When you’re a kid into art, it’s hard to imagine doing that and getting paid for it like a job. (We all know that old adage about starving artists). This is possibly even more true for those who like writing poetry. You don’t often hear about professional poets. Well, today’s an exception. My guest Glenis Redmond is an award-winning, professional poet, and teaching artist. In this episode, she talks about being drawn to poetry from an early age, her biggest inspiration for diving into a poetry career, and how she approaches teaching poetry in workshops and the classroom. I hope you love this conversation as much as I did! 2:49​ - How Glenis made the transition from counselor to professional poet artist 8:25 - The discipline of being an artist and how dialing in on your desire affects other people 10:16 - Why Glenis decided to start teaching poetry 14:22 - The intangible objective to working with teachers and students on poetry 16:23 - The keys to getting students to go deep and share their vulnerability through poetry 22:53 - Why introverts are big storytellers and the power of giving students agency 25:04 - How visual arts and poetry intersect and influence Glenis’ work 32:24 - Using praise poetry as a tool to connect with visual art in the classroom 36:10 - How praise poetry speeds up the social-emotional learning process 42:12 - The artwork that changed Glenis’ life Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/86-partnering-poetry-and-visual-art/ Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

After graduate school, I worked at an art non-profit called Big Thought. While I was there, my podcast guest today Eric Booth was a consultant who went high up in the company straight out of college. He did a lot of staff development training and programs for the non-profit. This episode represents a full circle moment for me as I thrill at reconnecting with him! In it, he and I talk about his path as a teaching artist and the connection between art and spirituality, a topic we both care about tremendously. 3:16 - Eric talks about his transition from Broadway actor to teaching artist 6:36 - How the teaching artist field has changed and the effects of the pandemic on the industry 12:18 - Two ways to bring a teaching artist into your classroom 15:38 - Eric describes what a good teaching artist partnership looks like 21:03 - The single best sentence Eric ever wrote, the idea behind it, and the companion book it eventually created 24:51 - How I recently made my own art and spirituality connection 27:52 - Paying a higher quality of attention to all different kinds of things in your life 32:20 - Eric explains what he means when he talks about the “verbs of art” 37:40 - The different between big art and religion and little art and religion 41:10 - The three concepts the Everyday Work of Art book boils down to 45:01 - Ideas on how to help students develop responsiveness to works of art 49:58 - What you can do right now to become more connected with art and spirituality 55:51 - How Hamlet changed Eric’s life Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/85-connection-between-art-and-spirituality/ Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

Over the last few months, I’ve really been exploring what really lights me up in my work. While helping teachers bring the joy of personal art connection to their students has been wonderful, I also know that I want to teach again and be in conversations about art rather than just helping others facilitate them. To that end, I’m offering a new program on November 8 that’s not just for teachers, it’s for anybody. As a precursor to this, I did an interview with a friend and colleague of mine, Lisa Carpenter, on her podcast called Full Frontal Living. I’ve known her for several years and after the interview, I realized that I really wanted to share this conversation with you too. So in this episode, Lisa interviews me about making personal connections with art as a tool for self care and healing. I also share a bit about the upcoming program, Art Connection Circle, and walk her through an interpretation exercise of Miquel Barceló’s art, Sopa d’Europa. 4:44​ - I discuss my deeply emotional connection with art 8:28 - Art’s ability to allow you feel safe in your feelings 10:11 - How to start thinking about art as a way to practice self-care 13:25 - The tendency of different forms of art to meet you wherever you are in your life 18:08 - Why even the works of art that bore or repel you are worth exploring 22:24 - Approaching self-care and art in a different way 27:50 - Lisa makes a personal connection with art live on the podcast 38:51 - What’s different for Lisa after connecting with Miquel’s artwork 41:43 - Where the real meaning behind any work of art can be found 45:15 - How art can serve as a safety net for hard conversations Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/84-joy-of-art-connection/ Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

Some pieces of art just make you uncomfortable. Maybe it’s a movie or scene that hits too close to home, or a book about a particularly violent event (real or fictional) that makes you squirm... or a painting that brings up regrets or painful memories. For Madalyn Gregory and myself, Marcos Raya’s 2000 painting The Anguish of Being and the Nothingness of the Universe made us feel ill at ease. So of course we had to discuss it! I’m excited to welcome Madalyn back on the show to talk about art. In this episode, we describe and interpret Raya’s piece, making personal connections along the way that surprised even me. 1:14​ - A description of Raya’s self-portrait 6:13 - Our initial reactions to the artwork and the various connections we see in the details 10:30 - How the painting puts the mundane of day-to-day life in perspective 13:37 - How Raya’s work reflects the messiness and complexity of life and space 17:46 - Madalyn shares an interpersonal interpretation of the throat area’s depiction 19:44 - The contrast between the cleanliness of the painting and the message it conveys 23:51 - A possible double meaning behind the cardboard imagery 30:55 - Another interpretation of the cardboard detail and how it relates to our life experiences 38:59 - The very personal realization that brought back my discomfort with the artwork, just as I started feeling more at ease with it 44:48 - The necessity of allowing your kids (and others) to see the humanity in you 48:26 - Madalyn and I discuss the depressive title of Raya’s self-portrait 51:55 - How my views changed on the artwork from beginning to end of this conversation Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/83-studying-the-disturbing-2000-self-portrait-of-marcos-raya/ Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator episode and is targeted specifically for art teachers.  - I am so excited about today’s guest! Today, I talked to Mario Rossero, the Executive Director of the National Arts Education Association (NAEA). He had an exciting journey as an art teacher before joining the NAEA in January 2020, just before the world exploded. In this episode, we discuss his journey and experiences, but, most importantly, we discuss the direction of the NAEA and its priority as an organization.  02:08 - Mario talks about himself, his background, how he got into art education, his experience coordinating curriculum building for arts education, and teaching leadership through arts. 05:09 - Finding a role in art supervision and administration. 09:47 - Coordinating an arts program at the Central Office. 11:38 - Mario’s experience working in Chicago. 18:02 - Mario talks about his work with neighborhood art communities as the vice president for education at Kennedy Center. 20:55 -  How Mario got into the NAEA. 23:20 - The biggest challenge in art education. 27:55 - How strategy and welcoming decision-makers aid art education. 29:40 - How teachers can show the positive value proposition of art education. 32:40 - Resources for art teachers to learn art leadership. 34:22 - The challenge of policy and budget. 38:00 - How the events in 2020 affected Mario’s original vision for NAEA. 44:43 - The NAEA’s equity, diversity, and inclusion policy. 48:14 - Incorporating the ED&I framework into the continuous learning process. 50:37 - How to make space for inclusion and diversity. 52:40 - How a diverse approach to art learning improves art education. 55:20 - How the NAEA team responds to criticisms of the ED&I policy. 56:59 - What part of work is Mario currently excited about. 58:28 - The role of art-making in Mario’s life. 60:18 - Mario’s wall of art and drawing inspiration from them. 61:10 - The artwork that changed Mario’s life and how it aided a second-grade art class. Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/82-state-of-art-education-mario-rossero/ Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.  - Positive moments in the classroom don’t just spring up out of nowhere. A well-run classroom makes teaching and learning fun for you and your students... something Michael Linsin has spent years studying, practicing, and offering in his guides on his website.  Michael was one of my first interviews on the podcast. It’s among my favorites, and I want to share it again. So in this re-released episode, he offers his amazing tips and insights on best practices for effective classroom management planning and forming relationships with your students, with a special focus on art classrooms. 2:19​ - Michael’s #1 tip for being a fun and effective teacher 4:56 - What makes a good classroom management plan and why consequences really don’t matter 7:17 - The most effective way to teach your students the classroom rules 10:30 - How art teachers can find a balance between teaching the rules and teaching the lessons 13:55 - Why you might want to ditch filling out reflection forms as a consequence 16:29 - One important thing that can make running an effective classroom a bit easier 19:36 - How you can still leverage relationship-building with your students even if you have hundreds to teach 22:39 - When to transition away from time-outs and effective consequences for older students 26:19 - Why Michael doesn’t recommend a rewards system for your classroom 30:05 - What you can do to encourage your students to develop a motivation to do the work 32:21 - Why you must follow-through on your classroom management plan Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/art-classroom-management/ Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

Guess who I have on as my guest today! Long-time listeners know that I love the Harry Potter and the Sacred Text podcast. One of the co-hosts, Vanessa Zoltan, has similar views about connecting with literature as I do with artwork. In this episode, she and I discuss her book Praying with Jane Eyre and how to use sacred text (or sacred art) as a tool to help you deal with some of life’s problems, do good in the world, and become a better person in the process. 2:24​ - Vanessa briefs us on her background in education and chaplaincy 4:46 - Vanessa explains why she loves Jane Eyre so much 8:15 - What it means for something to be sacred, according to Vanessa 10:22 - Exploring the idea of how treating text as sacred leads to treating your neighbor as sacred 16:35 - The gift Vanessa recently received while reading Jane Eyre that we can all heed 19:25 - A brief description of Vanessa’s book and why her chapter on destiny shook me so much 21:27 - How a recent controversy involving JK Rowling tested people’s capacity to separate art from the artist 26:05 - How problematic elements in Bronte’s Jane Eyre reflect a dark side of the U.S. 30:42 - How to find your own sacred text or art and work with it 36:02 - Why re-reading the same exact text can still produce a different experience every time 40:20 - The artwork that has changed Vanessa’s life for 20 years running Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/81 Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is specifically for art teachers.  - The percentage of U.S. students who graduate from high school has never been higher in our history. But have schools ever been structured, resourced, or intended to educate everybody’s child? During Jeffrey Benson’s time as a teacher, mentor, and administrator for over 40 years, he worked with neglected, abused, traumatized, and autistic students who struggled with mainstream education. He now focuses on helping schools be more successful with more students through a better understanding of how people learn. In this episode, he and I discuss social-emotional learning and how to use it to improve your lesson planning and boost your students’ engagement for greater success. 2:21​ - Jeffrey’s background and the unorthodox way his imagination helped him make lesson plans 7:18 - Exploring the meaningful question from Jeffrey’s webinar that I loved 11:26 - How Jeffrey defines social-emotional learning and its main characteristics 16:06 - So many examples of how Jeffrey would incorporate SEL into an art lesson 29:43 - The value of praising versus redirecting students in class 35:28 - Digging into the idea of positioning yourself as a learner while teaching 38:41 - Advice to help you be more intentional about adding SEL elements into your lesson plans 41:39 - Other simple ways you can intentionally put social-emotional learning at the forefront 45:55 - Jeffrey’s SEl recommendations for teachers 49:07 - The artwork that changed Jeffrey’s perspective on art Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/80 Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

We sometimes talk about using art to make a difference. And while some may be cynical about that claim, my guest today isn’t one of them. Dani Coke has an incredible story to share about how her art went viral overnight, made a difference, and really changed her life, and she explains her artistic process. As you listen to her describe her journey, you’ll get chills at the power of her art, just like I did! 2:01​ - Dani briefly explains her history as a lover of art and creativity 5:56 - Dani reveals the events behind her art going viral on social media 11:45 - Dealing with the duality of personal, empowering success under awful circumstances 16:34 - COVID and Asian hate as an example of Dani’s process for creating art with a message 20:42 - How Dani manages to avoid dealing with people nitpicking her over semantics 25:07 - The teacher with an assumption about Dani that almost put her off the art path for good 30:01 - The chorus teacher who encouraged Dani on her creative journey 32:48 - Advice for teachers who want to have difficult conversations with their students about race, gender, and privilege 39:29 - Using your sphere of influence to bring about change for causes that matter most to you 43:43 - Where Dani gets her creative inspiration from and some book recommendations from her 47:48 - The work of art that changed Dani’s life Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/79 Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

In the wake of the pandemic last year, I recorded a conference, Called to Art, that brought together educators from across the U.S. It was an amazing experience where I used real-world examples of myself to discuss what we learn from looking at art, how we can become emotionally connected to particular pieces of art, and why you should show more works of art to your students. It was all about discovering and rediscovering the emotional power of art, and I want to share that presentation with you in today’s show. 3:50​ - How I developed my deep connection to art 10:36 - Why I switched from art history to art education 14:02 - A question to think about as you listen to the rest of the episode 16:02 - What you get out of art when you really slow down and look at it 20:36 - Embracing uncertainty and answers within through artwork 23:47 - The surprising amount of emotional fluency of the average person 29:37 - An exercise to discover your emotional connections with art 36:25 - Examples of my powerful, personal connections with art 49:06 - Four areas where you can prime your students to have their own emotional art connections Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/78 Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.  - The 20th anniversary of 9/11 is right around the corner. So many people, including your students, weren’t alive when it happened. That’s shocking when you think about it because of how it changed our world practically overnight and still influences current events. So in this episode, I want to use the 9/11 Memorial artwork as a case study for bringing past (and present) events into the classroom and using art to process, reflect, practice empathy, and better understand complex issues. 4:57​ - How the 9/11 monument lesson inspired one particularly creative junior high student 8:59 - How art serves as a way for students to experience history, past and present 13:12 - A description of the memorial, who created it, and what it feels like to view it in person 20:10 - One of the lesson activities provided for the monument and other activity ideas 23:01 - Various ways you can apply this lesson (and others available in the Library) to your classroom 26:01 - How incorporating lessons like this can help you in other ways Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/77 Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

Imagine that you’ve never experienced a whole lot of grief before. Then something devastating happens to you and leads to something beautiful. It happened to my guest today, Beryl Young. I’ve known her for several years, ever since I first started Art Class Curator at a blogger conference. Before working with teachers and schools on photography curriculum, she taught kindergarteners and 1st graders for 10 years. Listen as she shares the powerful story of how she started her photography business and how it’s evolved. 2:54​ - The painful incident that triggered Beryl's transition from photography hobbyist to entrepreneur 9:29 - How Beryl taught herself photography and what inspired her to create her first class 13:21 - How the pandemic served as a huge catalyst for Beryl to shift her business 21:04 - An overview of Beryl’s approach to the teentography curriculum 26:16 - Why Beryl focuses on making photography as accessible as possible 31:37 - Beryl discusses her teentography and kidtography kits 36:01 - The platform that changed Beryl’s life Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/76 Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

Art as a defensive weapon? It seems strange, but Pablo Picasso demonstrated its power in his painting Guernica. I’ve brought Jennifer Easterling back onto the show for another art conversation, and this time we discuss Picasso’s famous artwork. Both of us had strong gut reactions to it, so in this episode we talk about what it’s taught us and its importance in history. 1:47​ - Jenn recalls her reaction when she first laid eyes on Guernica  6:02 - I discuss my unexpected emotional experience seeing it in person  9:10 - Painting a picture of what this Picasso artwork looks like  14:20 - The diabolical history behind why Picasso created this painting 18:21 - Why we had such a strong reaction to seeing Guernica in person 21:48 - How the pandemic impacted Jenn’s connection with the artwork 25:18 - Legacy of the Jewish woman who secretly taught art to children in a concentration camp 33:06 - What I kept seeing in my mind when I went to view the painting 37:26 - Picasso’s ultimatum and Guernica’s lengthy journey from Paris to Spain 42:22 - Picasso’s view on symbolism in art 44:51 - Discussing the symbolism we see in his painting 48:08 - A difference I noticed in his drawings versus the final painting 54:08 - Picasso’s experimentation with the drawings 56:40 - How our husbands reacted to Guernica Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/75 Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.  - Does the idea of writing a grant proposal intimidate you? Barbara Lardner is an art teacher who’s taught in multiple grade levels throughout elementary, middle, and high school for over 25 years. She also happens to be an expert at grant writing for the classroom. So in this episode, I’ve invited her on to share her experiences, tips, and best practices for how you can write a great grant proposal. 2:56​ - How Barbara was granted a trip to Paris 5:14 - Different types of grants offered and where to begin your search 8:54 - Crucial tips, steps, and goals to begin the grant writing proposal process 14:49 - One thing you might need (and shouldn’t put off) when writing your proposal 18:47 - Examples of vagueness, specificity, and clarity in proposal writing 22:49 - Why Barbara missed out on receiving an extra $2,000 for her school this year 24:39 - The kind of assessment requirements you need to follow after you get a grant 28:06 - Advice for making the grant writing process easier and less scary 31:11 - What to do before you finally submit your application 35:50 - Recap and more tips and best practices for writing your grant proposal 38:49 - Biggest piece of advice that gave Barbara the grant to attend graduate school 41:44 - What sparked Barbara’s interest in art as a 4-year-old Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/74-getting-great-at-grant-proposal-writing/ Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.  - What in the world is a SPARKwork? At Art Class Curator, we love to do things differently than what you’ll find anywhere else. Recently, I relaunched The Curated Connections Library with SPARKworks, a new name with new features for an established framework. In this episode, I walk you through what a SPARKwork lesson is, how to follow one step-by-step, and offer tips on how to use these sorts of lessons in your classroom. 3:21​ - Why The Curated Connections Library became more than just about art history 5:21 - Goals of the membership for teachers and their students 10:22 - What a SPARKwork is and where the name comes from 14:22 - SPARKwork step #1 and the 4 Cs to curate a good work of art for your lessons 19:48 - Leading your lesson with art discussion and the goal you should aim for 25:25 - How SPARKworks encourage student engagement and impress your administration 29:29 - Discussing ways to complete the 4th step in the framework 33:07 - New details and benefits of joining the recently relaunched membership 39:28 - Why becoming a member is a preventative self-care gift to yourself Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/73-sparkworks-to-light-up-your-art-lessons/ Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.  - Ever since I started Art Class Curator in 2014, I’ve heard a lot of teachers who haven’t tried our lessons tell me that their students can’t do them. They think the lessons are too high-level or their students won’t connect with the works of art. Oh how wrong they are! So today I want to dissolve the myth that your students can’t handle higher level thinking and gain a deeper connection with art in the classroom. 8:18​ - The only difference between age groups during art lessons 9:39 - One of the biggest fears of art teachers and why the worry isn’t necessary 14:32 - Why you shouldn’t underestimate your students’ ability to think critically 16:53 - How haiku and thinking like a math teacher can help you teach art 24:33 - Other ways we can help students engage with art lessons Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/72 Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.  - This year was one of, if not the hardest, for teachers in their entire career. Many reached a breaking point and decided to leave the classroom or retire early. And while it might be better going forward, everything isn’t fixed. The pandemic goes on, and teachers will still face many of the same worries as last year. The question to ask yourself in preparing for this year is, “How do I get the spark back and re-take power in my classroom?” So I decided to create an empowering program using our SPARK framework to help you do just that. Today the Reclaim Your Classroom free course begins, and in this episode I go through the program, giving you an overview of what you can expect after you join. 2:14​ - A quick overview of the 5 steps in the SPARK framework 5:32 - What to expect when you first sign up for the program 6:59 - How to take inventory of what’s going on with you right now 10:57 - The emotional exercise to expect on Day 2 and the tool that can help 14:52 - The simple, cool tool and method you’ll use for completing step 3 18:41 - Taking the A in SPARK and using it twice 20:39 - Bringing it all together for step 4 to start moving toward where you want to go 22:48 - What the K stands for this time and how to create your battle cry for this year 24:27 - Reading the manifesto I wrote for Art Class Curator Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/71 Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

The personal connection you have with works of arts--what it does for you and how you use it in your life--rubs off on your students too and impacts their lives and those around them. Author John Butler once said, “Art changes people and people change the world.” How? I did some research to discover what looking at art does for us as people and the countless ways art can change you. In this episode, I discuss how it benefits the broader spectrum of humanity physically, mentally, emotionally, and more. 5:38 - Hormonal and other health effects that just 30 minutes of art gazing has on your body 9:16 - How art rescued me during an emotionally vulnerable time on a week-long retreat 10:55 - How art alleviates feelings of isolation and increases empathy, tolerance, and compassion 18:56 - Why engaging with works of art makes you more insightful and creative 24:22 - Ways in which looking at art can transform and improve your thinking skills 29:32 - The impact of art connection on your relationships, communication, and emotion 31:46 - How seeing Picasso’s Guernica reflected in a real life event shifted my inner kaleidoscope 35:06 - Why yawns are contagious and what they have in common with looking at art Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/70 Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.  - Jenn Easterling is back on the show today! She’s been in the classroom for 11 years teaching grades K-12 and has taught drawing, painting, and a little art history in her studio. Jenn joins me to talk about how learning and teaching art powers personal connection We also talk about some of the lessons offered at Art Class Curator as well as the fun, impactful insights and conversations those lessons sparked in our students and ourselves personally.  7:01​ - Jenn’s emotional perspective on teaching Art Class Curator lessons 10:23 - How teaching works of art fuels your personal connection 15:20 - Why using the same art work lessons for multiple grade levels still works 20:52 - How looking at artwork impacts students’ art creation in the classroom 24:52 - A lesson that bridged the gap between the art and the personal for Jenn’s students 34:58 - Why you don’t need to worry about bringing any works of art to your students 38:34 - What you’re not doing when you’re looking at and talking about a piece of art 40:22 - How students often have way more interesting interpretations of art than the official story 44:13 - Examples of fun lessons for Jenn’s students that also encouraged art connections across campus 49:19 - Ways that teaching art can instigate outside-the-box thinking Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/69 Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.  - Believe it or not, the pandemic had its bright side. During this tumultuous year, we’ve had so many teachers across the nation successfully use our SPARK Hybrid curriculum. They're sharing amazing stories about how they are SPARKing interest with art students and connecting with works of art. Today, I interviewed one of those teachers, Staci Sterenberg, who’s taught grades K-8 at a Chicago parochial school for 19 years. Staci Sterenberg is a teaching artist living in Chicago. Her work as an art educator has brought her into classrooms and learning spaces for all ages and her art practice ranges in media from mosaic to sculpture to crochet. Her mission as an educator is to promote and value the creative experience while facilitating exploration in a variety of media. Her perfect world is a place where curiosity and creativity are free to discover and where mistakes are detours and not dead ends. Staci holds a Bachelor's in Studio Art from Michigan State University and a Master's of Art Education from the School of the Art institute of Chicago. In this episode, she and I discuss her feelings about being an artist, how the Coronavirus impacted her classroom, and the unexpected gifts she received from the pandemic. We also dive into some of the amazing lessons from SPARK that her kids participated in and greatly enjoyed this past school year. 4:18​ - How Staci’s history lead her to teach art 6:19 - How SPARK influenced Staci’s education philosophy in the classroom 8:27 - Why Staci felt with her district and administration at the start of the school year13:09 - A SPARK lesson that went particularly well with Staci’s 4th graders17:24 - What made the lesson Staci found for her 7th and 8th grade classes so timely 23:01 - The art piece that proved to be a misstep for Staci’s e-learning students 30:23 - How the art teacher community online came together at the start of lockdown 32:16 - Staci’s big, one-word takeaway from this year to use in future years 35:54 - A false belief many people have about being a good artist 38:29 - How art got Staci through the pandemic and her identity crisis as COVID hit 44:42 - The blanket decision that prompted Staci to leave her school district 47:13 - A life philosophy that Staci learned from an old boss and wants to pass down Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/68 Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.  - Like I said in last week’s episode, this summer, we’re focusing on getting a good feel for what teachers have gone through this year. What struggles you’ve had, and we want to acknowledge you for the work you've done and empathize with you for how hard that was. We also want to celebrate, but right now doesn’t feel like the right headspace for that. So this week I want to encourage you to take stock of the year. In a survey we did, many shared that this year was a wake-up call, but they weren’t sure what they were waking up to. I think a lot of teachers are waking up to the fact that teaching has become toxic, that teaching has become too much to handle. They are expecting too much out of teachers, they are not respecting the work that we're doing, and they are not giving us the support that we need. This year, I heard story after story about districts giving webinars on self-care, telling teachers, “Don't forget self-care,” And this summer, taking stock is a great way for teachers to practice self-care.  3:01​ - Ways toxicity in public education took its toll 9:46 - Long history of lack of support for teachers boiling over 14:40 - Reflecting on your wake-up call from this year 19:53 - Positives that came out of the pandemic for educators this year 23:14 - How to make next school year different Transcript at artclasscurator.com/67 Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.  - For this summer, I really want to focus on art teachers and what they went through in the last year teaching through the pandemic. Every teacher has a different story to tell about what they faced, and I want to talk about one of the hardest years in memory for teachers and celebrate getting through it. Looking forward to the new school year, what have teachers learned from this experience that’ll change the way they teach moving forward? Let’s take back the joy of reconnecting with art and reclaim our power as teachers and individuals by first reflecting on what we’ve gone through and the lessons learned. So in this episode, I start off by welcoming my first guest in a series of teacher interviews: Mary Greim-Gallo, a K-5 elementary art teacher in Rhode Island. 4:33​ - Mary’s art teaching philosophy and the classroom environment this past year 11:44 - Particular artwork lessons that connected really well with Mary’s students 14:20 - Regional art and having to carefully choose what to teach students 21:08 - What changes Mary plans to incorporate for future years 28:28 - Why Mary feels a little unnerved about planning the upcoming school year 31:56 - Going forward with a focus on social-emotional learning and diversity 37:45 - The artists that changed Mary’s life Transcript at artclasscurator.com/66 Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

Today, I’m here with Jennifer Easterling who is another wonderful staff member of Art Class Curator. She writes lessons for our membership at Curated Connections Library and our curriculums. In this episode, she’s chosen Shirin Neshat’s Rebellious Silence for our conversation which she’s been enraptured with ever since she came across it when looking at an AP Art History class. Recently, this artwork came to Fort Worth, Texas and Jenn got to go see it! 4:22​ - What the art piece looks like 9:23 - What surprised Cindy and Jenn about Neshat’s photographs 15:05 - The nuances of the photographs in person vs. online 21:51 - Opening eyes to Muslim women’s rights 26:13 - Discussing the symbolism of guns in Neshat’s artwork 31:34 - Getting lost in Neshat’s dramatic eyes 33:46 - What Neshat wants from us looking at her work 36:58 - Speculating about the meaning of the poem 44:10 - The artistic beauty of the Farsi language 47:48 - Going back home never being the same 52:10 - Watching Neshat’s video art 59:49 - Key personal connection for Jenn to take forward 1:04:38 - Insights from Jenn teaching this art in the classroom Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/64 Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.  - Today’s episode is a recording of a webinar I did recently with Kris Bakke at Nasco Education. I talk all about social emotional learning, it’s importance, and how we accomplish that in the art room through working with works of art. In the process, I use a Molly Crabapple portrait as part of an exercise for the webinar group and give an overview of the new curriculum, Art Curator Class Perspectives (in partnership with Nasco). 4:58​ - What I’m aiming to accomplish in this webinar 13:11 - Ways in which education isn’t focused on learning to be an effective adult 16:46 - What social emotional learning looks like in the classroom 23:48 - CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) and the 5 competencies 34:24 - Attendees and I engage in the Reflect Connect worksheet activity for Crabapple’s artwork 45:09 - Ensuring the inclusion of artwork diversity and artist representation in the curriculum 48:29 - An overview of the Perspectives curriculum Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/64 Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.  - As an introvert, it always fascinates me how I can get into a really deep conversation with someone for a while and feel energized and motivated by it, and can keep talking all night. Then there are other times where talking to someone just sucks the life out of me and takes my energy away. In this episode, I discuss small talk versus big talk and how to go beyond small talk to have deeper, more meaningful conversations and teach our students to do the same. I also share some strategies you can use in your classroom to help develop these skills in your students.  5:10​ - Defining small vs. big talk and small talk’s vital purpose 14:25 - Revelations from a small talk/big talk research study 16:50 - Benefits to having deeper conversations, especially for art students 19:23 - Ways to encourage and teach your students to have substantive discussions 27:40 - Vulnerability in deep conversations and creating a safe space for students Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/63 Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

I rarely comment about the Internet, but sometimes I have to speak up when something bumps up against my values. This impromptu episode is brought to you by a little argument about Van Gogh I got into online.  I realized I had some really strong feelings that I don’t know if I’ve really discussed in any format here. It’s a very important perspective that we need to consider so that our students don’t end up perpetuating elitist thinking when it comes to art, and so that we can create a space where we make art accessible to all. 2:44​ - What sparked the argument and my reaction 7:22 - Examples of elitism built into the art museum system 11:46 - Kids’ reactions to the immersive Van Gogh show in Chicago 16:28 - The argument for “being educated” and making art accessible to all Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/62 Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

Last week, I had a fascinating conversation with Madalyn Gregory discussing Gustav Klimt’s Death and Life. I left that conversation so excited, only to discover that we weren’t done yet. Even after going off the air, we kept talking about it and realized we missed a lot of important things. So we decided to do a follow-up conversation to share even more of our insights with you! 4:55​ - Awareness of a gender issue from last week and what it says about our conditioning 13:40 - Impact of gender and gender limitations as human-made constructs 16:37 - Diverse racial representation (or lack thereof) in art 24:14 - Importance of authenticity of different perspectives shown in artwork 28:23 - How the patterns in Death and Life resemble quilt work 31:57 - Ruminating over what the circles in Death’s robes symbolize 36:23 - The negative space between Death and Life more effective as black to represent the unknown Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/61 Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

Today, I’m excited to try a brand new type of episode where I have art conversations with other people and talk about favorite pieces of art, personal connections to art, and what drew us to the world of art. For my first guest, I’ve brought on one of my best friends for the last 10+ years, organizer for all things at Art Class Curator, and brilliant writer Madalyn Gregory. In this episode, she’s chosen to discuss Death and Life by Gustav Klimt, an artwork that stopped her in her tracks when she saw it in person in Vienna during one of our curator trips. 3:09​ – What it felt like for Madalyn to see the artwork for the first time 6:13 – Describing what Gustav Klimt’s Death and Life looks like 9:34 – The many observations we had while interpreting Death and Life 15:04 – Possible meanings and symbolism behind the skin tone used 24:20 – The loneliness and personality of Death 30:44 – An important lesson for art teachers to realize about their students 32:45 – Why we connected with Death and Life and the messages imparted to us Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/60 Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.  - Thanks to a Facebook group and a friend, conversations around visualizing the apple have grabbed my attention lately. My brain works differently than others, though. I don’t really see things in my head. But when I saw the responses to the apple conversation, I felt really validated and had some profound realizations. In this episode, I talk about those realizations, what this means for art teachers, and how we can better serve diverse learning styles among our students. 5:46​ - The judgment I’ve made about myself for my entire life 7:58 - Limited diverse learning types and how I “visualize” things 11:29 - The impact of learning differences on the way you teach 14:36 - Strategies to address differences and accommodate diverse learners 22:53 - The disservice done to us while learning art history in college Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/59-diverse-learning-types/   Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

If you’ve been following us for a while, what we do here at Art Class Curator is much deeper than art appreciation or history. Appreciating art is great, but it gives off the vibe of being better than you and puts up a divide between the art and those who can enjoy it. In the last year, we’ve been emphasizing art connection instead of appreciation. Connecting with art has taught me something about myself that I didn’t know, helped me get through something, or given me clarity or a safe space. So in this episode, I’m gonna talk about ways to use art to have moments of clarity and connection where things suddenly make sense. 3:26​ - My realization that art isn’t about the details but the feelings 9:29 - What I mean by spirituality and spiritual practices 14:56 - The aesthetic experience incorporating both mind and body 23:05 - How we can use art as a spiritual practice 30:11 - What to do if you can’t make it to an art museum 32:12 - A couple of caveats Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/58-art-as-spiritual-practice/ Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.  - Today's episode is a part of the day 5 lesson of our free e-mail course, Beyond the Surface: Teach Students How to Dive Deeper Into an Artwork to Make Connections and Meaning. The topic for today is THERE IS JUST NOT TIME: Making Time for Experiences That Students AND Admins Will Remember. Sign up for this free e-mail course at https://artclasscurator.com/surface Join the Curated Connections Library at https://artclasscurator.com/join  Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.  - Today's episode is a part of the day 5 lesson of our free e-mail course, Beyond the Surface: Teach Students How to Dive Deeper Into an Artwork to Make Connections and Meaning. The topic for today is ENTHRALLING EXPERIENCES: Get Students Engaged and KEEP Them Engaged. Sign up for this free e-mail course at https://artclasscurator.com/surface Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.  - Today's episode is a part of the day 4 lesson of our free e-mail course, Beyond the Surface: Teach Students How to Dive Deeper Into an Artwork to Make Connections and Meaning. The topic for today is ARTWORKS THEY’LL RELATE TO: Finding the Right Art for YOUR Students. Sign up for this free e-mail course at https://artclasscurator.com/surface Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.  - Today's episode is a part of the day 1 lesson of our free e-mail course, Beyond the Surface: Teach Students How to Dive Deeper Into an Artwork to Make Connections and Meaning. The topic for today is CURATING THE CONVERSATION:Helping Your Students Get “All In” on the Art Discussion. Sign up for this free e-mail course at https://artclasscurator.com/surface Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.  - Today's episode is a part of the day 2 lesson of our free e-mail course, Beyond the Surface: Teach Students How to Dive Deeper Into an Artwork to Make Connections and Meaning. The topic for today is From Crickets to Connections: What to Say to Get Them to Go Beyond What They See. Sign up for this free e-mail course at https://artclasscurator.com/surface Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.  - Today's episode is a part of the day 1 lesson of our free e-mail course, Beyond the Surface: Teach Students How to Dive Deeper Into an Artwork to Make Connections and Meaning. The topic for today is FLIPPING THE SCRIPT: Overcoming The Challenges That Keep You From Showing Art. Sign up for this free e-mail course at https://artclasscurator.com/surface Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.  - When students connect with artworks, the art becomes a part of them—shaping who they are in life. But how do you get students to connect when there’s not enough time, you don’t know enough about the artwork, and your students have nothing to say?Beyond the Surface is a FREE email series starting March 22nd all about how to overcome these challenges and get students to connect with works of art in a way they’ll remember and admins will love. Sign up at https://artclasscurator.com/surface Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.  - In this episode, I talk about why it's vital that we don't avoid the hard conversations or difficult subjects as educators, especially in art. Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.  - In this interview from the Call to Art Unconference, Dr. James Rolling Jr., NAEA's President-Elect, discusses his role and vision for the newly created commission on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. In addition to supporting systemic changes, we discuss how teachers can create a classroom culture that supports connection, communication, conversation, and understanding. Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.  - While activists are taking to the streets around the world to protest racial inequality, we're opening up about our company values and the importance of diversity and inclusion at Art Class Curator. Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.  - Teachers around the world are taking their lessons online. Teaching art from home is a challenge, but when we work together, it gets a lot easier. Learn about some of the free distance learning resources art teachers are sharing in this episode. Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

The whole world in one big ball of stress and anxiety as coronavirus continues to spread. Let's talk about how we can use art to deal with all of this. Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.  - What do you want your students to know? What do you want them to remember from art class next year? What about in 5 or 10 years? In this episode, we're talking about the power of moments and how to create a curriculum with the big picture in mind. Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

Have you ever wondered how Mona Lisa was feeling? Or wanted to know what your students were thinking when they look at art? Discover the emotions behind Mona Lisa's smile, learn how long the average person looks at an artwork in a museum, and much more as I talk to Dan Hill, a facial recognition expert who wrote a book about how people react to famous artworks. Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.  - What are your top ten values? What about your top three? Are your values as a teacher the same as the values in other parts of your life? Living in your values and teaching from your values is essential to living a balanced, healthy, happy life. In this episode, I talk about my values and how my life changed when I started being true to them and give you the tools you need to discover your true values.  Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I'm joined by Joan Marie. Joan is a former art teacher who now creates personal power portraits for her clients. We discuss Joan's educational obstacles, her creative process for each personal power portrait, and the importance of living and teaching from your values and strengths. Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.  - In this episode, I'm talking to Trevor Bryan, art teacher and author of The Art of Comprehension. We discuss how art is more than self-expression, the value of art in education, what it means to be creative, how interpreting art is possible at all ages. Bryan offers us insight on his signature access lenses and how we can use mood to help students personally connect with art. Plus, hear about the artwork that changed Bryan's life. Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.  - 1 out of every 10 students in the United States is an English Language Learner. ELL students face unique and often overwhelming challenges, but the art classroom is the perfect place for them to thrive. Art is a universal language and can become a vital touchpoint and creative outlet for ELL students. When we give all of our students opportunities to look at and connect with art from their home countries, we give them the chance to use prior knowledge and open up the world for our entire class. Classroom art discussions where there are no right or wrong answers give our ELL students chances to speak up without fear—giving them the perfect opportunity to gain confidence in their communication skills. Positive educational experiences in the art classroom can ease some of the frustration they may feel in other subjects, and we all know the emotional relief that is possible through the creation of art.While ELL students are busy learning a new language, mastering academic content, and negotiating new social and cultural contexts, they deserve educational experiences that are fun, connected, and special. In the latest episode of the podcast, I share the story of the artwork that made my 7th graders cheer and talk about the importance of art in the education of English Language Learners.  Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe