Youth Frontiers is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that partners with schools to build positive communities where students thrive socially, emotionally and academically. Our vision is to change the way kids treat each other in every hallway, lunch line and classroom of every school in America. Bring Youth Frontiers to your school.
Our long and exhausting day with Dan and KK – it was AWESOME and an Adventure. I, and the rest of the group, were pooped at the end of the day! Thanks Guys! I only wish I’d have gotten some feedback from the kids about the experience they took away from the day. Personally, I know that I have a direction I am focused on over the next year (lifetime I hope) and walked away with a better understanding of others.
Dan the Guitar Player and Retreat Presenter
Dan is a singer/songwriter from Detroit who moved to Minneapolis when he was 18 to pursue a career in music. Seven years later, he has released three albums and has traveled all over the United States playing different venues and festivals.
In 2009, Dan came across a volunteer position at Youth Frontiers, and since then has come on board as a Retreat Staff Musician. He shares his music on retreat, and considers it a blessing to be able to work with an organization that allows him to pursue his passion and make a difference at the same time.
KK (Kesiah) a bundle of Retreat Energy and Marathon Madness
KK (Kesiah)
Kesiah, Retreat Director, has been with Youth Frontiers since 2007, though it feels as through it has been a part of her life since Junior High when she was a student on a YF Courage Retreat. She returned to work with YF as a high school leader, thus starting her career at YF.
She grew up in Forest Lake, Minn., with nine siblings, and when she wasn’t changing a younger sibling’s diaper or feeding them a bottle, she found her fun playing sports and participating in performance arts. After changing thousands of diapers, she felt that it was appropriate to devote her life to working with youth… and not just to be sure that their diapers were dry and the babies happy. Kesiah considers working with kids a privilege and she is delighted to walk into work everyday knowing that she gets to make a difference in the world.
Kesiah attended the University of St. Thomas where she studied Social Work and Political Science. In her spare time she loves playing and watching sports, running and doing anything outdoors. She also loves to cook for just about anyone.
While I could go on and on about the arts and why they matter… I will let the American for the Arts Action Fund do it in their own words. This is straight from their website: http://www.artsactionfund.org/pages/why
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But first: #BeTheARTbeat on twitter and social media present a quick little video by artists from around the country (me included – see if you can find me)… TWEET AND RT – SHARE ON FACEBOOK, WHEREVER YOU SOCIALIZE… LET’S MAKE SURE THE ARTS ARE SUPPORTED WHEN THE WE NEED THEM THE MOST!
Simply put, the arts are essential to the proper functioning of our society. The arts continue to demonstrate their ability to provide categorical evidence of their impact on social issues that concern virtually every facet of American society. The arts are especially important for our children. Students with an arts rich education:
Have better grade point averages
Score better on standardized tests in reading and math
Have lower dropout rates
Funding for arts education programs in schools is being cut back or eliminated. Many arts organizations have had to make drastic reductions in hours, and offer fewer productions each season.
The work of the Arts Action Fund helps reverse these trends. The Arts Action Fund is the only national organization that mobilizes Americans in the fight for arts funding and arts education. We’re building a nationwide army of citizen activists who will help guarantee that arts-friendly public policies are adopted at the federal, state, and local levels. Add your voice!
Donate to the Arts Action Fund
Help the Arts Action Fund advance the arts and arts education in your community and across the country.
Become a Member Annual membership is free. Join the movement to advance the arts and arts education in your community and across the country.
Support Pro-Arts Representatives
Review the Congressional Arts Report Card which grades all current Members of Congress on their support for the arts.
Tell a friend Spread the word and share what you’ve found with your friends. You can even customize the message, if you’d like.
Contact Your Legislator
Two minutes! That’s all it takes to tell Congress to support the arts and arts education.
Saturday, August 3 the Waterford Chamber of Commerce is running the Full Moon Four Miler race in Waterford. I remember YEARS ago – 10+ years maybe, sitting at the top of the hill, back near the Waterford Water Tower, ringing a cow bell saying to my family “I’ll do that next year!” That didn’t happen for a number of years – but I remember it well. Now, a few marathons behind me, I still enjoy the run. Today was a 17 miler in training for a fall marathon, I think that I will NOT be able to make the Full Moon on Saturday, but… Brett Roberts and I managed to pull together the awards for the first place finishers. All the best of running to all of the runners – big kids and little kids alike. Thanks to the Waterford Chamber of Commerce for trusting the Waterford Union High School Art Department for making the awards again.
Once again, but with a moving twist, I offer a brief glimpse of the works currently on display (and for sale) at Cafe LuLu in the Bay View neighborhood of Milwaukee, WI. When you happen to be in the neighborhood – please stop in and take a look. My family and I had a great lunch there and this is a short video of the works. Please, stop in and check out the works, have a GREAT MEAL, and contact me when you are interested in the works. Also… mark your calendars for September 27 when the ENTIRE BAY VIEW Neighborhood opens their artistic doors to celebrate the artwork, artists, art galleries, and art spaces that Bay View, Milwaukee has to offer. I will be at Café LuLu to talk and chat… I hope to see you, and all your friends, there!
It seems like I have been on a two week sabbatical… it has been busy and I am glad to be back.
Thanks to the Inspiration of Blouin Art Info‘s Southampton Art Fair (the Third and LARGEST art fair in Southampton), and the 60 works in 60 seconds video produced to publicize the show (Link Here). I present to you 34 Works of Art in 50 seconds. The video of my works (with music presented by YouTube – Thanks) I offer a brief glimpse of the works currently on display (and for sale) at Cafe LuLu in the Bay View neighborhood of Milwaukee, WI. If you happen to be in the neighborhood – please stop in and take a look. If you are in Southampton, do the same for their show!
In a great video by Dr. Tony Wagner (Twitter: @DrTonyWagner), he describes the Seven Skills that are essential to the graduates of today. The unfortunate thing is… most courses do not offer these skills because, so it seems, most classes are so content driven, there is no room for the other skills that need to be taught.
Collaboration across networks and leading by influence
Agility and adaptability
Initiative and entrepreneurialism
Effective oral and written communication
Accessing and analyzing information
Curiosity and imagination
As I consider the Arts Curriculum that I teach, with Goals and Objectives based on the National Visual Arts Standards, the Seven Skills that are “Must Have’s” are touched on and dealt with on a regular basis. Maybe not each skill every day, but as I look at particular assignments / artworks, one may see the connections that are dealt with to emphasize the seven skills (and one may look at Marzano’s Instructional Strategies [my notes on the book: Classroom Instruction that Works] to see if and how they all tie together). I am in a fortunate position where the elements and principles of art are simply a foundation for the creation of artwork and tie together and build upon one another from the very first class to the highest level of an AP course. Line is Line is Line… Value is Value is Value… Balance is Balance is Balance… and the artists just get more adept at using them throughout the years.
Skills and tools like Critical Thinking: looking at the assignment, challenge at hand and coming up with multiple successful solutions to the same challenge; Collaboration: sharing ideas and critiques – both through writing and orally; Being Agile and Adaptable: enough to solve problems with resources at hand; Taking Initiative: to be self driven artists (some struggle with this – some are pro’s); Effective Oral and Written Communication: Critiquing, again the written and oral – both self, teacher based, and peer to peer – soon parent to child to teacher; Accessing and Analyzing Information: taking the historical and contemporary ideas and tying the artistic challenge into their own artwork. Making sure that the artwork they create speaks about their important place in history; and finally Curiosity and Imagination: Making successful and challenging art – Duh? These are ALL parts of each and every artwork (sans the Art Foundations on EACH of the projects – there are the elements and principles one has to get through… but give it time).
Aboveis Dr. Tony Wagner’s Video and Belowis his Power Point Presentation… Definitely worth the look. Thank you Edutopia and Dr. Tony Wagner.
“I Will Fill It With Splendid Gifts,” 2013, Art*Bar.
Once a year, I get the opportunity to create a temporary artwork at the Art*Bar in Milwaukee, WI. The Art*Bar is exactly what it sounds like, a Bar that has no wall advertising for the adult beverages that it serves, but rather walls full of real, live, legitimate Art (with a capital A). To see MORE of my art and the PURCHASE MORE of my art (nudge nudge…) please visit frankkorb.com and get in tough with me through my e-mail there.
After September 11, 2001 occurred, and the world was still reeling from the shock, “Don Krause, then 42, took the event as a personal wake-up call and sought out a place to cultivate his Riverwest dream, to create a unique tavern. “I never told anyone what I was working on and I didn’t know when it was going to open,” says Krause. “I had never done anything like it before.” All he knew was how to create a good atmosphere, developed from his eight years as an interior designer at Ethan Allen.” (Putz, http://urbanmilwaukee.com/2013/05/27/taverns-artbar-is-a-painters-paradise/). Thank heavens Krause had this vision and was able to follow through with it. (As a side note: Please visit the a fore mentioned article / link about the Art*Bar. It is amazing how SMALL the world is. Nastasia Putz was a one semester student of mine YEARS ago and has now made her marks in the world of journalism. It is funny how people circle in and out of one’s life. Thanks for the conversation Nastasia – great article!)
10 years fast forward (and 10 paintings of my own at the Art*Bar) we arrive at July 7, 2013. Ok, the math doesn’t work out quite right, but the Art*Bar has been around for 10 years now… Walking into the space, I arrive with a start and see that the traditional scaffolding that usually holds the artist for the evening above the 3′ x 5′ canvas above the door is missing. This happened to me last year also, but it was just that the scaffolding had been forgotten about. This year… the scaffolding is gone and the canvas is propped up on a table awaiting the new ideas of the arriving artist.
Previous work by Jason Roberts (I think… sorry Jason).
The idea behind the “One Week Painting” that I have created and planned on creating is such an ingenious idea of temporary art, I have carried it into (or rather just outside of) my high school classroom. For one small amount of time (8 hours) a painting is created and then hangs for one week. After that week, another artist comes in and reworks, incorporates, or completely obliterates the previous weeks work and a NEW work is presented for the week. This happens for 51 weeks and then the final week a PARTY is held for the 51 artists who took part. Slide show of all the year’s paintings is projected, prints of the works are hanging on the large metal / magnet wall, and Don’s favorite 10 are printed / frames and hanging in the prominent place around the bar. I have had the fortune to be a “favorite” twice in my 9 previous year… maybe 3 times… I’ll have to check my CV.
“Controversial Backdrop Sought” from 2012 at the Art*Bar.
Not entirely certain as to the direction I was planning on going, I prepared with some supplies of recycled drop papers, coffee filters, and my faith in the Bible pages I base most of my artworks over. I stepped into the establishment with supplies in hand, my trusty buckets and milk crates of paints, ready to attack, or at least gently work the painting from the previous week into my thoughts for the current week. The 6 hours I needed on July 7 were full of “What do I do NOW,” “How to solve that issue,” and “I think this is going to work, I have got it.” Here is the process of the 6 hours of making a “One Week Painting” at the Art*Bar.
The original painting I came upon.
My first thoughts and preliminary notions for the artwork.
The first grid has been laid in and the rest is still up in the air.
Continuing with the process…
The center column is laid in and as are the Bible pages.
The lower portion has been whitewashed – ready for paint!
Beginning with yellow and Gesso at the top.
Blues come into play next.
Red is next in the color choices… are you seeing a relationship in the use of colors?
Partway through the process…
Details and pure colors are being added.
GREAT Detail… Idea for future smaller work I think.
Detail.
Detail.
Another detail.
From the side… I love the new layout…
The entire area – great crowd!
The palette I put up last year is still getting used! I have made my mark!
The final art work “I Will Fill It With Splendid Gifts” July 7, 2013 – the Art*Bar.
Detail of NEW work over mine…
The lines have stayed in place… YEAH!
It was great to see the collaged materials still in place.
Great texture… great colors new artist!
Here it is… the new painting over my last week painting.
I apologize for missing the Thursday morning post. It is funny how the days are different when the daily planning for classes has been set a side and the larger picture of learning comes back into focus for me. I am not sure if anyone else in any other industry (if one can think of education as an industry) has experienced that… anyway.
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As a BEFORE – I share today’s work in my studio with you. I THINK I have a show coming up in July… I’ll keep you posted, and it was good to get back to work.
“Untitled” as of yet. I have been neglecting my work for some time… good to be back at it.
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Technology in the classroom was my big presentation at last weeks InterActiv Learning Conference 2013 in Whitewater, WI. My largest concern with the use of today’s technology is the misuse of it. Having had an opportunity to listen to a new Freshman in High School (not mine… well, my kid, but not my district) discuss the use (or in some conversations that stand out – misuse) of important resources such as YouTube and Google it struck me that the conversation of how we use technology in the classroom as a learning TOOL and not as “bells and whistles” to entertain or simply to “connect” with the kids was important.
Technology and Interaction in the Classroom (link to my Google Presentation is HERE) was the presentation I had at the conference and I really wish I had heard Michael Wesch’s 201o Presentation at the University of Denver prior to my presentation. The good news (maybe for me) is that I am working in the direction he speaks about in his lecture (link to his presentation is HERE). To keep this brief (and give you a chance to watch his presentation) I feel the most important part of his lecture was to emphasize that the INFORMATION out there is NOT SCARCE and the student of today has all the access to it, in their pocket! The important thing to keep in mind, and this is a brain shift for all in education (kids, parents, teachers, administrators, school board members… everyone), is that the teachers need to help the kids learn HOW to use the technology to be self directed learners. The kids sure know how to entertain themselves with the internet… but strong learners of Web 2.0 tools they are not.
How can we, as teachers, use the tools that are out there to help the kids LEARN how to LEARN? How do we demonstrate the tricks of the trace, the skills that are essential in the process of learning so that the students we have the privileged to work with, can become more independent learners? One of the tricks of using the technology (information really) that is out there is to make sure we are teaching them how to CONNECT to it and not to simply learn it all for the test. This also ties into the thoughts of Noah Chomsky (HERE for a YouTube video Presented at the Learning Without Frontiers Conference – Jan 25th 2012- London) that the TEST is not a very good demonstration of the knowledge the kids have. Yes, maybe for the day and a few weeks later, but then – POOF – that is gone. How can we, as concerned educators and leaders, help the learners make sure that the information we provide them with connects to the world they are living in? The tools are there, and they will be using them for as long as they live. How can we connect the tools, the information that is available, and the techniques to gather, toss aside, sort, filter, and use that information is through demonstration by example, teaching and reteaching, and reviewing the importance of being aware of how the tools and information is to be used.
Technology and Communication in the 21st Century Classroom: SURVEY – HELP me (and your contemporaries) with your thoughts! Survey is HERE.
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Please FOLLOW my GOALS PAGE by entering your e-mail address (see the right of the screen) to get daily updates, ideas, and inspirations. Share, Retweet, Facebook me… however you can share me…
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Self-Portraits and Reflection on oneself… charcoal on paper. What do you think about when you reflect on the lessons you teach? The ideas the kids walk away with? Reflection is essential to the process of learning – them and us.
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Goals:
Walk away with a new set of tools, skills, and connections to help your students (and yourself) become stronger and more self-aware / driven learners (and teachers).
Share the ideas and skills about technology that you are great at and help others become more knowledgeable in technology.
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My 3 sessions at the InterActiv 2013 Technology Conference are listed below. The links to the Google Presentations are below also. I am ALWAYSlooking for your feedback.
What are your thoughts about my sessions? What are things you enjoyed or learned from? What would you have liked to have learned more about? While this survey is “mostly” about my sessions… I am happy to share your responses about anything that you feel needs addressing. Thanks. Survey is HERE.
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Kids will say the Darndest Things…
Knowing that sketchbooks and goals will ALWAYS be part of the courses, what is one suggestion that you have to offer for future classes? What are some suggestions you may have to help the class become even stronger or more fulfilling than it already is? These require explanation please.
“Make the goals so that everyone does them and doesn’t slack. It helps my brain learn from the beginning of class and I know it will help others.”
“To take the goals and understand them not just write them down.”
“The goals were kind of hard to understand when looking back at them. It’s easy to understand when you explain. but the way they are written down is tricky to look back at.”
If we write our dreams and goals down, we dramatically increase our odds of realization. If we share them with others, they become potent and alive.”―Kristin Armstrong
Write out those dreams… then share your dreams with others.
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10 Lessons the Arts Teach Children
The arts teach children to make good judgments about qualitative relationships. Unlike much of the curriculum in which correct answers and rules prevail, in the arts, it is judgment rather than rules that prevail.
The arts teach children that problems can have more than one solution and that questions can have more than one answer.
The arts celebrate multiple perspectives. One of their large lessons is that there are many ways to see and interpret the world.
The arts teach children that in complex forms of problem solving purposes are seldom fixed, but change with circumstance and opportunity. Learning in the arts requires the ability and a willingness to surrender to the unanticipated possibilities of the work as it unfolds.
The arts make vivid the fact that neither words in their literal form nor numbers exhaust what we can know. The limits of our language do not define the limits of our cognition.
The arts teach students that small differences can have large effects. The arts traffic in subtleties.
The arts teach students to think through and within a material. All art forms employ some means through which images become real.
The arts help children learn to say what cannot be said. When children are invited to disclose what a work of art helps them feel, they must reach into their poetic capacities to find the words that will do the job.
The arts enable us to have experience we can have from no other source and through such experience to discover the range and variety of what we are capable of feeling.
The arts’ position in the school curriculum symbolizes to the young what adults believe is important.
Eisner, E. (2002). The Arts and the Creation of Mind, In Chapter 4, What the Arts Teach and How It Shows. (pp. 70-92). Yale University Press. Available from NAEA Publications. NAEA grants reprint permission for this excerpt from Ten Lessons with proper acknowledgment of its source and NAEA.
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Art Foundations: EXAM Review today. 4″ x 6″ Notecard. Textbook. Lecture. Pair / Share… what else do you need?
What can you remember about this past year? What are the essential aspects that you feel you are missing? Can you name anything that you feel will be needed?
GOALS:
Standard #1: Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes.
Standard #2: Using knowledge of principles and functions.
Standard #3: Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas.
Standard #4: Understanding the visual arts in relation to art history and cultures.
Standard #5: Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of the visual arts.
Standard #6: Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines.
What do you remember and have down pat? What elements / principles / theories are you struggling with? What do you need to make SURE you have on the 4″ x 6″ note card (one side)?
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Drawing: Computer time in the lab – let’s get the COLLABORATIVE work done – AFTER WE CLEAN and ORGANIZE our stuff.
GOAL:
Communication and Collaboration – Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and to the learning of others.
What do you think about your images? how has this been different than paper… other drawings… ideas in your understanding of art?
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AP Studio Art: Computer Lab… Collaborative work. Clean Studio. Thanks.
How’s the collaboration going? How’s your work?
GOALS:
Communication and Collaboration – Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and to the learning of others.
What has been the best / worst part of the year? How might you suggest changes take place for the following year? Bring these ideas to the exam day.
