by KP | Sep 22, 2013 | Ceramics, Education
On the first few weeks of the school year Yesterday – Saturday – I spent four hours in the studio with a small group of students who had requested some weekend studio time to work on a project.  With the exception of a short lunch break for pizza that one...
by KP | Sep 16, 2013 | Ceramics, Education
Are creativity and art the same thing? Do you think creativity can be taught? Why or why not? What experiences have you had, to date, that illustrate your perspective? Creativity CAN be taught. Â To spur creativity, the teacher or learner must assure themselves it is...
by KP | Aug 27, 2013 | Ceramics, Education
Today, I found myself thinking a lot about hands. At a workshop, we were asked to make something by hand, collaboratively, without skill or knowledge of the media, tools, or technique presented. Â It felt like a game – and, indeed, it was a lot of fun, with silly...
by KP | Aug 20, 2013 | Education, Journalism
The student stared blankly at our guest presenter, struggling to answer her question about a story that appeared in a recent issue of our school newspaper. “Should have read the article, Mike,” jabbed Dan, a rising senior. “He tried, but the lede was...
by KP | Aug 6, 2013 | Ceramics, Education
In his essay “The Hegemonic Eye: Can the Hand Survive?,” artist and teacher Chris Staley writes, “Art making is an essential part of the human condition. To make something special is fundamental to our humanity-from college freshman wanting to...
by KP | Aug 6, 2013 | Education
This essay was published at ALT/Space, a publication of Teaching Artist Journal. It is the last day of the the three-week summer arts residency for high school students, where I spent most of my energy and passion this summer. We are wrapping up the last class in a...
