Food for thought on teaching and making art

So it is April 2019, and the school's end of the semester is in sight.  What a great semester full of interesting questions and delights as students feel their way through sculpture. 2018 was rough as it really taught me how much the college student as we have known them has changed.  I wish I could say that that was a positive thing but not when you feel as if you are working against a wall most of the time. It is exhausting.  This semester has taught me there is hope.  I have great students that are a constant reminder of why I teach.  They want to learn and want honesty in their art-making practice.
I could very well be comfortable in my studio dealing only with energy that is positive and hard working.  Teaching does not always bring this energy, but I do my best to support my students while making work- often times alongside them.
On my off day- I run errands and accomplish things that are quick and I can scratch off of my list which leads to a smile every time.  But I also can't help but plan for the next day of teaching. When I do this I often get ideas for my own work and the two processes feed each other.  It reminds me of artists I have not looked at in awhile like Christiane Haase:

and Daniel Agdag: 

Antony Gormley and Louise Bourgeois live in my teaching world each semester and always inform my work. If you have never seen the Art 21 with Louise- please do! It's my favorite. I love the way she touches her work while she speaks.

Teaching allows me to remember how I teach- very hands-on- fun but full of hard work. Fierce integrity and passion allow me to speak my heart and mind in the classroom and people either appreciate that or run from it.

 4th Biennial Western Cast Iron Art Conference hug with Daniel Hunt and Noah Kirby in Laramie, Wyoming.

The most I can do is throw out ideas to the students and see what they catch and what they let go. Tells me a lot about who they are and what/how they want to learn.

Ideas have homes....



Ideas shape who we are and what we stand for.