Gallery Spotlight Interview

Enjoy our first "Gallery Spotlight" Interview with
Elizabeth Daniel
Youth Education Director at
CityArts in Wichita

• Which artwork(S) in your collection/exhibitions do you most enjoy sharing with visitors, and why?

"Here at CityArts, our Exhibitions are always changing. We run through about 36 shows in a year, so this means new work is always readily available for patrons to come and observe. I like to walk through the gallery with children of all ages, and get them to have a thoughtful conversation about what they're viewing. I have a different set of questions I like to ask each different age groups."

 

• What example comes to mind when you worked with a non-arts faculty member on a collaborative project in a particularly effective way? What interdisciplinary conversations have you had?

"CityArts partners with the Girl Scouts of the Heartland for many activities throughout the year. We provide instruction and space for the girls to earn their arts badges, we give many tours, and they even use our Main Gallery for meetings such as their annual "Cookie College Kick Off." It's a large enough room to accommodate their many participants, and works out for us too, because they become aware of all CityArts has to offer to Wichita youth."

• Aside from field trips, how might students connect with your museum/ galleries?

"We offer camps, classes, and free activities to people of all ages. To enroll, visit our website at wichitacityarts.org, or call 350.3245. Every second Saturday, we do a FREE "Adult & Me" activity for kids, where they work on a small project that they can immediately take home. On Friday nights we offer a "Urban Draw Night" where we provide paper, pencils, erasers, and drawing boards for anyone to come and participate in drawing the hubbub of activity going on around them."

• What digital resources should all art teachers know about?

"www.wichitacityarts.org, find us on facebook, Instagram and twitter at Wichita CityArts.

CityArts also features a Digital Art Studio, that offers classes such as blogging, photoshop, learning to use Wacom tablets, filmmaking and more."

• What is one feature of your museum/gallery space that all visitors should notice?

"CityArts is more than anything, an education facility. Visitors are encouraged to "Find Your Art" on an interactive wall space that showcases all the different classes and workshops that we offer. Getting visitors to come back and take a class is what we're all about!"

• How might a teacher best connect their students with artwork in your collection/exhibitions in their classroom prior to a visit?

"Teachers could have a discussion about what a community art center provides to Wichita. CityArts operates like a non-profit, using any overhead to offer free programming to those who might not be able to otherwise afford it. They could discuss how important art is in the lives of people, and how the freedom to think creatively overflows into all aspects of learning."

 

• What do you love most about your job?

"I love every part about working at CityArts. I love that I am there when a child realizes that the addition of a horizon line completely changes how their landscape drawings look, I love that I'm here to see their faces when I open our glass furnace and they look at glass that is so hot it looks more like honey. I love the look of satisfaction on our adult students as they leave after a few hours of throwing on the wheel. But most of all, I love the feel of the building when there's so many people inside of it doing something that is completely for themselves."

Do you know a museum educator that you would like to see 
featured in our "Gallery Spotlight"?  
Contact Karen Gerety-Folk at kgerety@jccc.edu

Featured Member: DeAnna Morgan

KAEA would like to start featuring members from across the state in semi-regular blog posts to share some of the amazing things happening in Kansas art education and to shine a spotlight on members. Our first featured member is DeAnna Morgan.

DeAnna Morgan, center, with students after winning the Pioneer League Art Competition this spring. 

Interview with DeAnna Morgan

Where are you from? Fontana, Ks

Where did you earn your degree(s) and what are they? 

I have a BSED in Art Education with a minor in Special Education from Pittsburg State University

Tell us about your teaching situation- where, what grades, how long have you been there? 

I am the only Art Teacher at Wellsville USD 289 teaching grades 7-12. This is my second year here.

How long have you been a KAEA member? I have been a member since I was a student at Pitt State, three years.

How have you benefited from KAEA membership?  

NETWORKING. I never realized how much you can learn from others in your field until I joined. From lesson plans, to media tips and tricks, to connecting across the state for collaborative projects- it's been a great resource. It's such a great organization and I cherish opportunities to meet and work with colleagues.

What is your favorite thing about being an art teacher?

Seeing that moment when a student sits back and smiles and says, "I've done it. I've finished this artwork. Isn't it great?" When a student sees their progress and how proud they are of their hard work, those are the moments I look forward to every day.

What is your most memorable moment from teaching?

My most memorable moment was this last week when my Art Department won the first place title of our Pioneer League Art Competition over Prairie View's seven year streak. They worked incredibly hard all year and competed with phenomenal projects. We came home with three of the five best of show ribbons. The best part is that they were so humble about their win and that is when you know you're teaching your students right.

One piece of advice you would give to someone just starting out in art education?

Just starting out in college?- take special education classes they will help you more than you think. Interventions and accommodations take on another meaning when working in art media and it's important to learn things to help you be successful. First year teacher- Keep a journal, write down things that work, throw out things that don't. It's okay for things to go bad once in a while, you learn, gain experience, and better your craft.

What is a tip or trick you’d like to share? To keep your supplies from walking off, make students give you a shoe to 'check out' an eraser, pencil, compass, or xacto blade. When you get your supplies back, they in return can get their shoe. It has saved me a lot of worry about running out of things and the kids get a good giggle walking around lopsided too.

Thanks, DeAnna, for sharing!

If you would like to recommend a member to be featured, leave a comment or send us a message on Facebook!