The Art in Business

I just got back from our first artshow at our District office... It's not the first time we've hung art there, but usually it gets viewed by the administration and those few souls that come to the D.O. (as we teachers lovingly call it). Our new Fine Arts curriculum coordinator organized this event to coincide with the monthly VITAL (Vision in the Arts at Liverpool) meeting. It was packed with both Elementary and High School students and parents viewing their child's art and enjoying goodies. I presented my "Why Art?" video to the public. I have been working on this video for the last couple months. I used imovie and pretty much did it all by myself. I'm pretty proud of what I did. Everyone raved about it and I think the music people were pretty jealous (if I do say so myself). It was great. My vision was to promote the visual arts in High School targeting administration (who are clueless that art is a HUGE part of today's business world), middle school students, and parents. It's great for all levels. It shows artwork and images of our students working on art in the classrooms mixed in with quotes from business leaders and artists stressing why art is important in today's workforce. I think it got the point across. I wish I could post it here, but the file is WAY too big! I'm going to try to link it to my school's website and I'll post it if it works. If you go back to my first post ever, you will see my opinions on art in the business world. Any computer program, marketing strategy, or formula can be taught to older kids in a short time, but creativity and innovation must come from young minds that have a background and long term exposure to the arts in order to generate new ideas for retail, marketing, and sales fields. It's sad that most of our guidance counselors don't even know that kids have to have a fine arts portfolio in order to get into Architecture or Design schools. They are clueless... So, here's to our own "marketing strategy" and how the arts are important for ALL kids!

Design Team!

I have wanted to be on a design team for awhile now. I am now on 2! They are both great sites. Full of inspiring artwork, tips, challenges, and more! I just had to share. I'm an Island Girl with We B' Scrappin (here locally in Cicero , NY ) and with The Little Scrap Shop (online...based in Georgia). It has been an overwhelming experience in such a good way. First of all, I am honored that they want me to create artwork for them and two, I love working with other designers who share my love of art. It's not merely a "scrapbooking" venture, but a partnership of sorts. I love that this is going beyond a hobby and that it is actually my "Art" right now. Being a Fine Artist, I fought against this infiltration of scrapbooking... so crafty. Okay, I admit, I LIKE being crafty. I feel good making cute, fun things. I'm a Martha Stewart wanna be (well, except the jail time part). That being said, I struggle against the way I should think as an artist... who defined what "real artists" should be or shouldn't be? In college and even with my artist friends (the ones that actually make a living on their art), you would NEVER consider crafts a Fine art.... Anything remotely crafty is evil in their minds. It's a very snobby world in the Fine Arts world. However, craft is definitely becoming a regular art form... ceramics, fibers, felting, quilting, collage, and mixed media is being considered Fine Arts. Well, it's scrapbooking a combination of all of that... I consider it Mixed media. I just think the word "Scrapbooking" conjours up images of cut out triangles, 12 photos on a page, and stickers. Yes, that is where most of us "scrappers" started out. That company (you all know the one), has come along way, but still caters to the simple and quick. It's now about the art, the process, what I can do that's totally unique, that thrills me. I feel bad that I don't attend that company's crops anymore. I love my friend that sells it, but I just feel stiffled there. It's not particularly creative. People who go there are also very snobby... they don't like my devient behavior in using paints, drywall tape, or "Gasp!" mixing patterns. It's a loyal bunch. So, to look down my nose at my professors who boast that Fine Arts must stay traditionally categorized, I say... "get an open mind and look at what is being done around you!". This industry is growing faster than the Fine Arts industry! I will always consider myself an artist whether I sell my work to a magazine or in NYC. I enjoy the creation process and whatever my medium, I am very proud of what I do!