Santa Fe Folk Art Extravaganza

A few years ago I saw an article in School Arts Magazine for the Folk Art Extravaganza Seminar held by Stevie Mack of Crizmac and Nancy Walkup, editor of School Arts Magazine. My kids were either grown and gone from home or gone all summer to various camps so I decided to give the trip a try. Might have been one of the best decisions I have ever made.

First of all, Nancy and Stevie are gifted art educators. No wonder they have been the Arizona, Louisiana, and Texas Teachers of the Year. We stayed at a lovely hotel in Santa Fe, the workshop was held in a conference room at the hotel, and while we worked and learned we sat with art teachers and art enthusiasts from all over the country. And, one of the best aspects of the workshop is various artisans from the Folk Art Market come to speak to the group, and also some artists of the American Southwest. We learned, we networked, we created, and we left with MANY projects to take back and do with our own students or simply to decorate our own homes. Nancy and Stevie make it so personal because they are truly "people persons." They are, in my opinion, art education rock stars. Crossing paths with them has enriched my art pedagogy in exponential ways.

And, of course, there is the Folk Art Market. Can I just say whoaaaahohohohohooooooooo!!!! Artisans from all over the world come to the market, bringing the folk art of their communities and countries. Many are from cooperatives and work to improve the quality of life in their village. Many are highly skilled artisans (actually they all are) who have had their family craft passed down from generation to generation to generation for hundreds of years.  Many are the art rock stars in their countries and, now, around the world. The large outdoor market is held in beautiful Santa Fe with piñon trees, chile ristras, and adobes everywhere.  The night before the market opens there is an extravagant parade of nations. This is something you just won't see very often anywhere in the whole world. The groups representing all the MANY countries exhibiting at the market march the parade route in traditional costume representative of their countries and assimilate in a grand opening celebration in front of the stage. The color and beauty in that parade is unlike anything I've ever seen assembled in one place. Probably the thing I like the BEST about it is people of all races, religions, and groups are together, joined by art, celebrating life and folk art. The music is incredible and continues for days at the market. The food is delicious. Not your typical nachos and hot dogs. And, then, of course, there is the Museum of International Folk Art and many other museums..... and Santa Fe ambience everywhere to enjoy.  It's a COLOR EXPLOSION!

I cannot recommend this trip ENOUGH! I hope I get to go every summer. It will be nice to see old friends and make new ones! There is still time to sign up...but not much!

Link for the Crizmac and School Arts Magazine Folk Art Extravaganza Seminar:
http://www.schoolartsroom.com/2014/03/join-us-for-folk-art-extravaganza-in.html

Link for the Folk Art Market:
http://www.folkartmarket.org

Link for the International Museum of Folk Art:
http://www.internationalfolkart.org

This is the seminar group the first year I went. Yes, I'm in this picture. Middle row, fourth from the right. What great friends I made. We are standing in front of the Museum of International Folk Art and in front of us are several hundred booths of folk art, handicrafts, and artistry for sale by the artisans from all over the world. It's a color explosion! The photos below are from the Market and courtesy of Nancy Walkup. 

                       

                      

Santa Fe International Folk Art Market

This is one of the most wonderful things I have ever done! This will be my third year to go! If you are an art teacher not only will you love it, but it will seriously affect your pedagogy! There are still a few spots left! Sign up now!

http://www.schoolartsroom.com/2014/03/join-us-for-folk-art-extravaganza-in.html?m=1

Cut Paper People of the World& A Literacy Connection

A few years ago a I attended a professional development workshop led by a brilliant art educator. The focus was what could be made on the inside of a folded cut paper, three-sided box. Animal habitats for a science integration is one great use of these paper boxes or "backdrops."  During the workshop, however, I was intrigued by the outside of the cut paper backdrop or stand.  I actually made a peacock with the cut paper stand serving as the base of support for the large cut paper bird.  That evolved into the paper stand or backdrop being used for other things. It is a great base for a study involving the traditional dress of the world's countries.  In one of the photos below you see cut paper women from Japan wearing traditional kimonos.  What a great literacy connection can be made with this art project and Suki's Kimono, written by Chieri Uegaki and Stephane Jorisch! You also see traditional cut paper men in traditional costume from Mexico that would be a great literacy integration with The Pot that Juan Built, written by Nancy Andrews-Goebel and illustrated by David Diaz, a delightful book about the making of clay pottery in Mexico. These would also be good for a unique study in self portraits, also with a literacy integration.

                 

                                           

                

Art Inspired by Asia: Japanese Collaborative Mural

Each year my students do a collaborative mural to coincide with our cultural unit. This year might be my favorite one yet. We made a giant red pagoda or shrine to go along with our Art Inspired by Asia Unit in which we studied Japan and China.  It was cut out of three 4'x8' pieces of insulation foam. My hot knife is my favorite $250 tool. I baby and take care of it and rarely share it. Anytime we use insulation foam (an old theatre teacher's trick from my theatre teaching days) we base coat it first with white acrylic paint, which forms a nice base for all further painting.  After that dries, we draw the basic outline and details and then enjoy painting.  Paint moves really nicely on this foam. I really enjoy using it.  The pagoda was made in three sections, which were assembled right on the wall. The background was a painted paper sky and grass. Then we painted large rolled Kraft paper with shades of brown to make the tree trunks.  Finally, many of my younger students colored round pink and white circles with pink, white, and red oil pastels to make the cherry blossoms.  After a lot of positioning and taping which was done by students, the Sakura orchard (cherry blossom) came to life on the wall. (By the way, 3M double sticky white foam tape is the best for attaching heavy murals to the wall.) Students gasped with delight when it was finished. Waiting and watching for the hall mural to be finished has become quite a big moment for my students. There is a huge pride factor in their collaborative effort. I think that one of the things I enjoy the most about collaborative wall murals is that many of the younger students just simply cannot "picture" what it is going to look like as the various pieces are being made on the art room tables.  As the pieces are being assembled on the hallway wall many still do not see how the final mural is going to look, but slowly they each have their "ah ha" moments when the final picture takes shape in their thought processing. Students enjoyed a bit more fun by holding up the kimonos made with the same foam for a photo-booth type of opportunity. Those are the magical moments for me! Enjoy our Cherry Blossom Mural with Pagoda! We sure have!

The photos below show the wall mural.  There is a "wishing tree" strung in front of it and extended from two large real tree branches set in plaster of paris.  Students wrote their messages on the wishing tree cards. This is also a tradition in Asian countries.