It was so wonderful to have time to talk/laugh/share stories with those of you who could make it to TAEA. Ed and I gave a talk on Hospitality as Pedagogy and as we were preparing for the presentation we talked about how TAEA for us is a form of a homecoming. We can't wait to see new and old students, fellow professors and the generous venders. We share food, drink and memories. We stay up late, get up early and get excited when someone shows up we did not expect.
With that in mind I am asking each of you (even if you did not make this conference you most likely have been to a conference) share what you like most about a conference, what you dislike and what you wish would / could be at a conference.
Last year, I went to that American Alliance of Museums conference in Seattle. First, it was beautiful! The weather was perfect--all of the museums in the city were open to attendees. I really enjoyed the over all feeling of hospitality. My favorite thing: is they had a morning workout with a different kind of exercise each day. It was the most relaxed way to talk to peers and colleagues.
ReplyDeleteIt was very dense with topics and speakers which were informative and necessary. The sessions overlapped--sometimes there is just too much.
I like a mix of attending sessions and mixing with colleagues. I do think that is difficult to facilitate at larger conferences.
I absolutely love Seattle. If I had to pick one word to sum up the weekend at TAEA it would have to be HOSPITALITY!
DeleteLynn,
DeleteThis does sound like a great way to start the day!
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ReplyDeleteLove the idea of different workout! Or maybe meditations. How unique.
DeleteThis week I thought I would move away from the statistical descriptions of our new and evolving home to a more intimate portrait of home.
ReplyDeleteMy mom always said, " home is where you would have your remains sent." (Sicilian fatalism).
I am uncertain as to what my definition of home is now--which is part of the reason--I am researching and studying the concept of home.
A friend of mine is a doctor and mother of 4. She says that the definition of home changes in middle age and that the displacement I feel has less to do with the my divorce and loss of my home for 18 years in childhood neighborhood and more to do with my stage in life--children growing and leaving.
What is home?
It's a question I leave on the table while I work. I don't have to decide, yet or maybe ever. I can just explore the many views of home.
For my reading this week, I went to a source which can't even use an adverb (add the ly) Real Simple.
here is the link:
http://www.realsimple.com/magazine-more/inside-magazine/your-words/home-meaning
I would be interested in other's ideas of home
Home is a hard concept for me. Part insanity due to my Mother's drinking. Intense fear at times due to my Father's job (base commander on a SAC air force base during the Cuban crises), adventure, loss, lessons, laughter all swirling around the dinner table. Four marriages, no children, 65 and looking at retirement within 6 years...home is slowing becoming a place without stairs, near friends with a studio.
DeleteHaving been around the world before I was 5 I grew up knowing home became anywhere I could recognize a pieces of furniture/art/dishes and a sense of order.
Home for me is where my son is. Right now we are living with my parents as I save to buy a home of our own, it's a home or roof over our heads but it's not "our home".... Wherever we may live, for me as long as I have my son that's where my home is.
DeleteCome up on the holidays, home for me is simply being in a room with my Mom, Grandparents, Sister, Aunts and Uncles, Nieces, In-laws ect.
DeleteThe location changes all the time. People move because of jobs, into new homes, new citys, people get divoriced and move out. No matter what its always about the people and the food. Everyone crowded in the kitchen where the conversation, action, and love is. That is and always has been home for me, be it in Birmingham, Katy, Houston, Austin, Marble Falls, San Saba. The location is just a place, home is the community. Future when you and Ed were talking about hospitality and especially when Ed was showing pictures of his family I couldn't stop thinking about being "home" in a few weeks for Thanksgiving, and down the road to Christmas. It is more a time than a place for me.
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DeleteHome. What a concept to try and evaluate and put into words. I have several different views of "home" as I have had different types of "home lives" throughout my life. I had a fairly stable home life until 15. I grew up in a cozy 2 bedroom apartment, shared a bedroom with my brother and weekends were spent with relatives at our house, or with us at theirs. Cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents all played a significant role in my understanding of home and family. Friends were also a big part of "home" as our house was one of the meeting places for friends. Sleepovers were regular occurrences. Home seemed safe until that time. At 15 we moved to a house, a big beautiful house, but within two years time my mom died. The home became an empty tomb with my dad running away and dating, not coming home. I too ran away and stayed at friend's apartments rather than be alone in the empty house. My brother was away at college, so he was not in the picture much. When my dad remarried, the concept of "home" drastically changed. My stepmom said "all kids belong out of the house at 18" so from that time on, there was no "home" to come "home" to. In the almost 40 years of their marriage, they never once had a Thanksgiving dinner or any other celebration where they invited all 5 "unblended" children to join with them. Home became an alien concept. I had no family to spend holidays with on a regular basis, and although my aunts and uncles did have me and my dad and stepmom over on occasion when they had gatherings, it was never the same after my mom died. My stepmother made these gatherings quite difficult to enjoy. After years of wandering as a teenager, with my mid-twenties and thirties spent living in several different homes and apartments (while both married and divorced), I settled into my current home where I have lived for almost 20 years. I created a home for my daughter and myself, and friends became our family. Sleepovers and parties and outdoor as well as indoor gatherings were a regular occurrence at my home until my daughter moved away. I have always been a collector, but over the years have become a hoarder and think much of that is due to those early needs of family and belonging being unmet. After reading about Louise Bourgeois (one of the artists I am studying) and some of her abandonment issues, I have come to see how very deeply this early upheaval affected my understanding and concept of “home” and the very nature of what I think of as stability. I am in the process of undoing the years of collecting and it is a daunting process! This week I have begun the process of getting rid of years of debris…. I want my home to be inviting again. I want to make it a place where I can entertain my friends, and where my daughter will be able to visit and have a comfortable room once again. Home has become a refuge, a creative zone as well as a combat zone and I am working to restore it to only refuge/creative zone status once again. Lynn, you have touched a raw nerve, but it is good as it is also helping me “see” some of what has been giving me difficulty. When I can see the issue, I can finally overcome it and change what has been a deep-rooted sadness to one of thanksgiving and acceptance and moving on. Today I threw away papers from my divorce, my older homes, as well as other debris. I still have a long way to go, but beginnings are wonderful!!!
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ReplyDeleteGreat. So many teachers are isolated especially if you are trying to change how to work with kids instead of at kids. And I am glad the reception helped!
DeleteWe will try to do it again next year in Galveston.
It was great to meet you as well! We should get together more often since we are so close!!!
DeleteIt nice to share a conference with someone you work with and enjoy.
DeleteEmily, I am so glad that your time at TAEA went so well! I have had a very different experience which has kept me away. I attended a TAEA conference in Dallas and was so disappointed. I did not meet anyone, I did not know anyone, I could not get into several of the workshops I wanted to as they filled up quickly. The classes I did attend only left me with a few pieces of artwork which I could not remember how to reproduce in the classroom. Perhaps now that I have a community of fellow teachers (and professors) that I am getting to know both online and at Junction, the experience will be more rewarding. Also I tend to learn better with in-depth workshops as opposed to 45 minute classes. Because you and others have had such a good time this year, I am going to reconsider whether I should try and attend next year although I am not sure I will attend the whole conference, or just show up to hang out with all of you!
DeleteI found the community aspect of TAEA the most helpful! I got to spend a lot of time with another teacher in Dallas who I rarely get to talk to otherwise. There's something about bonding with other teachers which will keep me coming back!
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ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
DeleteCan't wait to see this!
DeleteMight be interesting to set it up as a traditional triptych, to play off the religous art of the middle ages like the Annociation of the Vigrin pieces.
Deletehttp://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/56.70
Oh wow, Daniel! Such a good idea. And we JUST started a triptych project in class!
Delete:)
DeleteI have always liked the format of diptychs and triptychs.
DeleteI wrote about my TAEA experiences last week, but here is what I wrote...
ReplyDeleteI had such a great time at TAEA. I'm sad I was not able to make the reception. I was with my director most of the trip, and we had dinner that night with all of our elementary art teachers in our district. The whole trip was a great bonding experience for myself and the rest of my elementary art team in my district. This is a huge blessing because last year I had a very tough time at my school and district, this year has been so much better - and this trip was just more of my great year and bonding experience happening. My director has been giving me more responsibility this year (writing curriculum, in charge of laying out the district show, making the art video for our students art being displaying while the irving symphony plays..etc...) I think she can tell that I was very stuck last year and the challenges she has been trusting me with have been really helping me this year.
I was lucky to be able to attend the fiber classes that TAEA offered. I really loved the indigo process and I am eager to learn more. I have arranged to teach a workshop on the process with the teachers in my district, probably next summer for our back to school workshops. I love that I can share my love of fiber dying with fellow teachers and get them excited about it too!
The other fiber class I attended was mostly information I knew, but I was able to share with other teachers some books I have found helpful - it was nice to be able to share with the other teachers who were at the workshop and share information I have gained in this class with them.
I really loved San Antonio, some of my favorite moments were walking around the old downtown, eating amazing food, visiting the farmers market, and just growing closer with my community of elementary art teachers that I was traveling with. It was a great trip!
You know you could give a workshop on your work.
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DeleteI want to attend your workshop! Can "outsiders" also attend? Perhaps I can come las your assistant..
DeleteI'm excited to see where fiber dying goes in your work these days! I didnt get to drink in the town while I was there, but I know you got to see some great sites and eat good food :) Those are always my favorite moments to drink in - the most life giving sometimes!
DeleteI would have loved to attend this year TAEA Conference to meet you all in person.
ReplyDeleteI did attend the TAEA Conference in 2012 in San Antonio where I enjoyed meeting new people and sharing art ideas. What I do remember the most and enjoyed was the general session speakers, Vincent Valdez and Todd White.
Lynn, my idea of home is my wife and son, where every we are love lives there.
Emily, isn’t it great that we as a society have come a long way in the past twenty years now that we are moving forward and accepting gay marriage and so many significant individuals are coming out such as comedians (Ellen Degeneris, Whoopi Goldberg), artists (Jack Balas, Bastille) Football players (Chip Sarafin, Michael Sam), actors (Neil Patrick Harris, Rupert Everett), actresses (Jody Foster, Portia De Rossi, RuPaul), public officials (Harvey Milk, Tammy Baldwin), musicians (Ricky Martin, Alan Lambert,Clay Aiken) news anchors (Andersen Cooper)etc.
I think it is great your art will hopefully help LGBTQ youth and students; I feel their still is work to be done! My understanding of the challenges of being gay came from a great Tony Kushner Pulitzer play called “Angels in America” that turned into a movie. It depicted the terrible AIDS epidemic during the 80’s and 90’s with great compassion and truth. I also came across a children’s book called “ I Am Jazz” the story of a transgender child based on the real-life experience of Jazz Jennings, who has become a spokesperson for transkids everywhere.
Good points. I think we forget who has open doors or windows , even if only a crack.
DeleteThis is my response from last week:
ReplyDeleteI was so refreshed this weekend at TAEA! I sat in mostly on AP presentations. I learned different ways of setting up AP curriculum and how to encourage students in their processes. The key thing I came away with was all about process. I learned new techniques of pushing students in their creative thinking. Nicole Brisco was one of the best presentations I saw. She demonstrated how her students prepare their ideas by breaking down their inspiration artwork to composition, colors, textures, etc. Then she has them create two designs, combines them by tracing one onto the other, and has the student edit the composition from there. That way the students truly are creating their own compositions and are learning the valuable skill of editing. She also has every piece begin with a ground rather than a white sheet of paper. I'm already thinking about ways to incorporate that idea into my projects for students coming up!
I went to a few hands on workshops on mixed media, casting with silicone, and a glazing workshop. The AP workshops were by far the most valuable to me. I'm new to AP and it was so beneficial to hear other teachers share their expertise. I feel ready to take on the rest of the year.
I hope the conference was as refreshing for you all as it was for me!
If possible take a week long AP workshop during the summer it is so worth it. The first 3 yrs are the hardest. This is my 3rd yr to teach AP and I finally feel like I somewhat know what I'm supposed to be doing.
DeleteI took one of those last summer. It was somewhat helpful, but I teach 3D AP and I feel like most presenters are way out of their comfort zone with 3D. I would ask questions and get very vague answers. I've honestly learned the most from other teachers who have taught it before. I'm just glad to have connected with a community of teachers. That was the most beneficial part.
DeleteTAEA was a great experience. I did not attend last year in Dallas because I feel that TAEA is for cookie cutter workshops that I have no interest in. This year I spoke to my co-worker Gilbert and I felt that he should experience it for himself. Gilbert is a new teacher with amazing talent but no teaching experience. I thought TAEA would be a good place for him to meet my TECH family and expose him to other great teachers. We arrived thursday morning and headed to my friend's painting studio at UTSA. My good friend Raul is a MFA painting major and has made a good name for himself in Texas. I asked Raul for a walk through his studio in order to remind us what it is like to be a working artist. I have to say Gilbert felt motivated and now is thinking of creating new work that does not incorporate class demos. At TAEA conference I introduced Gilbert to everyone at the booth and we never left. We took part in two workshops to learn no medium, Water soluble oils and gel mediums for acrylic. We listened to keynote speakers and took part in Future and Ed's hospitality pedagogy. I also reconnected with one of my undergrad professor in her grassroots workshop.
ReplyDeleteWhat I took from TAEA was that it is a place to network with other great teachers. TAEA is a homecoming for the Junction alumni and it is a place to vent and express your ideas about the subject of art in the classroom. My co-worker Gilbert was very impressed with everyone in our group and is now very interested in graduate school. He and I both came back to Houston fully charged knowing that there are other great teachers we can speak to.
That's awesome!
DeleteI'm absolutely upset that I wasn't able to come out...I'm glad to hear that your co-worker is interested in this program! Next year I am going to work with the other art teacher on campus and maybe the feeder middle school teachers to get us all to go together. I feel like we lack that bond that middle/high school teacher should have when building our program. I would really love for my middle school teachers to push the basics to the point where many of my Art I students already grasp those techniques. This way we can start off on a higher level than we normally would. Also, it would be nice to know who my middle school "prodigies" are so I can convince my counselors to put them in my classes from the get go. Too many talented students are turned away by my counselors. ughhh....
DeleteYou should for sure get Gilbert to come to Junction so he can see the shenanigans in full swing.
DeleteWhat a great way to help light the fire under a teacher. Making art is hard. For us all. I am swamped with committee meetings and paperwork even when not in the classroom. In fact more time is spent on "other work" than on/in the classroom. I believe for a long time I had a dream of being an artist, making a living off my art, with galleries and museums beating down the door.I was lucky. Early after getting my MFA, I met a number of Western artist that did and continue to make a living off their art. It was hard work with little freedom. They had commissions fro 2 years out and no chance of changing or experimenting. They had managers and contracts. Very complicated.
DeleteSo I made the decision to make art for me, telling the stories or documenting the events in my life and sharing these pieces with the public when ever I could. And have a day job. My life has been much easier.
I agree with Daniel, invite Gilbert to Junction.
O.K. All of you have convinced me. I will not let my experience at the Dallas convention stop me from future conferences. I am going to try and attend next year just to be with all of you and see what workshops might be helpful in my classroom.
DeleteThat's awesome! How great that you can draw other teachers in. I'm still trying to convince my co-teachers to come with me next time. I came back raving about it so hopefully that will help. That's one thing I enjoy about this program particularly - the community.
DeleteIn years past I have always attended TAEA with the attitude I have to go to all these workshops and get in as much as possible. This year was completely different! I went excited to see all of you as well as others from Junction, looking to connect and be social, not be a teacher or a mom for a few days, but be me, and interact with others. I wanted the connections more then sitting in on workshops.
ReplyDeleteI did attend a few that really stuck with me and that I really enjoyed, I will take them back into the classroom, but I think my way of teaching has changed so much I agree with Germaine it's so cookie cutter and Future we were taught to teach at them, instead of with them, that so many of these lessons teachers teach just do not fit my classroom. I did take one and when I finish the piece I will post it, where your incorporate affirmations into a self portrait and the kids have to come up with them theirselves which is great because it brings in positivity and gets them thinking about their good sides instead of their negative sides. We all need a little more if this in our lives. And I also had another one that used a paper plate and a straw to make a wheel to use to get the students using the principles and elements of art without giving it to them but that they get it by the luck of a spin which I thought was pretty cool.
I like that idea of the random selection of an art principle to show in a work. I'm trying to find ways to incorporate more "forced connections" in my student work. I've had some classes working on childhood memories and then a narrative from their personal history. It's gone well, but I need a more basic element. I might give that a try!
DeleteThis week I took a break from reading the Daring Greatly book, I needed a break from all the heaviness. My son had pneumonia last week, and I have so many orders flooding in life got crazy and I needed something somewhat lighter. I picked up the book Soul Collage by Seena B Frost. This book is all about self discovery and community through collage. I'm not really even sure exactly how to describe this, but I will basically be making cards based on energies and different events in my life so that when I have my set of cards I can do a reading. I am not sure as to what that means yet I am still reading about all the different cards. I did skip ahead a bit to see how to make the cards and found I couldn't really skip ahead because it didn't make any sense although I'm somewhat confused but hope by then end of the book it will all come together. I do know that I will go through magazines and fliers and whatever I can find and cut out pictures that "strike" me and I will hold on to them until I know what card it will be used for. I'm hoping it will make more sense as I continue reading.
ReplyDeleteI switched this week for something lighter as well. I always go back to the quote from an old tennis player, "you learn the game in the off season,". Some times we need the off season, when we aren't doing or even thinking-- to learn.
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DeleteLove seeing the crosses on FB. I hope your son is OK. I can tottaly relate to needing a break, I think I've spread myself a bit thin and its catching up to me. Teaching, Grad School, second job, getting my ducks in a row for moving in the summer. I've also noticed raising a 14 month old is a lot more work than raising a 8 month old like last semester....mobility!
DeleteSo are these going to be like tarot cards? Or more like playing cards?
I know you will work it all out wonderfully. Good work.
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DeleteThank you! Daniel I'm not sure exactly but I'm thinking more like tarot cards from what I have read so far. Right now they are explaining the cards themselves and what kind of images are used to represent. I will let you know though as I read more. I planned on reading this weekend but that didn't happen.
DeleteI feel ya between teaching, grad school, karate twice a week, play therapy, church and bible study on Sundays, and all the orders I have coming in, I'm a bit overwhelmed but glad that I have a 6 yr old that one loves to create when I am and also entertains himself well! There was no way I could have done this when he was younger they demand your attention constantly! I do a lot after he goes to sleep! I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving break, he will be at his dads and I will get a chance to catch up on orders and reading and writing! It will be great!
I'm very disappointed that I wasn't able to go to the TAEA conference. I hate to blame it on work, but basketball season has started and it has been nuts. This entire week I have gone to bed early without dinner and couldn't find a way to wake myself up till the next morning!
ReplyDeleteI've been working on putting information into the new design of my textbook sub-chapter. The design has changed a little and will have to be tweaked here and there to bring all the information together. I've worked in the important information into the piece and added a title/subtitle. I plan to cut out much of the text that I feel is unnecessary and put in what I feel Richard Mayer would consider a summary of the key points. Please check out the updated design on my thread.
Sorry this post got updated so late...my Google account was giving me trouble earlier today, but I'm glad I got it working again!!!
You were missed. Next year in Galveston.
DeleteRewriting my thoughts on TAEA Conferences as I had put it into a reply and it might have been missed:
ReplyDeleteI have had a very different experience which has kept me away. I attended a TAEA conference in Dallas a few years ago and was so disappointed. I did not meet anyone, I did not know anyone, I could not get into several of the workshops I wanted to as they filled up quickly. The classes I did attend only left me with a few pieces of artwork which I could not remember how to reproduce in the classroom. Perhaps now that I have a community of fellow teachers (and professors) that I am getting to know both online and at Junction, the experience will be more rewarding. Also I tend to learn better with in-depth workshops as opposed to 45 minute classes. Because you and others have had such a good time this year, I am going to reconsider whether I should try and attend next year although I am not sure I will attend the whole conference, or just show up to hang out with all of you!