friday wisdom.

some of my AP students have been talking about this movie all year and i finally got around to watching it last weekend.

this quote really stuck with me.

artist of the week :: kelly hurlburt

kelly hurlburt is a student in my AP Drawing class this year - and i have been lucky enough to teach her since she started at thomas as a freshman. on top of being an awesome kid and artist, she is helping out this year in my studio in art class as a teaching assistant (and you've seen their colored pencil works in my last post). needless to say, we spend a lot of time together!

the AP Art curriculum mandates that each student choose a 'concentration' theme for 12 of their 24 portfolio works. in her words, kelly's theme deals with the juxtaposition of scenes from everyday life with scenes of disaster and suffering. these somewhat whimsical combinations are meant as sybolizations of apathy. in other words, the pieces comment on how people do not care about tragic events that are going on in the world if they do not directly affect them.

everyone that sees her work finds in not only visually arresting, but also thought-provoking and mature. it is definitely one of the most creative 'concentration' themes that i have seen in my 9 years (nine years!!!) of teaching AP. 

take a few minutes and look at kelly's work (you can click on the images to enlarge them) - consider how we all take these issues for granted as we rush through our daily lives.

The Tsunami Dancer

Avalanche

For Sale

For Sale (detail)

El Derrame De Petróleo

The Inundation

art room progress... and studio in art awesomeness.

its been a great week in the art room...

drawing 1 is starting their digital painting self portraits, AP continues on with their 'concentration theme' work, and drawing 2 and studio in art are continuing with their still lives.

i continue to be impressed with the work that all of my students are doing - and today my (mostly freshman) studio class' progress and overall awesomeness compelled me to share with you all.

the display board

AP 'concentration' examples

studio in art still lives (9th graders!!!)

alyssa's drawing in progress

marie's drawing in progress

friday wisdom.

thich nhat hanh was first introduced to me by my mentor bill stephens. he encouraged me to check out the book living buddha living christ, and i connected with its message right away. i have since found him to be a consistent source of inspiration and guidance on my journey - not just regarding spirituality, but humanity, focus, and compassion. the messages in the book (as well as most of the messages of the weekly 'friday wisdom's) also reminds me of my old FHS mentors jim nowak and kyle hargrave.

i highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in a broad and introspective view of spirituality.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Buddha and Christ, perhaps the two most pivotal figures in the history of humankind, each left behind a legacy of teachings and practices that have shaped the lives of billions of people over the course of two millennia. If they were to meet on the road today, what would each think of the other's spiritual views and practices?

Thich Nhat Hanh has been part of a decades-long dialogue between the two greatest living contemplative traditions, and brings to Christianity an appreciation of its beauty that could only be conveyed by an outsider. In a lucid, meditative prose, he explores the crossroads of compassion and holiness at which the two traditions meet, and reawakens our understanding of both. "On the altar in my hermitage," he says, "are images of Buddha and Jesus, and . . . I touch both of them as my spiritual ancestors."

>A rare combination of mystic, scholar, and activist, Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh is one of the most beloved Buddhist teachers in the West.

"[Thich Nhat Hanh] is a holy man, for he is humble and devout. . . . His ideas for peace . . . would build a monument to ecumenism, to world brotherhood, to humanity."

—Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in nominating Thich Nhat Hanh for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967

friday wisdom.

art shows!!!

i am lucky to have my students' work featured in 2 exhibits right now. the first is at the rochester arts and cultural council, in honor of youth art month. the show is composed of works from 3 awesome local high schools, and was conceived of by west irondequoit superintendent jeff crane and curated by IHS teacher and art coordinator sue jacobs. IHS and penfield high school join the webster high schools in this beautiful show, which takes place in the most professional gallery setting that we've shown in. it is in fact the first time that high school student work has been featured in this particular gallery - and i think we are setting a high bar.
there will be a closing reception on march 23rd that will be open to the public, and will have the same selection of great food (and great artwork) as the opening reception.
please join us!

also, my AP art class will be having our annual exhibition at The Owl House, opening next monday, march 11 from 6-9pm. the kitchen will be closed for dinner so we'll have the restaurant to ourselves as we transform it into a gallery.
there will be free snacks and the bar will be open.
this reception is free and open to the public - we would love to have you all join us!
if you would rather go and enjoy a fantastic meal while surrounded by the great artwork, the show will be up until april 7, and the restaurant is open tuesday-sunday each week!

friday wisdom.