Artist Teacher Exhibition 2020

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Fine Arts Office is proud to present its 13th annual Artist Teacher Exhibition. This art exhibition recognizes the creativity and technical expertise of FCPS art teachers who were invited to submit original recent works for this exhibition. 

The participating artists have sought solace in the creative process as a response to the coronavirus crisis and ensuing quarantine lifestyle that stemmed from it. The resulting artwork of the 76 FCPS artist teachers who participated is extraordinary and we are very much looking forward to sharing it with you. 

This year has been challenging; showing the artwork in a gallery as we have done in years past was not an option. Instead, the Artist Teacher Exhibition 2020 is presented here as a digital gallery experience. Please take a moment and enjoy the artistry of FCPS educators.

We also got a little love from the local news! Here is the link to that story. 

Energy & Influence

 We are on the brink of an unprecedented school year. Never before have we had so much uncertainty and unknowns. Collectively we must step up and support our educators and school communities, leave judgement at the door and keep an open heart. Practice patience daily. We must also cheer for our students as they navigate this digital migration. 

Our students will mirror our attitudes, so put on a confident face and reassure them they can do this. I once heard someone ask, "How much of my influence on you is a result of your influence on me?"  Consider this as we start the school year. Energy is contagious, let's keep it positive. Let the teachers and students in your life know you support them! 

Work Crew

Today was the first day since March 13th that I have seen my colleagues in person! We definitely looked a little different with our face masks, but what a wonderful sight!  Our regional Scholastic Art show was featured in a gallery at the local community college in February. We were lucky enough to have the reception and awards night before the world was put on pause. Our community shut down here on March 13th, leaving the exhibition up until now. We were finally given clearance to take down the show this week, so today we met and happily masked uninstalled the show. I can honestly say, I was thrilled when my alarm sounded off this morning! I miss my fellow art teachers. 

Museum Makers Program

   The National Gallery of Art offers an opportunity to high school students to use the museum collection for research, personal inquiry and inspiration. The program is called Museum Makers and it invites students from the DMV to apply for this rich experience. It is a six week commitment to dive deeply in the NGA collection and all that offers!
   The NGA has been inviting students to this program since 1992 and they happily boast 600 alumni. Many of these individuals still keep in touch and return to visit the current students when they are in town. 

 Today was the culminating event, the students presented their wanderings on an artwork in the form of a research question and then unpacked their findings for us.They also exhibited their own artwork that documented their journey during the program. It was impressive to witness the poise and intellect of these 15 students!   

One of my students based his inquiry around the work of Jean Dubuffet and his disregard for conventional art making techniques. He spoke so eloquently about his findings and the dark childlike images that Dubuffet wished his viewers would experience rather than analyze. There were other students that contemplated the artwork and minds of Hieronymus Bosch, Monet, Whistler and Lichtenstein. The day was a wonderful exploration through time in the NGA permanent collection. 

I commend these students for the sharing all that they learned during this six week journey! The National Gallery of Art is a world class institution and this is such an excellent opportunity! 

Let Me Introduce You...(ongoing series)

Let me introduce you to the newest member of the South County Middle School art department, Mr. Singh. When I visited his classroom last week I had the pleasure of observing him lead his students through an awesome mark making exercise that will build into to a mixed media exploration helping the students  contemplate the traits of their spirit animals. 

Mr. Singh paints daily and he shares his birthday with Bob Ross. Make sure you check out his Instagram @artoframan to enjoy his artwork!  The students at South County Middle are so lucky to have you on board this year!