Exhibit spotlights work of local art teachers
Jenny Lucas doesn’t get much downtime. She juggles several commitments as a mother, wife, arts educator in The Woodlands and doctoral student at the University of Houston. When she’s not working, preparing school plans, studying, commuting or spending time with family, she recedes into the warm embrace of her studio — her kitchen table — where she works in mixed-media.
“Until I get a studio space, it’s mostly painting,” Lucas said.
Lucas teaches Advanced Placement studio art courses at The Woodlands High School, where she helps students realize their creative potential. But finding time to hone her own craft can be a challenge, and soliciting venues to show her artwork — that’s a full-time job, too.
Lone Star College-Montgomery is providing an outlet for art educators like Lucas to show their
work. Lucas is one of 10 educators in Montgomery County featured at the college’s Mary MattesonParrish Art Gallery in an exhibit dedicated to area high school art teachers.
“It’s always exciting for art teachers to get an opportunity like that. We don’t often,” Lucas said. “For a practicing artists, it’s almost a second job to promote your career. So as a teacher and practicing artist, to take on that extra step of trying to promote is almost impossible.”
Lucas’ story rings true for many of her colleagues. Dandridge Reed juggles two jobs as an Advanced Placement studio art teacher at Oak Ridge High School and an adjunct professor at the LSC-North Harris campus along with commitments to his wife and son.
“The hardest part about teaching and working as an artist is finding time for everything. I wish I had an extra six hours in the day,” Reed said.
To take advantage of every little moment, he carries around a sketchbook so he can quickly jot down thoughts and draft ideas for his next projects. Even with the hectic schedule, he still produces up to a dozen paintings a year along with drawings and other works. One of those paintings is hanging in LSC-M’s art gallery. He hopes that by showing works created by educators that students realize that working artists come in all forms.
“I hope that this show helps to teach the students that we are not only teachers but also artists. It is few artists who are able to survive by only making art, so you do not have to be an ‘artist’ only to make art. Art is something that everyone can add into their daily life,” Reed said.
The show, which is the first of its kind at LSC-M, features teachers working in a variety of mediums from Oak Ridge High School, The Woodlands and College Park high schools, Conroe High School and Magnolia High School. A reception was held on Nov. 6, and the show runs through Friday at the Mary Matteson-Parrish Art Gallery, where gallery coordinator and LSCM Professor of Ceramics Charles Wood put together the exclusive show for high school arts educators. With this show under his belt, he hopes to hold an arts educator exhibit annually at the college’s gallery.
“It just kind of blossomed. It was a writtenon-a-napkin type of idea, and it just grew,” Wood said. “High school art teachers with their schedules are extremely busy. Plus they all have children and a teacher’s salary, so they have no time to work on their own. So when they do, they’re happy to show it. It’s a good way to have it in a legitimate gallery setting. ... Their work was very high quality.”
Arts education in the digital age has never been more critical than it is today, said College Park AP art teacher Tammi Madera. And while state lawmakers slashed more than $4 billion from the state education budget in 2011 that still has some districts reeling, Conroe Independent School District has kept up its arts education.
“I think arts education is so critical in today’s education. It is one of the only subjects that has several correct answers and takes so much decision-making to get to the conclusion. I see many students uncomfortable with making decisions for themselves. The creative skills they nurture in art class will help with their problem-solving skills in every aspect of their life. Divergent thinking is key in today’s complicated world,” Madera said.