Aprendiendo del Arte-Learning from Art

Aprendiendo del Arte-Learning from Art!
And, that is exactly what we did!

Agustin, Nancy, Dr. Taylor, and Cilau with
Dr. Taylor's Foundations of Education Course Members

I don't really even know where to start. I could write for days and days about this wonderful event. February 17th & 18th the Art Education Program at Kansas State University hosted three guests for two days of workshops, lectures, demonstrations, and exhibitions. Our focus was Huichol Yarn Painting and tradition, Oaxacan wood carving and tradition, and Dr. Elliot Eisner's Ten Lessons the Arts Teach. Our guests were Cilau Valadez, a Huichol yarn painter from an area near Puerto Vallerta, Mexico; Agustin Prudencio Cruz, a Oaxacan wood carver, from Oaxaca, Mexico; and Nancy Walkup, a giant in art education and the editor of School Arts Magazine, as well as a national board member with NAEA for quite some time. She has many other titles, too! Since this isn't my official KSU blog, but a personal art blog I maintain, I'm going to write from more of a personal viewpoint.

Nancy Walkup speaking in the Foundations course.

Nancy flew into Manhattan, we unloaded her things at my house, and the two of us headed off to Kansas City to pick up the guys. I picked Cilau up at Kansas City, Missouri on a snowy February day. He's seen snow before, but we laughed with him because he was wearing no socks and it was pretty cold. We waited quite awhile for Agustin's flight to come in; it was late. That gave Cilau, Nancy, and I time to sit around and visit....and visit....and visit! His plane eventually arrived and we drove two hours back to Manhattan after getting Agustin, who was VERY excited to see the snow, a delicious Jack-in-the-Box meal about 10:00pm.  We got the guys settled at the hotel, Nancy and I headed back to my house, and the art adventure began.

Cilau with KSU College of Education faculty
at welcome reception.

On Tuesday, Feb. 17 we began the day by speaking in a colleagues class about teaching with diversity and teaching to diversity. Then, the college hosted a reception to welcome the guests with a Q & A session. After a quick bite of lunch we did two two-hour workshops, back to back, to a packed room of KSU students, area high school students, area art educators, and various residents of the area. the workshops gave attendees a chance to make up to 8 different projects and see Agustin and Cilau demonstrate their yarn painting and wood carving and painting. Attendees at the workshop made:
1) Retablos (or memory boxes)
2) Embossed Tin Ornaments
3) Yarn Paintings
4) Papel People
5) Papel Picado
6) Ojo de Dios (God's Eyes)
7) Dio de los Muertos Skulls
8) Oaxacan wood painting

Cilau welcoming workshop attendees and explaining
Huichol yarn painting.

Agustin, with a translator, tells Workshop attendees about
Oaxacan wood carving. 

Two art teachers from Kansas City
 watch a yarn painting demonstration.

Workshop attendees at Aprendiendo del Arte!

One reason I know the event was very successful was because of the Reflections my students wrote after the event. The learning and meaning that happened at this workshop was just what I was hoping for. I'll share some of the reflections in another post.

After the workshops we had a bit of time to get refreshed for dinner and we met a wonderful group of friends and colleagues at a nice restaurant in town for dinner. Aside from me slipping on a small wet spot on the concrete tile floor and flying thru the air, feet up high, landing on the ground like I was making a snow angel, the evening was wonderful. It was good to sit around the table, visit, share a culinary experience, and socialize in a way that I sometimes think is being forgotten in this day and age. It was a great evening.

Huichol Yarn Painting and also Huichol Beading

Agustin's Oaxacan Wood Carving and Painting

The following day was very busy, too. We began with a lecture in Bluemont Hall, where I work. Then we did two lectures at the Beach Museum of Art on KSU campus. The Beach Museum told us they had never had a lecture with that high of attendance, and twice! Students and faculty came from all over the University. After the lectures, we rushed to the Strecker-Nelson Art Gallery for a reception and exhibition. And, then we headed across the street to end two wonderful days, which had been immersed in art and culture, with a relaxing meal with a couple of my good friends on our faculty. We laughed, we smiled, we were all so happy with how the two days had gone. They could not have gone better. It was as if all of us did not want it to end. I know this to be a normal phenomenon when art people gather. I think that many of us are social creatures, who enjoy the human connection, and we know innately that the world can never have enough beauty....I guess that's why we work so hard to create it.

Above and below: Cilau at the first lecture. 

Agustin speaking at the first lecture with Cilau translating.

Nancy speaking at the first lecture.

The lecture at KSU Beach Museum of Art.

Next four images:
 Jay and Barbara Nelson
of the Strecker-Nelson Gallery
with Cilau and Agustin. Also, Nancy
and myself with Cilau and Agustin. 

We estimated about 650 people or even a bit more attended the events in two days. When you are planning events such as this one you fret and worry a bit about attendance....but every room we hosted an event in was packed. It was such a good feeling! It was an even greater feeling to bring a quality, art education event to Kansas State University's College of Education. I was really blessed when I got this job. Generally, if I am awake I am thinking about it.....about how to build a quality program.....about how to best teach so that I am growing outstanding teachers.....about how to convey my love of art to others.

Joseph Addison said, "What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable." I think this quote best sums it up.....when we plan professional enrichment type of events our goal is to provide a quality cognitive experience for those who attend....but always in the back of my mind.....is let's smile and have a little fun, too.......life is made for that. Aprendiendo del Arte was something I will never forget and something I was honored to get to experience myself. Cilau, Agustin, and Nancy are amazing artists and educators. Gosh, I'm thankful for this experience!