Visiting Artists, 2013
In 2008, Missouri Artisans Association dba The Best of Missouri Hands initiated a program for artists to visit classrooms providing art demos and discussions about life as an artist. The Best of Missouri Hands has more than 450 member artists working in various mediums throughout the State of Missouri. Professional development opportunities for BOMH members are available to help expose students to their methods, materials, techniques, and backgrounds as they demonstrate and discuss their art forms.
A grant provided by Regional Arts Commission has provided BOMH the opportunity to bring this program to St. Louis area schools. The grant funds allow us to provide a $100 stipend to our visiting artists for each classroom vist to cover the cost of materials. In October, The Best of Missouri Hands conducted a total of 7 classroom visits, serving 151 students. There is no cost to the school.
The Best of Missouri Hands is on the hunt for artists who can do classroom visits in 2014 so that we can qualify for an upcoming grant from Missouri Arts Council. Nancy Koehler is chairing this committee and has had wonderful participation from our artists. However we are always looking for artists who are not only willing to contribute in this way but have contacts within the educational community. We would especially like to reach underserved areas, where arts programs or classroom visits are limited by lack of funding. If this appeals to you and you feel you have something to share or have contacts in schools, please let Nancy Koehler know. Contact her at nancy@mckenziesjewelry.com.
Nancy Koehler, Glencoe, Mo.
Wohlwend Elementary – Jewelry and Watercolor
Nancy Koehler spent some time recently at Wohlwend Elementary in the Mehlville School District in St. Louis, MO. The time was short but we packed a lot into the session. Nancy taught them how to take a watercolor painting and turn it into necklace pendants and a bottle cap magnet for the fridge. The fifth graders painted with watercolor on pieces of watercolor paper. We then used their paintings to make some small jewelry items. The teacher, Amy George, said they were very excited to be able to make a piece of jewelry with just paper and also excited to have a working artist teach them. The students were very attentive and ready to make something. By the end of the very short hour the students had a painting and a bottle cap magnet to take home with them. I think Amy will have to finish up some of the pieces with them. Twenty seven kids and one hour….not much time but we all had fun. Nancy will go back to work with the other two 5th grade classes in the very near future. Total two classes 52 students.
Carol Knox, St. Louis, Mo.
Bernard Middle School – Fused Glass
Recently, I spent a delightful hour with the 8th grade art students at Bernard Middle School in the Mehlville District. Mary Drastal, their teacher, had explained that this was an “honors” art class and that these students were above average in their knowledge and skills. I brought some samples of my work, pieces of glass, small tools, and photos of various stages of production. With these items, it was possible to walk the class through the process of creating functional and decorative art with fused glass. The students listened attentively and asked relevant questions. They were fascinated by how easy it is to score and break glass; the temperatures at which glass “melts”; how the molten glass “contains” itself to form soft rounded edges; how to create shapes; and how to go from concept to product.
Kim Carr, New Florence, Mo.
Robinson Elementary – Photography
Back to School
— Photo and Article by Kim Carr
When I was first asked by Nancy Koehler to go back to school, I was pretty excited. After all, there once was a time that I would substitute teach K thru 5th grade and had a blast, but that was many years ago. Times have changed and kids have changed. In the past, I did numerous presentations in local grade schools, summer camps and even to college students. My topics have always covered Missouri mules or snakes or farm animals. I always had some type of critter with me which helped engage my audience and stimulate conversation. This time was different though; Nancy wanted me to go into the schools as an artist representing the Best of Missouri Hands program. She wanted me to talk to kids about my art form which is photography. Admittedly, I began to feel slightly nervous. Talk to kids about photography, hmmm, I wondered what I could do to hold the kids’ interest. A potter could bring clay and talk to the kids about different tools and techniques. They could demonstrate how to throw a pot or how to form a flower. A painter could bring in a canvas and paint to keep their attention.
After much thought, I reworked a power point presentation that I had made. I geared it toward elementary students and focused on tips and tricks that help me when photographing my farm animals and other subject matter. I also gathered up a few of my antique cameras… the old fashioned kind that you would hold down in front of you like an old Browning. I even took several old photos, one dating back to the 1800s, to share with the kids. My set-up included a large canvas of my favorite photo, Sophia Smiling. She’s the little donkey that seems to make everybody happy and is my BOMH banner.
Kids are different today than they were at one time. They are tech-savvy. I feared there would be questions about aperture and ISO settings which are not my strong point, but I do know how to set up a great shot, look for angles and how to take advantage of what’s at hand to photograph. I found out that most every kid has a camera, iphone or more likely an ipad that they shoot with. When I was their age, I was darn lucky to have a little Kodak 110. Not only was I the only kid to have a camera, but I had to buy my own film and pay for the developing of the film. I found that even though almost every kid has the ability to take photos, they did not necessarily know how to get better shots with their equipment.
By showing different examples of shots that I have taken around the farm, I was able to keep the kids interested and focused. Questions included ones such as, “How do I take better pictures of my little brother and very active pet hedgehog?” Their questions were real world, everyday life questions, and I had real world solutions. Initially, I wondered how I would fill the time, but it flew by. My 1800s photo was passed around and returned in perfect condition. The kids really enjoyed getting to handle the antique cameras, looking through the view finders, pressing buttons and winding the movie camera. It was fun to see how excited they were to try out the old cameras. The art teacher was very pleased with my presentation since she teaches a unit on digital photography. She said I covered several bases that they will touch on in class. Afterwards, I was invited back to the art room where I got to see the kids working on their current project – a giant mural in which they were all making the likeness of patriotic kids that will result in a very large American flag.
I have presented to three classes with a total in the neighborhood of 75 students. One thing that I have learned is the kids today may be growing up in a different world than I did, but they are still just kids and they love to learn. As a matter of fact, they are great at learning; they are sponges. As an artist, it was rewarding to be able to share my passion for photography with the next generation of artists and photographers. Don’t wait for somebody to call you to go back to school. The visiting artist program is a win/win for all involved: students, teachers, school, community, artist, BOMH and so on. The kids need artists just like you to share your knowledge and passion for the arts. Talk about what you know; the kids will listen. Show them what you do, and they will learn. Contact Nancy Koehler if you’re ready to go back to school. You’re guaranteed to be the teacher’s pet.
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