End Of The Year Awards: GOOD or EVIL?

Every end of the year...the special area team struggles with the same thing...End of the Year Awards.  We're not really a fan.  We have "rules" placed on us....2 from each 4th grade class...they want a boy and a girl...and no special area can select the same student.  Well...we did away with the boy & the girl thing...because that just isn't possible sometimes.  And...over the past few years..we've been giving a deserving student awards in a couple areas.  However..one student today who deserved an award in EVERY special area...did not receive them(we did get her 2 at least!! music & art).  This really bothers me deep down.  I'd rather not give awards at all...but if I have to..shouldn't they go to the most deserving?  I had one class where 4 girls have been consistent(and amazing artists) for their whole time here at TGE.  Another class...I struggled to find 2.  

So...what do you all do?  Do you give awards? Do you have rules as well?  How do you handle it?

There has got to be a better way...and I'm open to suggestions!!  

Monster Bug Masks

As I was grading & handing back work....I couldn't remember if I posted any of these!  I think they are fun.  

MR.E ASKS 3: DALE CHIHULY

    

?WHAT?

People, I'm just as amazed as you all?!?!!? ha ha ha  But yes...Dale Chihuly was willing to be part of Mr. E Asks 3!  I don't know how I'll top this?!?!?!  

 Nashville was blessed to have his work at two locations a few years back.  As a district we created lessons that explored his work...and created Chihuly "like" projects.  I have to say...his work truly excited my students.  They loved what they were learning about....and "FORCED" their parents to take them to the locations that were displaying his work. 

HERE ARE MY CHIHULY LESSONS:  

http://www.artwithmre.com/search/label/Chihuly

HERE ARE THE CHIHULY LESSONS:

http://chihulyelementaryartlessons.weebly.com/

HERE ARE THE RESULTS FROM OUR DISTRICT:

http://mnpschihulyartlessons.blogspot.com

AND NOW....MR.E ASKS 3: DALE CHIHULY

 What inspires you to continue creating art?

"I want to make something that has never been made before, something no one has ever seen, something with power that inspires everyone who sees it, creating an unforgettable experience."

   What is one thing you feel all young people should know about being an artist?

"The whole idea of making art, as far as I'm concerned, comes from doing it over and over and over. You have to make a lot of mistakes. Mistakes made in glassblowing can become some of the most beautiful artworks. Follow your gut and create something no one has seen before."

 Nature seems to be a major source of inspiration in your work. Are there other things that inspire & influence your work?

"Being surrounded by water is really important to me. Glass is so much like water. If you let it go on its own, it almost ends up looking like something that came from the sea. I’ve always lived on or near the water.  It’s always provided a sense of inspiration for me."

PLEASE GO TO CHIHULY'S BE PAGE TO GET ALL THE LATEST INFORMATION!!!!!

http://www.chihuly.com/

Remembering

                                       

My dad would have been 65 today.  This is him at 25.....and baby Mr. E!!  We were really different in our interests(other than Star Trek)....and some of our world views. However...my dad always encouraged me to be the best me I could be! He also always wanted me to go for it....do more, go farther, and work hard at whatever it was.  He didn't want me to be the coal miner/truck driver he was....he wanted me to be uniquely me!  I love that.  I wish he could have met my wife....played with his grandbabies...seen all I have been able to do over the years.  Thankful for this man in my life and the impact he still has!!

TAEA TUESDAY!

Hey friends!!  I am the new Elementary Representative on the TAEA Board(well...TnAEA..don't want Texas to throw a fit! hee hee).  So I'm going to try to do some more "local"  posts on Tuesdays.  Even if you aren't a TnAEA person...please stop by and read them.  You might just want to relocate...or visit our great state!!  So here we go...the first TAEA TUESDAY!!!!  

!!!SUMMER CONFERENCE!!!

This is going to be a wonderful day of creating...catching up...and sharing meaningful experiences from the year that was!!!  What a great way to
"REFUEL YOUR CREATIVE SPIRIT"!!!

If you've never been to a TAEA sponsored conference/workshop....THEY ARE WONDERFUL!  If you haven't yet joined the association....come hang out with those who are & see why it is such a great organization to support!!!  Is your district providing amazing day long workshops this summer to refuel your creative spirit....probably not!  TAEA IS!!!

HERE IS THE LINK!!
http://69.195.124.150/~tnartedu/conferences/

Positively/Negatively Frustrated!

So I'm teaching Postive/Negative Space to my 2nd graders this week.  We've looked at still life art...created some...and now are making the jump to Postive/Negative Space.  I've struggled a good bit with my 2nd graders this year.  I'm not sure exactly why, but I've had to reinvent how I teach some concepts to get them to understand.  So in the midst of scratchin' my head wondering what I did wrong...I came up with this quick idea.  I used my document camera(a Ladybug) to show them.  They thought I was crazy at first when I dumped the sharpener bowl on top of the turtle.  However...they finally "GOT IT" when they saw me remove the turtle from the pile of shavings.  Don't know if you are having the same issues as me, but maybe this idea will help you too!!! 

Mr. E Asks 3: WAYNE THIEBAUD

 

YOU READ CORRECTLY!!!

WAYNE THIEBAUD

 

When I started thinking about people I'd like to interview...Mr. Thiebaud was at the top of my list!!  Though I really enjoy his older pieces...pies, cakes, candies, and such....I LOVE his landscape paintings!   He is a living legend!!!!

 

 

However...I figured I'd probably not get a response.

 

Here was the first reply.

 

"Mr. Thiebaud does not use a computer. However, I can relay the questions to him. There is no guarantee that he will respond. He is inundated with requests on a daily basis. At the age of 93 (94 in November), he does not "work" too much on tasks outside of those in his own studio and at his home. But, it is worth a shot."

 

BUT HE DID!! HE DID RESPOND!!!

I hope you enjoy the mini-interview with Mr. Wayne Thiebaud!  Oh..and I know it is Mr. E Asks 3...but I couldn't stop with just 3!!!! ha ha ha 

1) Did you have art classes in elementary, middle, and/or high school? If so, how much of an impact did it have on you?

" I do recall several "art" classes in elementary schools in southern California. Mostly very general drawing projects and classroom group mural works.  High school provided more specific opportunities. Classes in drawing and watercolor taught by a woman who had been instructed by an experienced person   Long Beach Polytechnic High School housed a major auditorium attended by the civic public for “major” events. The stage manager and technician instructed us in the designing and building and painting of sets in a professional manner."

 

2) What was your family/friends response to your desire to be an artist?

 

 " Very Supportive."

3) What words of encouragement/inspiration do you have for those desiring to pursue a life of art?

"Obtain as much professional formal instruction as possible and work very hard."

 

 

4) What is your motivation to continue creating art?

 

"Love of and long looking at fine works of art."

I'm Baaaaaaack!

 

I took a week and a day off for the birth of my daughter....and now I'm back to finish up the year!

It has felt weird not posting much.  I will do my best to get back on track.  I have some exciting interviews with some BIG NAMES!!!!!!!  So excited!!!  Stay tuned...and tell your friends, ART WITH MR. E IS THE PLACE TO BE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!