Why is it important that everyone makes art?

 

A Manifesto...

My students enjoying some tempera painting and Kandinsky Circles.


Hi! My names is Mrs. Chambers and I teach elementary art in New Hampshire.  This has been the wildest teaching year of my life! The coronavirus pandemic has completely changed how I look at art class and well life in general. 

Last year before the pandemic set in, I had started this blog, but never published the posts I was working on. So, this year when I was gifted some time in my art teacher schedule, I sat down and said that I needed to get this idea out there for teachers to use. 

Everyone should make art... art is significant to everyone's being... These and many more are the reasons it is important that everyone makes in your art room. Art is one of the few ways in which we can communicate as humans across various boundaries of diversity. Art transcends gender, race, culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, language, and ability.  

The Art Room is changing and as we start to see going back to having full in person classes, it's time to roll up our sleeves and prepare to get our best teaching ideas forward as we come out from the craziest time in our teaching careers!



Self Portraits from my 2nd Grade Students

I teach primary grades 1-3, but due to my unique schedule I sometimes also teach all of K-5. My student body is diverse for many reasons and it has been my mission to constantly make sure that I am supporting all of my students varying needs. For the 

However, after attending the 2nd Annual Disability Studies in Art Education Conference held at Moore College of Art on October 3rd -5th, 2019 (click here to learn more), it was clear other educators were searching for ways to make art education more inclusive. I know that many people feel that there is a lack of resources, tools, and just places to go in order get ideas about how to make the art curriculum more accessible. 

My students painting various forms of abstract expression.

As a public elementary art educator this topic is so important to me, not only for the students I teach, but for my own personal connections. I grew up with two extraordinary brothers who have helped me become a better teacher and human being. Both of my brothers were diagnosed with learning disabilities at an early age, however one of my brothers was also diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Having two brothers with such divergent thinking has taught me how to be patient, adapt and expect the unexpected. Yet, it has also given me the fuel to push myself to create innovative ways to provide my students with means to access my lessons.
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From this conference, an idea was born that maybe there should be a place were teachers can come learn and discuss different ideas that they can use in their classrooms for varying student needs. My hope for Everybody Makes Art! is that it will provide art educators with just that space to learn from myself and others about different adaptive and inclusive art practices. These ideas are meant to strengthen and support not only Art Educators, but educators from all disciplines looking to make art apart of their classroom. 



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