More on the Art Teacher Fired for Museum Visit

This story just keeps getting more and more ridiculous. The school district keeps mentioning other “performance issues” that led up to her suspension, but it sounds like she is an exemplary teacher. She has won awards, and has been teaching for 28 years!

Even if there are “performance issues,” taking kids to see an art exhibit should never be grounds for suspension. It sounds to me like a political thing — like they wanted to get rid of her for other reasons and this was a convenient reason. Unfortunately, the backlash is that this is going to cause teachers all over the country to avoid taking kids to museums for fear of someone getting offended and filing suit.

Thanks, Frisco PSD. *scowl*

WV Bloggers Board, part deux

Alright, so Jackie had to go and move the WV Bloggers’ Board. Check my updated link, to the right.

It’s all good, now — this board is much better! Thanks, Jackie!

Paint Video

A friend just sent this interesting artist video on YouTube — check it out. It’s like the painting is literally coming alive! It’s an unusual approach to animation!

Philosophy on a Coffee Cup

From a Starbucks Cup:

The Way I See It #153

Is art entertainment?

Art teaches us about who we are.
Entertainment tells us who to be.

Art is a public service.
Entertainment is a private product.

Art opens our minds.
Entertainment thinks for you.

Art is publicly offered.
Entertainment is publicly traded.

Art is the words we wish to say,
but lack the language to say it.

– Justin Dillon, musician
(from the band, Tremolo)

Lions and Tigers and Nekkid Statues, oh my!

So, this teacher got suspended for taking students to an art exhibit in which they saw a nude statue. This, after the principal recommended that the experienced, well-acclaimed teacher, Sydney McGee, take the students on the trip to the Dallas, TX museum.

What is up with people?!?! Are we really so easily offended that teachers can’t teach without fear of offending someone? Of course, our kids all have Jay Z on the iPod and watch Laguna Beach without issue, but take a student to an art museum and you could lose your job.

Right now, the Avampato Discovery Museum has, on exhibit, a tiny etching by Picasso. There are nudes in the etching. You can see girly parts and boy parts, and it’s really not that big of a deal. If I take my students to see that etching and someone gets offended, will I lose my job? I doubt it. My administration has much more sense than that. However, I will teach every day with just a little more paranoia after reading more and more news articles like this. Unfortunately, people love to be offended, and since we’re such a litigous society, the punishment for offending someone is always severe. It’s easier to fire a teacher than to defend one.

I would like to see a photo of the sculpture so I can judge for myself. Unfortunately, none of the articles I’ve found have a photo. From the museum’s website, it looks like they might have an exhibit of Ancient Middle Eastern sculpture. I don’t know if that’s the exhibit that caused the offense, but if it is, its’ a shame that someone would be so offended over the human body that they would go after a teacher’s job. It’s going to get to the point where teachers won’t take the opportunity to take kids to museums for fear of starting a controversy.

Thanks to Jedi Jawa for the link.

Random Art Trivia

The artist Rodin (creator of the famous sculpture, The Thinker, at left) died of frostbite in the year 1917 when he could not get financial aid from the French Government for housing. Ironically enough, his sculptures were kept warm and toasty inside several French museums.

Experimentation

Today I’m experimenting with tissue paper and glue. Yes, you probably have, too, in kindergarten or maybe even preschool. Sometimes, getting back to pure, childlike experiementation is a good way to tap into the creativity that somehow gets beaten out of us by the time we’re 12. Of course, adequate sleep would be a good thing for my creative mind, too. I would slay armies of the damned for some good coffee right now. So, who wants to bring me a mocha? Anyone? Anyone? Hellooooo???

WV Bloggers Board

Check it out — a brand, new, shiny message board for WV bloggers!

Thanks to Jackie from Saved By The Torso.

Extreme Home Makeover — Rembrandt Edition

The Rijksmuseum is getting a makeover, but we’re getting the better end of the bargain — an extremely rare opportunity to see part of its Rembrandt collection in the United States! The exhibit opened yesterday (Sunday) at the Dayton Art Institute and runs for 3 months before touring the rest of the U.S.

The exhibit includes the Jewish Bride (left) as well as more well-known paintings like The Music Lesson.

For more info, visit the Associated Press Website.

Artistic ADD

I fully admit, I sketch in meetings. It’s not inattentiveness. I am fully listening and can repeat back everything that’s been said. It’s a weird thing, I actually pay attention better when I’m drawing. If you look back to my college class notes, they’re all full of doodles and drawings, and sometimes — writing. The funny thing is, I can look at a drawing and remember exactly what was being discussed when I was drawing it, without the actual notes. I focus so much better when my hands are busy.