Educational Lineage
For a visual representation of my educational lineage I was initially working with transparent layers on a pie chart. I wanted something that could show how experiences are linked together and build off of each other. Later I switched to using a mobile as a way to show balance as well. As the mobile developed it got out of balance, as we do in life, and things shift back as new elements are added. I’ve learned from traditional school settings, teachers, and artists - each with something unique to offer. I added visual representations of the most influential points with photos and craft pieces similar to the kind I made as a kid. The diorama is my high school with factory smoke stacks, the yellow flowers are hibiscus (the Hawaii State flower). When I put it all together on the mobile I realized the concept was not working as well as I hoped, the heavier craft items were collapsing the mobile in on itself. I wanted to use playful kid friendly art mediums so I moved towards collage instead which still conveys the playfulness of children's art mediums as a tool for learning.
I attended six schools before entering college. I am grateful for the variety of learning environments I was exposed to. I can notice where some settings were more nurturing learning environments than others and how a lack of national systems of education across states impacted my learning (Rury, John L., (2016) Education and Social Change. Rutledge). For example when I moved from Washington State to Hawaii I skipped learning to read time, I did not learn to read a clock until middle school and struggled with telling time into highschool. I believe the early foundations of our education have a long lasting impact. I went to Annie Wright in Washington State where I enjoyed small class sizes and access to child focused learning tools. Later I was at elementary school in Hawaii, where I have wonderful lifelong memories of culturally diverse and immersive learning projects. Looking back I can see where they had used a 'Big Idea' as a learning tool and made it personal and connected to our daily life experiences. I can still remember specific projects from this time because they were “meaning-making” (Walker, S.R. (2001). Teaching Meaning in Art Making. Davis Publications, Inc). I went to three more schools in Washington State after this including Timberline High School which had originally been designed as an open concept school with flexible scheduling. Timberline eventually merged with the more traditional public school system by the time I attended but still had aspects of the open floor plan. We did have a wonderful technology department and I worked on film and building “websites” as they looked in 1994-1998. My most valuable influence at this time was not in the classroom, it was my close friend's mother who was continuing her education in fields that interested her like physical therapy and master gardening. Watching her continue her education throughout life has had a great impact on me.
When I went back to college at Wayne State University I was originally enrolled in the business department. I took an elective art history class and decided to transfer to the art history department for my Bachelors. I learned from a variety of art history professors, artists and art professionals with a depth of knowledge in their field. Here I discovered how viewing history and the broader world through the lens of art helped deepen my understanding of the world. In a class with Dora Apel, I researched Weimar art and artists like Hannah Hoch and her exploration of the “new woman”. I also took jewelry and metalsmithing courses and enjoyed the methodic practice of working and creating with my hands, a wonderful way to get out of your own head and into the moment. I’ve always enjoyed craft arts and here I was able to see artists working in a craft medium making fine art. I had a work study job with the galleries and worked with a wonderful group of artists and teachers who helped me develop my own research and writing skills. I also worked as the curatorial assistant at the WSU Galleries and learned how to develop and coordinate exhibitions and was exposed to so many wonderful artists. Some of the most influential artists' works we presented were The Royal Art Lodge and Marcel Dzama.
I've continued my education at the College for Creative Studies with courses on web design, ceramics and glassblowing. I experience glassblowing as a type of art therapy that forces me to be focused and continue a creative practice through many challenges. CCS has been a wonderfully supportive learning environment where I've experienced community. Being a student in my 40's has also been really exciting! I love seeing how many developments have been made to enhance learning and support the student population, and I get to experience being in a school that values liberationism and divergent thinking.
The most impactful and transformative learning for me has come from becoming a parent. Being one of the most influential people in a child's life has been a huge responsibility and a gift. One of the most important observations I’ve had as a parent is to support children's learning by offering tools but not interrupting or interfering with their natural learning process. Failures can be some of the most valuable teaching moments. Children are naturally curious and creative, but as we get older we can lose some of our creativity (RSA, 2010, Changing Education Paradigms, [Video], Youtube.com). Keeping a sense of wonder about the word is a driving force in continuing my education and getting into the field of teaching.
For a visual representation of my educational lineage I was initially working with transparent layers on a pie chart. I wanted something that could show how experiences are linked together and build off of each other. Later I switched to using a mobile as a way to show balance as well. As the mobile developed it got out of balance, as we do in life, and things shift back as new elements are added. I’ve learned from traditional school settings, teachers, and artists - each with something unique to offer. I added visual representations of the most influential points with photos and craft pieces similar to the kind I made as a kid. The diorama is my high school with factory smoke stacks, the yellow flowers are hibiscus (the Hawaii State flower). When I put it all together on the mobile I realized the concept was not working as well as I hoped, the heavier craft items were collapsing the mobile in on itself. I wanted to use playful kid friendly art mediums so I moved towards collage instead which still conveys the playfulness of children's art mediums as a tool for learning.
I attended six schools before entering college. I am grateful for the variety of learning environments I was exposed to. I can notice where some settings were more nurturing learning environments than others and how a lack of national systems of education across states impacted my learning (Rury, John L., (2016) Education and Social Change. Rutledge). For example when I moved from Washington State to Hawaii I skipped learning to read time, I did not learn to read a clock until middle school and struggled with telling time into highschool. I believe the early foundations of our education have a long lasting impact. I went to Annie Wright in Washington State where I enjoyed small class sizes and access to child focused learning tools. Later I was at elementary school in Hawaii, where I have wonderful lifelong memories of culturally diverse and immersive learning projects. Looking back I can see where they had used a 'Big Idea' as a learning tool and made it personal and connected to our daily life experiences. I can still remember specific projects from this time because they were “meaning-making” (Walker, S.R. (2001). Teaching Meaning in Art Making. Davis Publications, Inc). I went to three more schools in Washington State after this including Timberline High School which had originally been designed as an open concept school with flexible scheduling. Timberline eventually merged with the more traditional public school system by the time I attended but still had aspects of the open floor plan. We did have a wonderful technology department and I worked on film and building “websites” as they looked in 1994-1998. My most valuable influence at this time was not in the classroom, it was my close friend's mother who was continuing her education in fields that interested her like physical therapy and master gardening. Watching her continue her education throughout life has had a great impact on me.
When I went back to college at Wayne State University I was originally enrolled in the business department. I took an elective art history class and decided to transfer to the art history department for my Bachelors. I learned from a variety of art history professors, artists and art professionals with a depth of knowledge in their field. Here I discovered how viewing history and the broader world through the lens of art helped deepen my understanding of the world. In a class with Dora Apel, I researched Weimar art and artists like Hannah Hoch and her exploration of the “new woman”. I also took jewelry and metalsmithing courses and enjoyed the methodic practice of working and creating with my hands, a wonderful way to get out of your own head and into the moment. I’ve always enjoyed craft arts and here I was able to see artists working in a craft medium making fine art. I had a work study job with the galleries and worked with a wonderful group of artists and teachers who helped me develop my own research and writing skills. I also worked as the curatorial assistant at the WSU Galleries and learned how to develop and coordinate exhibitions and was exposed to so many wonderful artists. Some of the most influential artists' works we presented were The Royal Art Lodge and Marcel Dzama.
I've continued my education at the College for Creative Studies with courses on web design, ceramics and glassblowing. I experience glassblowing as a type of art therapy that forces me to be focused and continue a creative practice through many challenges. CCS has been a wonderfully supportive learning environment where I've experienced community. Being a student in my 40's has also been really exciting! I love seeing how many developments have been made to enhance learning and support the student population, and I get to experience being in a school that values liberationism and divergent thinking.
The most impactful and transformative learning for me has come from becoming a parent. Being one of the most influential people in a child's life has been a huge responsibility and a gift. One of the most important observations I’ve had as a parent is to support children's learning by offering tools but not interrupting or interfering with their natural learning process. Failures can be some of the most valuable teaching moments. Children are naturally curious and creative, but as we get older we can lose some of our creativity (RSA, 2010, Changing Education Paradigms, [Video], Youtube.com). Keeping a sense of wonder about the word is a driving force in continuing my education and getting into the field of teaching.
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I started with a basic outline and at first thought about representing my lineage in a circular pie chart style. I wanted to show that my education, like for so many, was not linear or complete but layered and always expanding and growing.
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Then after working on aspects other than my schools, I wanted to also bring in the idea of balance, to show how out of balance some of my experiences have been and how they affected my education. At this point I switched to a mobile concept that keeps the circular idea and builds on it with aspects of balance and openness to influences from everywhere. I also liked how the mobile brings in a reference to parenthood where I’ve personally learned so much.
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