SchoolArts - April 2007

High School

Lisa Muller, Clay Tile Mural.

As a veteran artist and teacher, I would like to share my recommendations for spearheading an artist in residence program. It has been my experience that these types of projects propel the advocacy of student art and are also enjoyable for the entire school community. Through such projects, students also meet art and humanities requirements by observing acutely, thinking spatially, and then synthesizing and communicating the results of their visions.

Tips for Starting an

Artist in Residence Program _{Robyn Burchhardt}

Our program is called the Art Enrichment Group. We create works of art solely for our new building in a program that is a model for dedication, discipline, and teamwork. Yours can be, too.

needed to hire a local artist. Costs vary according to discipline and materials. Explore sources for local grants as necessary.

10. As the teacher, remain on call and be ready to reinforce work schedules and pitch in as needed.

2. Ask to have the funding dedicated each year.

Aesthetic Benefits

Getting Started

3. Interview local artists through professional art leagues, galleries, guilds, or university art departments.

The first priority is to gather the support of the 4. Arrange for secu- _{administration.} Students meet art and _rity _clearances _asFor the past seven humanities requirements required by your ^years ^I ^have ^been by observing acutely, ^school ^{district.
fortunate} ^to ^have thinking spatially, and ^5. ^Prepare ^a ^con-my administra- tract explaining _tion’s _support, then synthesizing and _the _details _of _costs,both financially communicating the time schedules, and ^and ⁱⁿ ^terms ^of results of their visions. ^materials ^to ^be ^pro-scheduling. I vided. believe this can happen for you as 6. Get signatures from the artist, well, especially with some creative your principal, and teachers over-approaches. seeing the work.

As a result of our artist in residence program, our school’s permanent collection now includes a variety of artworks such as:

• a clay tile mural using the Moravian technique by artist Lisa Muller;

• a nine-foot copper tubing dragon by artist Val Bertoia;

• an installation of hand-cast glass leaves by artist Lucartha Kohler.

Robyn Burchhardt is an art teacher at Spring-Ford High School in Royersford, Pennsylvania. rburc@spring-ford.net

Forming a core group of students 7. Develop a project timeline and is also essential. They may come share it with all parties involved. from art club or be a cross-section of 8. Remain focused on allowing students from your classes who are students to be the designers, pro-willing to devote after school hours ducers, and finishers. The artist to the project. In high school this is should be their guide and col-usually not a problem. laborator.

nationaL Standard

Students conceive and create works of visual art that demonstrate an understanding of how the communication of their ideas relates to the media, techniques, and processes they use.