My Philosophy of Art Education

Art education offers discovery, learning, and problem solving. It is interdisciplinary in nature, with its ties to political and social history, language, culture, and mathematics. Because of the visual culture we live in today I think it’s becoming more and more apparent that art education is an essential part of a child’s development. The art classroom should be a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for diverse communities. We need to support the social and personal development as well as intellectual. The art teacher should introduce and guide students in their art making processes and learning, allow them to discover on their own.

The Gee's Bend eLecture

The Gee’s Bend; The History, the Inspiration, and the Quilts

History

Gee’s Bend, Alabama is a rural community of about 700 people, most of whom are Africa American, located on a fifteen mile stretch of land near the Alabama river. The area is named for Joseph Gee, who established a cotton plantation there in 1816. In 1845, Mark Pettway bought these estates, which included thousands of acres of land and 101 enslaved people. Pettway forced slaves from his north Carolina home to walk across four states to Alabama and many of these people in Gee’s Bend are descendants of them. A large number of them still bear the Pettway’s last night.

After the American civil war the majority of the freed slaves became tenant farmers and remained in the area. During the great depression (1929-39) the price of cotton plummeted, causing economic strife in Gee’s Bend. It was identified as one of the poorest towns in the nation.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. visited Gee’s Bend in 1965 and encouraged citizens to register to vote and join him in a march to Selma, Alabama, many Gee’s Bend women were jailed for these actions. For over a century, the people o Gee’s Bend has come together to overcome the struggles of poverty, isolation, and prejudice. They and the area are now recognized worldwide as a center of artistic production and a symbol of community perseverance and pride.




Quiltmaking History of the Gee’s Bend

The Gee’s Bend first got noticed in the 1960’s the Freedom Quilting Bee, a sewing cooperative that produced quilts and other sewn products for department stores was established. The Bee provided the women with income and a sense of independence during the tumultuous civil rights era. In the mid 1990’s while researching African American fold are in the south, art collector William Arnett became interested in the history of quilt making. After seeing a photograph of Gee’s Bend quilt maker Annie Mae Young standing with one her quilts, he visited her and the community. They organized an exhibition, The Quilts of Gee’s Bend in 2002. The overwhelming positive response to the show led to an entire quilt-making era. Since the 2002 exhibition, artists have been inspired to sew and older quilt makers who had abandoned the practice began to take it up again. In the current exhibition, Gee’s Bend, The Architecture of the Quilt, many of these newer works are showcases. This exhibition is currently at the Philadelphia Museum of Art from September 16, 2008 to December 14, 2008. There is no special admission fee for this exhibition so check it out! http://www.philamuseum.org/exhibitions/311.html


For more history on the Gee’s Bend check out this site:
http://www.quiltsofgeesbend.com/history/

A Look at One of the Gee’s Bend Quiltmakers

Mary Lee Bendolph American, born 1935


Mary Lee Bendolph is the seventh of sixteen children. She has spent her entire life in gee’s Bend. She learned how to quilt from her mother, Aoler. She became pregnant when she was 14-years old and that prevented her from going past 6th grade in school. She married Rubin Bendolph in 1955 and their family grew include 8 children. She worked in various text-tile jobs, mostly making uniforms. Since retiring in 1992 she has found more time to quilt. She gathers designs and ideas by looking at the world around her. For her materials, she prefers fabric cut form used clothing because it avoids wastefulness and because she appreciates the “love and spirit” in old cloth.

J.R. Moehringer wrote a story on Mary Lee Bendolph. He won The Pulitzer Prize in 2000 for it. Read the story Cross Over at http://www.pulitzer.org/works/2000,Feature+Writing

To See a Video of Mary Lee click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BxGvFxSjYE

For more Information about the Women of the Gee’s Bend check out this site:
http://www.quiltsofgeesbend.com/quiltmakers/index.shtml

Inspiration

For the women of the Gee’s Bend it was about pride, independence, survival, and community. They drew inspiration from the world around them and the materials they had. They drew ideas from what they saw like people’s clothes, churches, barns, clotheslines, land, airplanes, and colors. They primarily used old clothes as materials. Work-clothes quilts are very common. They use old work clothes to make quilts like denim, overalls, or cotton and flannel.

Here are some quotes from some of the Gee’s Bend women

“I can walk outsides and look around in the yard and see ideas all around the front and back of my house.
”Mary Lee Bendolph

“I see the barn, and I get an idea to make a quilt. I can walk outside and look around in the yard and see ideas all around the front and the back of my house. Then, sitting down looking at a quilt, I get another idea from the quilt I already made.”
Mary Lee Bendolph

“I always did like a “Bricklayer”. It made me think about what I always wanted. Always did want a brick house.”
Loretta Pettway

“We came from cotton fields, we came through hard times, and we look back and see what all these people before us have done. They brought us here, and to say thank you is not enough.”
Louisiana P. Bendolph

“ I came to realize that my mother, her mother, my aunts, and all the others from Gee’s Bend had sewn the foundation, and all I had to do now was thread my own needle and piece a quilt together.” Loretta P. Bennett

“You know, we had hard times. We worked in the fields, we picked cotton, and sometimes we had it and sometimes we didn’t. And so you look at your quilt and you say, “this is some of the old clothes that I wore in the fields. I wore them out, but they’re still doing good.”
Lucy Mingo

Images of the Gee’s Bend, which lead to inspiration of patterns and designs

The Quilts of the Gee’s Bend

Quilt Basics:
• Most quilts are made of three layers: a top that is decorative, a middle layer of soft batting that adds thickness and provides warmth, and a back.
• These three layers are stitched, or quilted, together.
• The quilts included in this presentation fall into one of two categories: pieced and appliqué. Pieced quilts have a top made of bits of fabric stitched, or pieced together. Appliqué quilts have tops that consist of background blocks of fabric with cut-out shapes of fabric sewn on top.

Basic Building Blocks of Quilts

Names of these basic quilt patterns from right to left and then down

1. "Housetop"-also called "Pin in a Pen" "Hog Pen" or "chicken Coop"
2. Four-patch"
3. "Log Cabin"
4. "Roman Stripes"
5. "Birds in Flight"
6. "Bricklayer" or "Courthouse Steps"
7. "Nine-patch"

Vocabulary:

Freedom Quilting Bee- sewing cooperative established in Rehoboth (just north of Gee’s Bend) in 1966 employed women from the local area who produced quilts and other sewn products for department stores in the north.
Quilting- the sewing that holds the top layer, middle filling layer (batting), and the bottom layer (back). It makes the quilt more durable and also traps air between the layers of cloth, which proves insulation and warmth.
Appliqué quilt- a quilt with a top made of cut-out pieces of fabric that have been sewn on top of background fabrics. Appliqué is the French word for applied.
Pieced quilt- patchwork quilt; a quilt whose top is made form bits of fabric stitched together to form patterns and borers often with a geometric motif.
Nine-patch pattern- a square quilt block made of three rows of three squares
Work-clothes quilt- a quilt made of reused work clothes such as denim pants and overalls, and cotton or flannel shirts
Block- a rectangular or square section of a quilt.
Strings- among the Gee’s Bend quilt makers, a term used to describe wedge-shaped pieces of fabric.
Asymmetry- a lack of exact repetition between the opposite sides of a form.
Reflective symmetry- (also called bilateral or mirror symmetry) when size, shape, and arrangement of parts of the left and right sides, or the top and bottom of a composition or object are the same in relation to an imaginary center dividing line.
Value- degree of lightness on a scale of grays from black to white
Complementary colors- pairs of contrasting colors: red and green, yellow and violet, blue and orange.
Contrast- a design principal that involves the use of opposite effects or shapes near each other to add tension or frame to a work of art.

Activity

Creating a sketch for a Quilt
Any Grade from 1st to 8th grade can participate. You can make the requirements more or less extensive.

Recommended standards:

Pennsylvania Academic Standards for the Arts and Humanities

9.1.8.A. Know and use the elements principles of each art form to create works in the arts and humanities
9.1.8.C Identify and use comprehensive vocabulary within each of the arts forms
9.1.8.L. Identify, explain and analyze common themes, forms and techniques from works in the arts
9.2.8.A. explain the historical, cultural and social context of an individual work in the arts.
9.2.8.D. analyze a work of art from its historical and cultural perspective.
9.2.8. E. Analyze how historical events and culture impact forms, techniques and purposes of works in the arts

Supplies:
Piece of white paper
At least 2 different types or color paper
Scissors
Pencil
Ruler
Glue


Directions:
1. Take at least 2 different color papers and divide them up using your ruler and pencil however you like, keeping in mind geometric shapes
2. After the papers are divided up cut out the shapes
3. Take the shapes and try different combinations of patterns and designs on the white piece of paper. Keep in mind the basic quilt designs for inspiration or anything you might see that catches your eye
4. Once you have a good design glue them down to the white piece of paper.

Below are some examples:




More Internet Resources

Gee's Bend, The Library of Congress' American Memory website has photographs of Gee's Bend from the 1930's ( Do a search for "Gee's Bend")
www.memory.loc/gov/ammen/index.html

Lesson Plans based on the photographs of the Gee's Bend
http://memory.lock/ammem/ndlpedu/lessons/98/grand/geesbend.html

History of the Gee's Bend
http://www.prairiebluff.com/blackbelt/geesbend.html

Online NewsHour Article
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/entertainment/july-dec03/quilts_07-01.html

Discovering the Quilts of the Gee's Bend WebQuest!!!

Recommended Grades from 4th to 6th grade 

Three Part WebQuest- You will need groups of 3 people and a pen & paper.  

Part One- Learning about the Gee's Bend 

Like a detective you are to visit these two websites about the Gee's Bend: 

The Quilts of the Gee's Bend in Context 

The Quilts of the Gee's Bend 

You are to gather as much information as you can, as a group, to write a small paragraph about the Gee's Bend. 

You should answer the following questions in your paragraph along with any other exciting things you learned about the Gee's Bend. 

1. Where is the Gee's Bend?

2. What is the Quilting Bee and when was it founded

3. What are some things the Quilters of the Gee's Bend and famous for? 

4. Who are some major artists of the Gee's Bend? 

Part Two- Exploring the Quilts 

Go to The Quilts of the Gee's Bend in Context Website

CLICK on EXPLORE and CLICK on Quilts of the Gee's Bend Catalog

CLICK on View Quilts 

Choose Two Quilts that you, as a group, admire.  Double Click on the quilts you choose to make them larger and read the information about them.  Write 3 sentences about EACH quilt you chose.  Write the Title and Artist of the Quilt and why you admire it.  

Part Three- Presenting your findings to the Class

Gather all of the information you found and go over your paragraph about the Gee's Bend and your two small paragraphs about the quilts you chose.  Each person in your group will share one of your 3 findings to the class, so work as a team and figure out who is going to read what!!! 

For Extra  FUN !

CLICK here to do Puzzles of the Gee's Bend Quilts! 

Wish You Where Here Lesson Plan

8th Grade

Digital Collage 

Brief History/ Background:

Collage is known as a Nonconformist Art.  It involves putting together various materials to create one image.  digital Collage involves taking digital images from photographs or the Internet and/or scanning images and arranging them on programs like photoShop. 

Standards:

Academic Standards for the Arts and Humanities 

9.1.8.A. Know and use the elements and principles of each art form to create works in the arts and humanities 

9.1.8.C.  Identify and use comprehensive vocabulary within each of the art forms 

9.1.8.L.  Identify, explain and analyze commons themes, forms and techniques from works in the arts 

National Educational Technology Standards 

1. Creativity and Innovations- Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. 

     a. Applying existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes. 

     b. Create original works as a means of personal or group expression. 

6. Technology Operations and Concepts- Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations. 

     a.  Understand and use technology systems,

     b.  Select and use applications effectively and productively 

     d.  Transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies. 

Goal: To create a digital images in Photoshop that is about their home. 

Objectives: 

Students will be introduced to collage using the computer program Photoshop. 

Students will be introduced to digital photography and scanning images into the computer. 

Students will become familiar with Photoshop 

Students will create a digital collage 

Students will reflect on the process of using the computer as a means of making art. 

Requirements: 

Participation in opening discussions

Produce a digital image about their home 

Participate in critique 

Understand new vocabulary

Resource Materials/Visual Aids: 

PowerPoint presentations of collages and examples of digital images 

Supplies/Materials: 

Digital camera 

Scanner

PhotoShop Software 

Teacher Preparation:

Create PowerPoint

Gather digital cameras and images

create handout on basic photoShop tools

create handout of new vocabulary

Teaching: 

     Introduction

To introduce the students to the lessons a PowerPoint will be given on collage, on digital images, on scanning images, and on basic PhotoShop tools.  Demonstrations will be done on the basic tools, scanning images and unloading digital images.  we will have a discussion about ideas and ways to express where we live.  

Directions: 

1.  Open Photoshop.  Click on File and select New.  Make the width 10 inches and the height 8 inches.  (Be sure they are not in Pixels) 

2. Click on File and select Place.  Select an image from a file on the computer.  Each image placed will create a laywer, which will be seen in the toolbox to the left of the image. 

3.  Repeat step 2 as many times as you desire (no less than 6 images) 

     Move and change the sizes until the images are where you would like them to stay. 

4.  Go to Layer and select Flatten Image.  This gets ride of all the layers and makes it one image. 

For the rest of the assignment you must use these tools at least once however you desire. 

1. Quick Selection Tool (it's the little wand) Select a part of the image and copy and paste is somewhere else. 

2. Blue Tool (it's the raindrop shape) Just place the circle, any size you like wherever and click and hold down until desired

3. Dodge or Burn Tool (dodge tool looks like a lollipop and the burn tool looks like a little hand) Places the circle somewhere and hold down, the dodge toll will get lighter and the burn tool will get darker. 

4. Experiment!  With at least 2 different tools, also play with 1 Adjustment option (located on the top menu bar) Write down what you do to the image so we can talk about it in the critique! 

5. Go to File and click Save As.  Save with your last name and Wish. Ex. WelshWish.jpg. 

6.Print image 

Closure: 

Make sure all the images are saved gain.  Turn off the computers.  Hand up the images and get ready for the critique! 

Critique: 

Students will have a change to talk about their images first and explain how it talks about their home.  Peers will be asked to ask questions of how they did things.  the students will be teaching their peers about how they used PhotoShop. 

Extension: 

For early finishers they can play with making another collage on any subject.  if they want to do this they will be able to print them as well! 

Time Budget: Three 45-min Classes 

Day One 

15 min. Introduction

15 min. demonstrations 

10 min. Brainstorm ideas and begin assignment by making the new file.  

5   min.  Cleanup

Day Two

15 min.  Take digital images if needed and upload to computer

10 min.  Scan images into the computer 

15 min.   Work on assignments

5   min.  Clean up.  Save File! 

Day Three 

20 min. complete assignment

10 min.  Print images and clean up 

15 min.  Critique 

     

Fabric Quilt Designs

Jennifer Welsh
4th Grade
Fabric Quilt Designs

Standards:
Pennsylvania Academic Standards for the Arts and Humanities
9.1.8.A. Know and use the elements principles of each art form to create works in the arts and humanities
9.1.8.C Identify and use comprehensive vocabulary within each of the arts forms
9.1.8.L. Identify, explain and analyze common themes, forms and techniques from works in the arts

Goal: To create a 14 x 20 inch fabric quilt pattern using recycled fabrics.

Objectives:
Students will be introduced the Gee’s Bend Quilts
Students will be introduced design and composition
Students will become familiar with the properties of fabric
Students will create a fabric design
Students will reflect on the Quilts of the Gee’s Bend
Students will reflect on their design and art processes

Requirements:
Participation in opening discussion
Produce a fabric quilt design
Participate in critique
Understand new vocabulary

Resource Materials/ Visual Aids:
The Gee’s Bend Book
Presentation board with Quilt images and the Patterns
Supplies/Materials:
Fabric of all sorts
14 x 20 inch canvases
Fabric Glue
Scissors
Paint Brushes ( for glue )
Teacher Preparation:
Create Presentation Board
Cut out 14 x 20 inch Canvases
Collect and cut fabric into strips and square shapes
Create Examples
Create handout on Types of Patterns
Create handout of new vocabulary

Teaching:
Introduction
To introduce the students to the lesson we will sit on the floor in a circle on a quilt. The presentation board will be discussed and the Gee’s Bend Book will be discussed, showing photographs and reading some passages. After discussing the Gee’s Bend and the different types of patterns a bag of fabric will be poured out in the middle of the circle. The students will have 5-8 min to pick out pieces of fabric they want. Then they will be directed to the table where their canvas will be laid out. They will start to cut shapes and make patterns. Once they have a desired pattern they will glue them down.

Directions:

1. Cut up the fabric and play with designs. You must use one of the design patterns somewhere
througought the pattern.
2. Lay out all the fabric where you want them on top of the canvas
3. Use the paint brush to put glue on the canvas and lay the fabric on top

Closure:
Make sure every piece of fabric is glued down good. Hang them on the wall for critique. Put all extra pieces of fabric away. Wash the paint brushes and throw out any excess glue.
Critique:
Each student will pick a fabric quilt design and talk about why they like it. Make sure all the students have talked about each work. During the critique ask questions about the patterns and designs made.

Extension:
For early finishers they can go online to this website : The Gee's Bend in Context
And do digital puzzles of the Gee’s Bend Quilts.

Time budget: 45min. Class
10 min. Introduction and demo
5 min. Pick out Fabric
20 min. Layout Design and Glue Down
5 min. Clean-up
5 min. Critique/Assessment

Inspiration for Designs

Jennifer Welsh
5th Grade
Inspirations for Designs

Standards:
Pennsylvania Academic Standards for the Arts and Humanities
9.1.8.A. Know and use the elements principles of each art form to create works in the arts and humanities
9.1.8.C Identify and use comprehensive vocabulary within each of the arts forms
9.1.8.L. Identify, explain and analyze common themes, forms and techniques from works in the arts

Goal: To create an 8 X 10 inch collage using found objects based of a photograph.
Objectives:
Students will be introduced how the Gee’s Bend get inspiration for patterns
Students will be introduced design and composition
Students will be introduced to found object art
Students will be introduced to digital photography
Students will create a found object collage
Students will reflect on their collage
Students will reflect on their design and art processes

Requirements:
Participation in opening discussion
Produce an 8 x 10 inch collage
Participate in critique
Understand new vocabulary

Resource Materials/ Visual Aids:
The Gee’s Bend Book
Examples of found objects
Examples of finish project

Supplies/Materials:
Digital camera
Found objects (Ex. Scrap wood, recyclables, paper, fabric)
8 x 10 inch Masonite boards
Ticky Tacky Glue
Scissors
Paint Brushes (for glue)

Teacher Preparation:
Create examples
Cut out 8 x 10 inch Masonite boards
Collect found objects
Print the student’s digital photographs
Create handout of new vocabulary

Teaching:
Introduction
To introduce the students to the lesson we will sit on the floor in a circle on a quilt, like the first class session. We will look at the Gee’s Bend book at the photographs of inspiration for the women. We will talk about the close-up photographs and the abstract form they will make. We will get a demonstration on how to use the camera to take photographs of areas of the classroom that inspire designs. There will be a demonstration on how to glue the objects down to the Masonite board.

Directions:

1. Find a close-up area of the classroom that you like, when you are ready raise your hand and
we will take the photograph.
2. Print the photograph.
3. Go through the found objects and recreate the photograph using them.
4. Glue down the objects to the Masonite board.
5. Clean up and we will have a critique of the work!


Closure:
Clean up. Put all the glue brushes in the sink, throw away extra glue, and put all extra found objects back in the bag.

Critique:
Each student will pick a collage that they found inspirational. The person whose was last talked about will chose one they find it is inspirational until everyone’s artwork is talked about.

Time budget: Two 45 min. Classes

Day One
15 min. Introduction & demonstrations
15 min. Find a place in the classroom to photograph
10 min. Free Drawing using markers, crayons, or pastels. The
Drawings must be related to quilt designs and the Gee’s Bend.
5 min. Clean-up

Day two (Photographs to be printed by the teacher before class)
5 min. Review of assignment and requirements, a demonstration again if needed
15 min. Pick out found objects and make arrange design on the board
10 min. Glue Objects in place
5 min. Clean-up
5 min. Critique

Resume

Education:
2008-Present The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
MAT, Masters of Teaching in the Visual Arts (graduation Fall 2009)
The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2004-08 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Sculpture
2006 Summer Drawing & Cultural Studies Study Abroad Budapest, Hungary
Employment Experience:
2008 Preschool Teacher, The Learning Experience, Cherry Hill, NJ
Basic childcare services and early education, Ages infant-4-years old.
2006-07 Mentor, The University of the Arts Student Services, Mentored 23 freshman
students throughout their first year of college
2006 Instructor Assistant, Fine Arts, Drawing and Cultural Studies in Budapest
2004-2008 Office Assistant The University of the Arts Academic Support Office,
File Papers, make copies, process mailings, and answer phones.
2004-Present Tutor The University of the Arts Student Services,
Tutoring in any Freshman Courses
Internships:
2008 Teaching Assistant, Fairmount Early Intervention Program, Philadelphia, PA
Teaching Assistant for 30-50% mentally delayed and/or autistic children
from ages 3-5 years old.
2007 Teaching Assistant, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA
Teaching Assistant for the Saturday Arts Lab working with children from 9-12
years old.
Exhibitions:
2008 Academic Achievement Program Exhibition Sande Webster Gallery,
Philadelphia, PA
2007-2008 New Ideas in Medallic Sculpture Medialia Rack & Hamper Gallery, New York
2007 Academic Achievement Program ExhibitionSande Webster Gallery,
Philadelphia, PA
2007 The University of the Arts Junior Sculpture Show Art at Sophi Gallery,
Philadelphia, PA
2006 Academic Achievement Program Exhibition Sande Webster Gallery,
Philadelphia, PA
2005 Academic Achievement Program Exhibition Sande Webster Gallery,
Philadelphia, PA
Honors, Awards, & Scholarships:
2008 Howard A. and Margaret R. Wolfe Scholarship
2008 Graduate Student Assistantship Scholarship
2008 Student Employee of the Year Award, The University of the Arts
2008 Howard A. and Margaret R. Wolf Scholarship
2008 Honorable Mention, Academic Achievement Exhibition at Sande Webster Gallery
2007 Welding Award, Sculpture Department
2007 3rd Place, Academic Achievement Exhibition at Sande Webster Gallery
2007 ACT 101 Scholastic Achievement Award
2006 Presidential Leadership Team Player Award, The University of the Arts
2006 Travel Award, The University of the Arts
2005-2006 W.W. Smith Scholarship
2004-2008 The University of the Arts Promising Artist Award
Conferences and Service:
2007 Selected to present a workshop at the Regional ACT 101 Leadership Conference
Workshop on Multiple Intelligences & Creativity through teamwork
2006 Selected to attend the National ACT 101 Leadership Conference
2005 Selected to attend the National ACT 101 Leadership Conference
2004 Selected to attend the National ACT 101 Leadership Conference
2004-2008 Student Representative, AAP Advisory Board
Organizations:
Member of National Art Education Association
Member of Pennsylvania Art Education Association
Skills:
Creative Sculpture; Welding & various metalworking’, woodshop, molding & casting, figure modeling, Drawing; figurative & representational, various crafts, and Gallery Installation
Computer Mac/Windows, MS office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) In Design, Adobe (Writer, Photoshop, Illustrator)
Travel- England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Austria, Hungary, Germany, Mexico