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SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - An art teacher with the Sheboygan Area School District is showing other art teachers projects he uses to teach students. North High School’s Frank Juarez is presenting his 365 Artists 365 Days and Midwest Artist Studios projects to the Wisconsin Art Education Association in Appleton.
Juarez has taught art for 15 years in the Sheboygan Area School District, but it was in 2014 when he started both programs, with assistance from outside groups. This includes a grant from the Kohler Foundation Inc., the Wisconsin Art Education Association, and the National Art Education Foundation for the Midwest Artist Studios Project.
The 365 Artists 365 Days project, interviews an artist anywhere in the world and showcases their work online for his students to see. "The idea was to select and promote contemporary artists within the U.S. and possibly in other countries, and then through social media it just kind of blew up, and now we're getting tons of submissions from all over the globe." So far, artists have been interviewed from 32 states and 25 cities around the world.
The Midwest Artist Studios project has a similar premise, but with a focus on artists within a 12 state area that includes Wisconsin. Juarez says that includes traveling to see the artists in person. "We visit these artists in their studios, and then we document the artist about their creative process, their influences, their ideas, their education through an interview, through video and through photography." All this information is then used in the art curriculum that Juarez uses in his classes.
Juarez says there are several purposes for the projects. One is to showcase how artists have different definitions for studios to display their work. "It can be in your kitchen. It can be in your basement. It can be in a loft. It can be in Sheboygan. It can be in New York. It can be in your sketchbook, on a laptop."
Another is to show students that artists can come from anywhere. "(It's done) as a way to expose students to different artists from all over the globe, but most importantly from within their city or state," says Juarez.
Finally, Juarez says the projects allow his students to get a broader appreciation for art. "I personally believe that students should not only create art, but also research art, talk about art, write about art."
Juarez has provided links to showcase how his projects use the internet to help educate students. Click on the links below to find out more. You can also see Juarez's own reflection on the work he has done by clicking here.
