Metaphoric Self-Portrait
please click on the image to see an enlarged view
Statement
Art is seen by many as less academic than other school subjects, but without art instruction we do not provide students with the necessary environment for optimal growth and change.
StatementArt instruction, like properly prepared soil, provides conditions favorable for students’ metamorphosis. When teachers, administrators, board members, parents, citizens, and business come together to fortify the soil of a quality art program, they forge a path toward students’ self-expression.
Community support, teacher training, and funds work to support the curriculum, like the rain and sun sustain trees and flowers.
Trees and flowers prevent erosion, provide shelter and nourishment for cicadas. Cicadas, like our students, need perfect conditions to reach their full potential. Art history, art materials, and knowledge of art processes nourish the creative soul.
The art room, a rich composite soil of contributors, provides an environment that is used and consumed by our children so, like the cicadas, they may grow, develop, and transform into better versions of themselves; individuals who are eager to bring flight, song, art, and joy to our world.
Brainstorm
Sketches
Posts
I am a niece-in-law of Heidi's. I think this piece is beautiful. In fact, I could see it being sold at a college poster fair. It's vibrant and intricate. Students' lives are so complicated, like the roots are shown here. Art truly is the only way many are able to express how they feel as they incubate to adults. The important thing is that they are expressing themselves. . . and Heidi's concept "shows the way". I like it very much. I can also appreciate her choice of a cicada over, say, a butterfly. Less trite and more appropriate.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate how you tied sustainability to the arts. We need to stress this as often times the arts are so quickly cut from schools. Art is so important and such an integral part of helping students construct their knowledge that it seems so natural to make this connection with art. Not many subjects allow students to create original work nor do they ask students to create themselves again and again.
ReplyDeleteDaniel Pink noted that the future will be rely on the talent of right brain thinkers. We need to encourage our students to design and take risks that will lead us into the future.
And as the world gets more global, understanding oneself may be a useful tool to better understand others. And may be art will help bring about the peace we seek in a creative way we can not even imagine yet.
I believe that this piece of art shows the true meaning of teaching and the metamorphosis of children's minds and bodies. As a former student, I can say that Mrs. Drake put things that made life interesting into my everyday work and my everyday achievements. I give this a 10! Spencer E. Age 12
ReplyDeleteKnowing Heidi the way I do, it is no surprise to me that she would choose something as vital to living as soil for her metaphor. I truly believe that Heidi is an artist at the cellular level and I cannot possibly imagine life without the inspiration that her perspectives and experiences bring. She has inspired artistic confidence in my children that I would never have been able to. Every student that is lucky enough to attend Heidi's art lessons in her art room come away knowing that she sees art as an integral part of life that is available to each of them.
ReplyDeleteI truly believe that some of our school's most divergent and challenged learners have been able to shine in ways that would have been impossible without Heidi's influence.
What I love about Heidi's metaphor is that each aspect of her visual representation is and can be a story all it's own.
Respectfully submitted by Heidi's friend, coworker, and fan,
Melissa
I am so excited about this project and I want to share it with my high school art students that are working with Photoshop. It is very appropriate that Heidi would incorporate the art and earth science concepts together for this portrait. I am also excied for the fact that she is in a college class and learning how to create digital concepts and put them on blogs.... where do I sign up?! It is interesting to see this project from brainstorming and conception through to a completed image, and then be able to read the statement, which has a poetic sound to it. I very much appreciate the message being sent about the role of all members of a society nurturing our children in creative endeavors. I can not offer much criticism on the digital process, as I am just learning that myself. I think the concept is strong, the assignment is very contemporary and cool and I can't wait to see how this spills over into Heidi's very cool classroom projects.
ReplyDeleteTaina B. from the Britton Art Dept.
I am a stutent from 3rd grade and Mrs. Drake is my art teacher and I love your art it is awesome. I wish that I would be that good at art as you at art.
ReplyDeleteYou are very good at art. I think you are one of the best artest' in Morenci?
ReplyDeleteANNA G.
Wow. A powerful statement indeed. Your artwork is great and really reflects your feelings of environment. I too share your belief about optimal conditions. I think we as educators do ourselves miraculous favors by preparing our environments to cater to students learning needs. Unlike nature, we have more direct control in the "goings on" of our environment. I love the balance of your work. It gives me the feeling that the roots are every bit as important to the tree as what we see above ground. Very nicely done.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first look at the self portrait, I look to the roots. I think of persons roots and where a person comes from. They way their art develops and educational background grows like a tree over time. The dividing line down the center draws my eyes away from the messages across the portrait, maybe a filter or smooth blend into the tree would be better. Even to roughen up the line, not so straight because everything is so organic and welcoming, the line makes it a mirror image. Overall, it is a wonderful design; the connection to the cicadas is interesting.
ReplyDelete