Kilkenny, Ireland

I was recently inspired by a trip to the Butler Gallery at the Castle Kilkenny in Ireland. Ireland celebrates a National Drawing Day! These are just a few photos of the Butler Gallery's children's program (SOLAS) celebrating the event.
The children's program at Castle Kilkenny was quite impressive! I was lucky enough to tour the castle on a day when the Butler Gallery was featuring work by their children and families. It was a truly unique experience that effected the way I will approach teaching art and coordinating programs in the future.

Teacher Art Rocks Too!!!

My dear friend, Quinn, and I are the featured artists in the Kentuck Gallery for August, 2009! Our opening was on August 6th. Our photography will be on display in the main gallery through the month of August.

For the opening I had an installation of projections in the Kentuck courtyard. They were especially vibrant once the sun went down.

I must thank my friends in Tuscaloosa (and those who came from out of town) for making our opening one of the most highly attended art nights Kentuck has ever had!!!. I'm sure the gelato had nothing to do with it... Yum.

KENTUCK IS GOING STRONG!

As you may know, I am involved with the Kentuck Festival of the Arts held annually on the third weekend in October in Northport, Alabama. In my opinion the festival is the premier art event in the Southeast! Recently, the organization's executive director retired. Click the photo below to read an article (featuring an interview with yours truly) regarding Kentuck's progress during the transition.
I'm so proud to be a part of the organization and very happy to see it going in a positive direction. As the article indicates, Kentuck is in a bit of a financial bind. Please consider becoming a member (it carries many perks). Call 205.758.1257 to get involved or become a member.

YOUTH ART NIGHT 2009

Hundreds of Tuscaloosa City Schools' supporters attended the 2nd annual Youth Art Night at CHOM. It was so much fun. Check out the drummers drumming, viewers viewing, and young artists enjoying their adoring fans!

Hanging the Show!!!

YOUTH ART NIGHT 2009 is coming up! Monday, May 4 from 5:30-7:30 at CHOM!

Here's a photo of Me(R) and Dana(L) hanging the art show! Don't miss the MOST FUN ART EVENT IN WEST ALABAMA!!!

YOUTH ART NIGHT MAY 4

The Tuscaloosa City Schools System will host its second annual "Youth Art Night" on Monday, May 4th at the Children's Hands on Museum 5:30-7:30. Building on the momentum from last year's successful debut, this event is a truly unique celebration of the musical and visual arts, featuring work from local city students at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.

Similar to last year's arrangement, attendees can expect to be welcomed in the lobby by the soothing sounds of the middle school string ensemble, then dazzled as they reach the second floor gallery, where an interactive drum circle will provide guests with an extra step as they peruse the gallery's visual arts.

Members of the Tuscaloosa community are strongly encouraged to attend. Complete with melody, beat, and color, this extraordinary event promises to stir the emotions of parents and children alike!

Light refreshments will be available. Click here for directions to CHOM.

Let your MIND garden grow!

I hope this image brightens your day as much as this project has brightened my year! Students learned about texture through rubbing on paper and printing on cardboard. They learned about depth and color mixing with oil pastels. They put it all together to make these beautiful, bountiful flower gardens!
Instructions:
1. Texture rubbings on paper in cool colors.
2. Texture prints on cardboard.
3. Cut cardboard into circles.
4. Colored flowers on paper in warm colors with oil pastels.
5. Glued cardboard circles to centers of flowers.
6. Cut stems, leaves and grass from texture paper.
7. Assembled collage on black paper.

2-D at Sea

Kindergarten is making 2 dimensional puppet theaters. They have spent many weeks creating their sailboats at sea. Note t he "shrinky dink" fish jumping out of the water! We cut slits in the top of the sailboats through the paper so that the students' popsicle stick puppets could pop aboard the ship! The children have THOROUGHLY enjoyed this project.