Aprendiendo del Arte-Learning from Art at Kansas State University

In 2014 Aprendiendo del Arte-Learning from Art was birthed. With the help of my good friend and fellow art teacher, Barbara Martinez at the American School in Monterrey, Mexico, the name was formed. The goal of Aprendiendo was to bring artists from other countries to Kansas State University, once a year, in an art and culture exchange, where learning was paramount, by both the artists and our college faculty and students.  We just completed our third annual Aprendiendo del Arte, bringing artists from South America in 2015, 2016, and 2017.  The first year Cilau Valadez and Agustine Prudencio Cruz were our guests, both from Mexico.  Cilau is a Huichol yarn painter and Augustine is a Oaxacan wood carver. Last year Victor Guitierrez was our guest. He is a retablista from Peru. And this past April, Zoila Guaman Quizhpe and Zoila Alejandra Chalan Lozano were our guests. They are from Ecuador and part of La Mega women's cooperative in the Saraguro region and do the amazing and intricate beading the Saraguroan women are known for.  These experiences have been so pleasant, rich, and meaningful for all of us. Art brings people together and we learn more about ourselves as we interact and learn about others.  Victor went back to Peru and got chairs for his studio so we could come visit him and he has become a good friend.  Cilau and Agustine have become good friends and we cross paths occasionally.  We'd love to go see Zoila and Zoila and tour their school, where Zoila Quizhpe is a teacher. I hope to stay in touch with all of them.  I'm not sure who we will bring to KSU next April, but we will venture out to find other artists.

Kansas is known as the "breadbasket" of America....or at least it was when I was growing up on a Kansas farm.  We are right in the middle of the United States. As I walked across campus with my Quechua women friends in their traditional clothing and with Cilau in his beautiful Huichol embroidered clothing, I found myself wondering if it might have been the first time Quechua women walked across KSU wearing their black and white hats from the Saraguro region....and I wondered if it might have been the first time a macho Huichol man walked across campus in his traditional and gorgeous floral embroidered clothing....I really don't know....but these artists inspire me more than I can express here. Their skill, talent, vision, creativity, and determination are amazing. But more so, their love of life and their ability to express such kindness and love to people they have only just met and most likely will never meet again is what touched me the most.

Indigenous art is very important. As globalization changes things for people in the nooks and crannies of the world, it's important that we preserve and protect the beautiful, colorful, highly skilled work known as folk art and the talent of these indigenous artists. Kansas State University art education program, in the College of Education, is making an effort to support these artists in their creative journeys.  In the process, our own faculty and students are growing in their world lens and I am certain their future classrooms will be much more global because of this...and probably a lot more colorful!

A message Cilau wrote to me on the back of a piece of Huichol yarn painting I purchased. 

Cilau at Kansas State University in 2015 explaining his work to a multi-cultural course.

Cilau and Agustin speaking to art education students. 

Augustine explaining how he carves wood and forms it into various shapes. 

Victor working on a retablo.

Zoila and Zoila with myself, our interpreter from KSU, and art educator, Courtney Smith, at Courtney's school where we spoke to the 5th grade. 

eARThshaking in O'Keeffe country!

Georgia O'Keeffe's name is synonomous with southwestern art. This Ohio farm girl, who moved to New York City, and then found her way to the beautiful, rugged, mountainous area north of Santa Fe, left her mark on art. One of her paintings sold for $44.4 million in 2014; the highest saleing female painting of all times. It's easy to see why she fell in love with New Mexico, and the area up around Ghost Ranch where she lived, north of Abiquiu. After spending her days in a highrise in NYC living in the wide, open spaces of Ghost Ranch was a feast for her senses and serenity-inducing.

My daughter and I spent 23 days in Santa Fe this past summer for a vacation, to attend the International Folk Art Market where I volunteered as a Block Captain, and to attend a SchoolArts Magazine Workshop and also a workshop with a well known children's book illustrator who lives in Santa Fe. More about that later. On Sunday afternoon we decided to go on a road trip up north of Santa Fe, north of Espanola, north of Abiquiu, to the area of Ghost Ranch. The month prior to our Santa Fe trip had been pretty stressful. Sometimes we just have to acknowledge it and deal with it. There had been a lot of people going thru some pretty tough times that had needed me and I had felt pulled in a lot of directions. I had noticed that in a physiologically sort of way, I had been noticeable stressed; a different sort of phenomenon for me. So, Chloe and I got a Starbucks for the planned drive, and headed off on our afternoon road trip. She fell and sprained both ankles about a week before our trip, was in two medical boots, and we used a wheelchair a bit too, so her vacation wasn't very easy. We both noticed a weight come off of us as we began our drive north. Soon we were smiling, laughing, and the further we drove north and the more beauty around us, the more I noticed our spirits had really lightened. I didn't really say much about it to Chloe, but we both remarked over and over how fun this road trip was. But, inside while I drove and we talked, I kept finding myself thinking how can a drive help destress? You see, I think I gained a glimpse of what Georgia felt. She had lived in the concrete jungle of NYC and had lived a life in the spotlight, especially after her photographer husband did a show with some revealing pictures he had taken of her. Her life became much more complicated after that. And so I think coming out here inspired her as a painter, yes, but I think it also helped her find peace like she couldn't find in New York City. She blossomed, so to speak, as a painter surrounded by the beauty of the southwest and Ghost Ranch. I think in some regards Georgia, Chloe, and I were kindred spirits on that drive. I felt the blues and greens and terra cottas of the landscape...the bright yellows, hot pinks, and reds of the wild flowers and cactus, singing to my soul. It was the most soothing thing I have done in a very long time. I often remind myself to soothe my soul. Maybe it's the artist in me. I don't know. But it's important for all of us. Believe it or not I took these pictures with my iPhone:

"When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it's your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else. Most people in the city rush around so, they have no time to look at a flower. I want them to see it whether they want to or not."  

                                                                                              -Georgia O'Keeffe, American Artist

Life Changing, World Changing...Mentoring

      

I enjoyed spending the weekend with five KSU seniors in art education as attendees
at the KAEA Fall Conference held at Pittsburg State University.

    Although I continue to teach art education in a variety of K-12 settings including at community art events and community programs, in private school settings, and as a guest art teacher in local elementary public schools, as well as at various children’s programs in museums (most recently to Title 1 elementary students in New Mexico), I find myself really honored to be teaching future teachers at Kansas State University. One cannot raise the bar any higher. Five times a week I pour my teaching stories, experiences, and expertise into young people. I know the sharing of my life experiences are impacting them in meaningful and beneficial ways; ways they may not even realize until they are in their own classroom. This is not a job that I take lightly. Our world needs gifted, caring, committed teachers. It thrills me to know that my words, both written and spoken, may change thousands of lives I will never know.

Marjorie Schick, a Kansas artist whose iconic jewelry is in the Smithsonian Institution
and has graced the cover of Vogue magazine, mentored a ballroom full of
current and future art educators. She spoke at the KAEA Fall Conference and
took time afterwards to visit with KSU seniors.

      Through my involvement in the National Art Education Association, a vibrant professional organization for art educators in the U.S., and through the Kansas and Texas chapters, I have had opportunity through many presentations, speeches, and workshops to teach thousands of practicing teachers. I implore them to teach globally inspired art as our world is changing; I teach them how to find ways to teach in other nations as our world is changing; I teach them how to use 21^st century learning to Skype with teachers and classrooms all over the globe as our world is changing; I show them how to integrate the arts into their generalist classrooms as project-based learning is vital and our world is changing; and I teach them how to gain grants and fellowships such as the one I went on to Istanbul as our world is changing. After only one year teaching at KSU, I was selected as the KAEA Higher Education Art Educator of the Year-this is not being said with vanity, but with a stoic resolution that art in our schools can serve a much broader purpose than it traditionally has. When art is relegated to holiday bulletin board décor and school decorations we aren’t fully grasping its ability to create higher level thinking. Being nominated for the award by one of my first year teachers was so nice and hearing her presentation speech is something I will never forget. I particularly liked it when she said that I believed in her even when she didn’t believe in herself. That’s what teachers do. That is what teachers should do.

     Last spring I brought two artists from Mexico to KSU, a Oaxacan wood carver and painter and a Huichol yarn Painter. For four days we led lectures, demonstrations, and workshops. More than 2000 people attended these events. These young men learned their trade from generations of their families and they are changing the villages where they live. They have added to their family tradition the use of social media, travel, public relations to spread their talent far and wide, actually all over the globe, furthering the income of their community and family, and teaching others about their culture. Art educators and teachers from all over were invited, as well as my own students and all of our KSU students. Nancy Walkup of NAEA and SchoolArts Magazine said it was the most organized art education event she had ever attended and wanted to know if we could take the show on the road. I think that would be marvelous…and extremely educational. The point is that global mentoring occurred. Only about ten of my KSU students that semester, about 130, said they had been out of the United States. By bringing the world to them, their sense of self in their greater place grew.

     Art has a unique ability to help mankind understand mankind. When art educators mentor others, when they share with others, we increase the impact and advocacy of the overall education exponentially. Bronfenbrenner would have said the microsphere radiates out into the macrosphere.  A professor I work with refers to it as the networking theory. I know that art can be life changing and world changing. I know this to be true. I see this every day in my courses and art classes. It is my goal to make sure other teachers, other art educators, know this as well.

Teachers, Doers, and Goers

 "We are now at a point where we 

must educate our children 

in what no one knew yesterday,

 and prepare our schools 

for what no one knows yet."

-Margaret Mead (1901-1978, American Cultural Anthropologist)

     Global awareness is imperative. This awareness is my personal testimony, my life story, and the emphasis I put on this focus each and every day is paramount in my own life, but also important to the young educators I teach. It is clear to me as a school teacher in the United States, but also a school teacher who has trekked to developing countries, to difficult places with poor facilities which lacked running water or electricity, to places that were dangerous, often walking alone or with a translator down red dirt roads to go visit homes of students, to offer hope and change in HIV/AIDS infected areas or areas where witchcraft and religion or ancient ways of doing things was stifling children’s opportunities to learn or girls abilities to read and write, where I had to ride a bus up the dangerous dirt road on the side of an Ecuadorian cliff over and over again to get to the school at 12,000 feet in the Andes Mountains twice a day, where I myself got parasites over and over again, where I stood in a neighborhood that required girls to cover themselves and not be educated….that education is the BEST tool we have to make this world a better place for all of us.

     You see, I believe radicalism, terrorism, and poverty have always existed since the dawn of time. Humans do the most terrible things to each other in the name of religion, ethnic cleansing, and power. Slavery has existed going as far back as recorded human narrative. It’s about power. One people group exerting their strength over another. But, as Nelson Mandala said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” I know this. This makes so much sense. Education is what changes our homes, schools, communities, countries, and cultures for the better. This world is housing more people than ever before in its history and somehow we have all got to find a way to live in peace together.  With over 320 million people living in the United States and the world’s population soaring to 7.2 billion in 2015, that is a lot of people who need to find some common ground, literally and figuratively. The atrocities being committed against people right now are deplorable and children most definitely deserve a much better, safer, healthier life. However, as a seasoned teacher who won’t even ride a roller coaster because it scares me, but one who will navigate paths in dangerous places around the world armed with books and education, I know that that education isn’t going to happen without teachers. Education might be the vehicle; teachers are the drivers. And, so, in my 53rd year of life, I find myself preparing to go to refugee camps within the next year or so to do some of my preliminary doctoral research on how art can change lives in these camps. I won’t ride the roller coaster at the State Fair this year, but I’ll pack up and go to a refugee camp. If we want to have a better world, we need teachers to go and do; not sit and type. And, then we need teachers to bring back these stories to their classrooms and create more teachers, more “doers,” and more “goers.” Then, as Mandala put it, the weapon of education will far exceed the weapon of steel and lead and plutonium. Margaret Mead (1901-1978, American Cultural Anthropologist) said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” Perhaps some art educators need to pack their bags and become world changers.

             -Trina Harlow, Kansas State University College of Education, Art Education, Oct. 18, 2015

National Art Education Association 
Western Region Leadership Conference
June 18-21, 2015

 The leaders of the Western Region of NAEA convened in Santa Fe, New Mexico June 18-21st to discuss art education in their states and the state of art education. The conference was outstanding, and thank you to Elizabeth Willit of Texas and Phyllis Roybal of New Mexico for all of their hard work planning these enjoyable work days. I am left with a few thoughts. 1) Art educators are amazing! 2) As a society we place so much emphasis on "decor" and making things look nice....in our work buildings and places, in our homes, in our public spaces and places, in all forms of media......yet art education which is where all of this stems from is often the one genre or discipline in the educational realm to get overlooked the most in strategic planning at the local level or cut....or targeted by governors and state legislatures, especially Republican governors. I've been a Republican my whole life but I am really concerned why education, and especially art education, is always their target. There is waste in every level of government and all departments need to be held accountable. The stories of what Republican governors are doing to the arts and art education was so disheartening. 3) Good (or great) art educators ADD SOOOO much to the local school and community and state! 4) Doesn't even have to be said but research shows schools with the arts do better on standardized testing, have lower dropout rates, and higher attendance rates. The arts seamlessly integrate with all other subjects. Plus, these schools (and communities) are happier places where the soulful, spiritual side of being a human can thrive well! 5) And there was more. 

In art education we always have to advocate. There are many theories for this, but one of the more common reason is man of our K-12 administrators worked their way up through the coaching ranks and some value arts education and some just aren't focused on it at all. Support the arts in your communities....visual arts, drama, dance, music. Let your school admin know how much you value the arts. Support local art teachers with your resources and time. Good arts teachers should be a valued contributor in your community. Call them to serve on local committees, speak at local functions, and participate in local events. They and their students can enhance so much in your community. I grew up in a western Kansas community (Yay Scott City!!) where the arts and sports were both outstanding and prominent in the community and still are! I remember the quarterback (Hi Galen!) coming out to march with us in the marching band at halftime of football games! 

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL ARTS. This even seems more relevant to me as I spend a lot of time driving these days from Texas to Kansas and Texas to New Mexico. Many of our small towns are losing their vibrancy.....probably in part because of Internet commerce. The arts can bring vibrancy to your community!! As I ponder the many comments made by representatives from 16 states at the conference, advocating for the arts is something I need to do more often and something that I know can bring life and vitality to your schools and communities. I have seen and experienced it in my own life. It's called community building.