Teacher /Student/Lifelong Learner

Art has always been my passion but Education was my profession before I retired a few years back. Taught mostly History and English but Visual Arts was always my favourite subject to teach— just as it once was my favourite class in school. Many of my ideas about art are influenced by years of working with former middle school students. More than ever, with all the distressing news in the world, we all need to lean in to our creative instincts.

As an educator, I started running an art club held during one lunch hour weekly. It was supposed to be a club for all the grade sevens and eights in the school to try some of the things we couldn’t do with classes. Word got out and demand became so great that I ended up having to run two clubs to accommodate all who were interested. Organizing those art clubs was a valuable learning experience for me —both as a teacher and artist. Together, we created ceramic wall puzzles, and papier mâché “meal” wall panels to decorate the cafeteria. We made a huge map of Canada out of clay puzzle pieces, a peace sign mural out of canvases, even decorated the gym for music concerts and special events. Most of it was not curricular material. All of it was just for fun.

These art club kids weren’t all “artsy” types either. Some were keen for sure. Many just liked to putter with art materials and create things. There were those who were socially awkward and those wanting to escape noisy outdoor games. Others sought solace from difficult home life or problems at school. Invariably, the most sensitive and often the most creative kids were among those who attended through most of the school year. For them, the art club was a refuge. Everyone had a chance to breathe and relax and create in a safe space with like-minded people.

These days, while I paint, I often think about the good times with those kids and all the wonderful art they created and displayed around the school. I wonder how many of them pursued some form of art or design as a career or would end up like me, an avid artist after years in another field.  As much as I enjoyed teaching, Sometimes, I speculate about how I might have chosen a different path, probably in some artistic capacity but these days, I am just fortunate to have the luxury of time and space to work on my own projects..and avoid the news!

Cheers!

-Jen W.