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! 

Getting to know Gordon...

I recently took my students to the National Gallery of Art to get a close up understanding of the tremendous history that Gordon Parks captured with his camera. We followed up with hearty discussion in the studio classroom about how photography can impact the story and the public perception of what is being viewed. How the photograph is presented, and what part of the image is essential to the story... it was a day spent viewing challenging photographs and having critical conversations. 

Stepping into Summer...

Summer has officially arrived! 

Squeeze every drop out of these special days!

Ground Rules

Today I had the pleasure of attending an artist talk at the National Gallery of Art.  

Theaster Gates was visiting the Gallery today in advance of his show: Minor Arts. He is an amazing person!  He is the 4th living artist to have a solo show at the National Gallery of Art!  He spoke so eloquently about his life's experiences and how that has informed his art. This man is an incredible artist, urban planner, advocate, story teller & teacher. 

Theaster Gates discussed learning at an early age that self-sufficiency rules. The ability to convert and utilize the skillset you have so you can survive makes for a very rich life. 

He elaborated on his observations on artists. Artists no longer need to be singular and specific...they should play with all modes and mediums...

Use of materials should not limit what can be created...and then use what you know to leave your environment better than you found it! Superb and sound advice in 2017.

I was so moved and enthralled by his life thus far, I am a fan and will continue to learn more…and grow with what he has inspired…

It's Time...

Celebrate our differences and learn from those opportunities!

Commit to engage in your communities...be kind to each other...practice random acts of generosity...

Be honest...

Create an environment with the kind of energy you crave...

ACTIVATE

*Inspired by Barbara Kruger and created at the National Gallery Teacher Workshop

The Edge

This weekend I attended an excellent workshop at the National Gallery of Art. It was a delightful day spent with my fellow art teachers. As we left the gallery I found myself touching a corner of the building I have never experienced before! However it was clear from the smoothed rubbed edge that many had been there before me! It is the thinnest and sharpest edge. A profound view of the capitol exposed just around that edge, my eye bounced back and forth, a poignant reminder that it is the art around every corner and that will see us through.