"I'm Thankful"

"Each day I rise and thank God for the opportunity to make more art!" is what I found myself writing on a painted picture frame I'd prepared before class recently. Since 2008 I've been blessed to teach youngsters in grades K-6 in an after school arts program called Art in the House (AIH).



Budding artists

I'm thankful for the students I've been able to share my passion of teaching and creating art with all these years. I'm thankful for one of the best groups of kids I've ever worked with in my years of teaching, who have taught me so much and keep me working hard to deliver my "A game" each week. I'm thankful for the students who attend our weekly classes expecting that I'll be there to guide them on another creative one hour journey. I'm thankful to be able to witness the individual growth of my students, the awesome work and ideas they continue to generate each week. I'm thankful for my personal growth as a teaching artist as witnessed by the fact  I now enjoy working with teens just as much as younger children. Can't begin to explain my initial reluctance to work with teens....and my thoughts that they'd "eat me alive." Now I wonder what I was so afraid of...their great to work with! I'm thankful for the recent hiring of a former (AIH) student as my apprentice artist. I'm thankful for the supportive staff of St. Stephen's Community House (my host site) and the warm greetings received each day that I enter the building....they give me a sense of belonging that's more valuable than gold. I'm thankful for the Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC), all funders and especially Tim, Jim and Oulanje who continue to believe in me as a teaching artist and make it possible to share my passion each week. I'm thankful for the support of my family and their willingness to join in my tendency to "save everything" because I can use it with my kids in (AIH). I'm thankful for the extra hours of studio time available since our children are now grown and the house is empty for the first time in my married life.
Yes, "Each day I rise and thank God for the opportunity to make more art!"



Something for everyone to enjoy!




Recycled leather bracelet

Painting picture frames

  



Aaahh! It's Good To Be Back!

Well, after many months away from the good ole' blog site, busy with the May exhibition and teaching this summer...things are winding down and returning to my regularly scheduled program. This summer was a blur but lots of fun with highlights being: all the children home(and boyfriends) for our nephew's wedding in Dayton, Ohio...festivals...driving to Winston-Salem, N.C. to meet friends for the National Black Theatre Festival...the beautiful catalogue that the King Arts Complex provided for the exhibit and the wonderful words shared in statements by Dr. Barbara Nicholson, Executive Director and Ms. Bettye Stull, Curator... closing reception for Evolution of the Girl Child... and Women of Vision coming down from Pittsburgh to join us and the delicious food we had at LaVerne's afterwards.

This summer had me teaching for the first time at the Ohio Craft Museum, which was such a learning experience for me that I felt that I was enriched as an instructor as a result. Was able to chat with fiber artist, LaVerne Kemp a few times during break periods and peaked in on her wonderful felting projects. The kids were fantastic, thanks Ms. Betty Talbott for getting me involved with the program and the wonderful children. Thanks to the Greater Columbus Arts Council(GCAC)and Ohio State University for our Art In the House(AIH) visiting artist, Jingfei Li and Jeff Chan(OSU)
for sharing the art of Chinese kite making with our students in July.
I'm always excited when there's an opportunity to share a new experience with my kids in the AIH program particularly. To actually have Jingfei visit on her tour of the U.S. from the province of Yunan was quite remarkable and memorable! The history behind the kites was very interesting. Thanks Oulanje for the arrangements made in order to get them to us on short notice. We had great fun even though the weather didn't allow us to fly our kites that day!