Art Paper Scissors

Montclair’s Art Explosion

Tomorrow, Thursday, March 10, Montclair High School will showcase the art and talent of its schools at the annual Youth Art Explosion and Concert.

All 11 schools and hundreds of students will be represented in the MFEE Laraja Gallery at MHS which is located just outside the MHS auditorium. Approximately 350 student vocalists will perform in the concert following the art exhibit opening. Read More

Arts and crafts kits for kids get more creative

Not so long ago, it was hard to find an art kit for children that involved much more than some pompoms, glitter and a few pipe cleaners.

Today's creativity kit is a whole different pot of paint. Some introduce new artistic techniques, while others offer open-ended project possibilities.

If you're looking for stay-at-home spring break craft activities that encourage experimentation and expression, you're in luck.

Read More

Arts Action Fund - 50 States 50 Days

http://artsactionfund.org/pages/50-states-50-days

Starting on Saturday, July 31 and continuing until Saturday, September 18, Americans for the Arts Action Fund will coordinate a “50 States 50 Days” initiative that supports local advocacy activities in all 50 states and in as many congressional districts as possible. This summer, the Arts Action Fund is urging arts advocates to use their incredible arts institutions at home to convey their message about the arts in a setting that reinforces themes of economic development; jobs in the arts; arts education; and partnerships between artists, institutions, and local policymakers.

log on to their website for ideas on how you can participate.

American Craft Week October 2010

Imagine a craft festival that extends across 50 states, or a national open house inviting the public inside hundreds of art studios, craft galleries, museums and stores.

American Craft Week October 1 - 10, 2010 aims for an impact of that scale with hundreds of artisans, retailers and institutions uniting in a national celebration of all things handmade.

 As a teacher,  what a great way to introduce the impact of Craft to your students.  Consider creating a community craft event or take your students to some local galleries and studio workshops.

It is easy to participate and you can receive much more information and many ideas on how you can bring Craft to your students by clicking on the link below.

American Craft Week is a project of CRAFT, the Craft Retailers and Artists for Tomorrow trade association and Craft in America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and celebration of craft and its impact on our nation's cultural heritage.

American Craft Week Website

NYC Art Events

Arguably the art capital of the world New York City is abundant in art events.

On any given day from 5th Avenue to the Lower East Side to Queens there are free and low cost forums to view and experience all sorts of art.

Here are some of the best places to find these events.

2009 State of the Arts Survey April 2009

In March and April of 2009 a cross section of art teachers throughout the

United States

were asked to share their views on the state of art education. The survey group spanned grade levels 0 through 8. 

Summary of Findings

Most respondents reported that the state of art education was about the same, a smaller number felt that art education was getting worse. A fortunate few reported that art education in their area had improved.

 

Obama's 2010 proposed budget gives 4% boost to NEA

The Los Angeles Times reports this good news in an article published on May 7th.

Mike Boehm wrotte: "The National Endowment for the Arts would get a 4% raise under President Obama's federal budget proposal for the coming 2010 fiscal year.

This increase would continue the modest growth implemented under George W. Bush after the 1990s "Culture Wars" brought drastic reductions from which the agency still has not nearly recovered." Read More

New Jersey Art teacher selected as 2008-2009 ‘Teacher of the Year’

ELEANOR MATHEWS, Contributing Writer for the Echoes-Sentinel reports:

WARREN TWP. – Joan Thomson, a 26-year veteran art teacher at Wathung Hills Regional High School, has been named the school’s “Teacher of the Year.”

Thomson is very definite in her belief in the importance and benefits of art education.

“Art helps young people define who they are,” she says. “It encourages them to take pride and satisfaction in their individuality.”

 Read More about Art Teacher of the Year on the Echoes-Sentinel Web Site

        NJ.com also covered the story about this teacher

Photo Compliments of Eleanor Mathews.

Great Wall of Brooklyn Public Art Project Launched Today

The Great Wall of Brooklyn in Fort Green is a public art project founded by Charlotta Janssen, an international artist, business woman and arts advocate.

It will feature the work of Brooklyn-based and international artists.

The first display is a work entitled, Achtung Baby… Here Comes the Next Great Depression,” originally developed as a painting, and transferred into a digital mural, for the Great Wall.  The Great Wall of Brooklyn Web Site

This is from American for the Arts

We received this today from American for the Arts if you have not seen it please read.

May 7, 2009 Dear Diana: President Obama today released the final details of his FY 2010 budget request to Congress which includes the nation’s cultural agencies and programs, including the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), Institute for Museums and Library Services (IMLS), and the Department of Education’s Arts in Education program. Write your members of Congress and tell them to support funding for these cultural agencies.