spent two months in the Congo filming a documentary about the brutality of women caught in the Congolese fighting. His film, Women in War Zones, will show at 7:30 at the Taubman Museum of Art, and the tickets are $5. The tickets are going quickly so you might want to order online. High school students and teachers are invited to a Roundtable where they can meet and talk to Scott before the film. That starts at 5:30 and is free, but you should register with Frank Giannini know if you plan to come. fgiannini@taubmanmuseum.org

Dessert with the Arts

Come see art by Northside High School Students, enjoy performances by the NHS Band, Choir and Drama Club, and eat desserts.

March 19th, 7-9pm

Send Us Your News and Photos

Since the current SWVAEA officers live in Roanoke, so far all the news on this blog is about the Roanoke area. Please send us news and images from other areas so we can include them. Send anything you think other art teachers might be interested in, successful lesson ideas, art shows, workshops, even if it is just to brag about yourself, for example, a show you might be in.

Bookbinding Workshop

Jennifer Fowler will be teaching a Codex Book Binding Workshop at The Taubman Museum Sunday, March 29. All materials are provided to create a nice sketchbook/ journal. She makes these with her students and they are fabulous. In the workshop, you'll be using book cloth and fancy papers for the covers, but as shown in this photo, you can use any fabric (including canvas)!

Encourage you students to attend as well. Please sign up with the Taubman or email swvaea@gmail.com with any questions. You can also get the member price with a VAEA membership, not just the Taubman membership.

Shows to Visit in Roanoke

There are two shows, in addition to "Trash to Treasure" that include artwork by our members and students: "Art Feast" at Center in the Square in Roanoke, open 11-4 Thurs-Sat. until March 20; and "Roanoke College Juried Show", March 13-April 5, opening Reception: Friday, March 13, 6 p.m.

Very Impressive Trash

Our Youth Art Month Show, "Trash to Treasure" is hanging in the Jefferson Center in Roanoke. At the opening last Friday night, we heard many people say it was more exciting than they expected. These art teachers and students were inspired. We just hope our superintendents don't come and see what great art we can make with free stuff.

Pictured above are just a few samples: an impressive faux-bronze sculpture from objects and wire covered with panty hose and paint (Ciara Corrigan, Patrick Henry High); exotic spray-bottle birds with plastic fork feet (Susan Light, Grandin Court Elementary), a mural of squashed-can faced Roanoke characters (Chris Jones, Crystal Spring Elementary); a rendition of Vincent Van Gogh's Sunflowers (Teresa Worth, Hidden Valley Middle School); and white sculpture in boxes.

The show will be up until April 25 at the main floor of the Jefferson Center, 541 Luck Avenue in Roanoke.