The beginning of this week kicked off similarly to the last week where the “one on one” meetings with the Illustrator were pushed to Tuesday. Chloe and I spent this session assisting the Illustrator transforming one of the Illustrator’s written autobiographical stories into a series of potential artworks. Watching Chloe initiate this process for the Illustrator was extremely insightful. I learned from Chloe that visual aids and creating collaborative planning diagrams with the learner helps the learner ‘see’ what must be done. This was the learner has also taken a part in creating their own strategy, instead of the teacher just telling the learner what to do.
On Thursday, I met with AJ’s in-person artist group via zoom. AJ began the session this day by showing a video created by https://creativegrowth.org/ . The art sector of MSSMN is in the process of fully becoming a professional art studio for their participating artists, similar to Creative Growth Arts. This video that AJ showed to the artist class members featured artists such as Judith Scott and Bill Traylor. Observing AJ pause this video in moments to discuss with the class is a strategy I hope to implement into my own methods as a teaching artist.
After the video, AJ and I spent the remainder of the class time talking with each of the artists for one on one meetings on how they were and what they were working on. As a teacher, AJ gives her full attention to these artists and what they have to share, while simultaneously aiding them in whatever of their individual needs that may arise.
AJ and I are in the beginning process of planning my next observed lesson scheduled for my Practicum Residency. Currently this lesson is planned to focus on collaboration!
Later, at noon on that same, Thursday, I joined Chloe’s Illustration group. This week we spent time creating portraits for some of the MSS staff that will be featured on the MSS website!