Images from Gateway Arts in Education Institute 2009
In August of 2009, 35 educators, teaching artists and facilitators got together at Father Ryan Arts Center in McKees Rocks along with Gateway staff to explore techiques for arts integration.
Guided Observation
Teaching artist Wendy Osher led a guided observation session of Edward Hick's Peaceable Kingdom, one of the three Focus Works of Art, at the Carnegie Museum of Art.
Exploring Mudras Hand Gestures
Samhita: Conversation in Dance, a Focus Work of Art, was performed by South Indian dance artists Spilling Ink Project. Here, the Institute participants practice mudras hand gestures and discuss possible meanings of the movements and how hand gestures are used in communication.
Mid-week Morning Warm Up Session
While warming up for a music session,
participants enjoy moving their arms in response to different musical scales.
Interpreting Sound
Facilitator Monk Rowe of Utica, NY guided educators and artists in the exploration of sound. First by having them draw a visual representation of notes he played (left) and then expressed through movement by Michele de la Resa (below).
Connecting the Works of Art to State Standards
Each Work of Art was assigned a colored dot and Institute particpants were encouraged to match the Works of Art with the Pennsylvania state standards. The standards charts were left up throughout the week and time was allotted daily to "connect the dots".
Returning Teacher Day
Graduates of previous Institutes are invited back for a one-session to continue their professional development and to take fresh inspiration back to the classroom with them. Here, graduates, along with Gateway's Executive Director Lisa Hoitsma (lower, left), get rhythm and put a story into song.
Focus Works of Art
Left: Tom Breiding,performs Steeltown, a performance of original songs relating to the coal-mining history of our region.
Below: Returning teachers and teaching artists get a chance to experience Peaceable Kingdom.
Art-making
Educators participate in art-making, an authentic experience using the same artistic medium as a Work of Art, and consider choices similar to those made by the artist(s) who created the work under study. Later, their students will be engaged in a similar art-making process.
Reflection & Group Work
Throughout the week significant time is dedicated to reflection and group work, underscoring the concept of a partnership. Educators, facilitators and teaching artist work together to explore arts integration in much the same way students, educators and teaching artists will later do in the classroom.
Keeping it Real, Keeping it Fun
Just like when children learn more when they are enjoying the process, we engage educators in the same way. It's a positive, inspiring week.