September 8, 2005

Area educators invited to Art Teacher Professional Day

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Area K-12 art teachers can learn about what Purdue University Galleries has to offer schools during the fifth annual Art Teacher Professional Day on Sept. 14.

Art teachers from the Lafayette-West Lafayette vicinity are invited to the session to be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Purdue Memorial Union, Room 118, in which they will learn about the upcoming year of exhibitions and events at Galleries. The teachers will also learn how classrooms can visit the Purdue collections, and how some of Galleries' work can be brought to the schools.

Craig Martin, director of Purdue Galleries, said the purpose of Art Teacher Professional Day is to give art teachers inspiration for future class projects.

"Teachers are often limited to just showing students pictures of artwork in a book," he said. "We want to give teachers that hands-on experience so they can take some of the ideas they see at Galleries back to the classroom."

During the event, teachers will have a chance to preview the exhibits that will be on display this season and explore the current installation exhibits, "Mountainside," created by California artist collaborators Megan and Murray McMillan in the Stewart Center Gallery, and "Cocoon," by Brooklyn artist and designer Makiko Miyamoto in the Robert L. Ringel Gallery in the Purdue Memorial Union. Both room-size installations surround the audience and include projected video imagery.

Then teachers will move on to assembling three-dimensional paper sculptures designed by 29 international artists for "The Paper Sculpture Show," scheduled to open Oct. 24 in the Robert L. Ringel Gallery in Purdue Memorial Union.

"We're giving teachers experiences that they can share with their students," Martin said. "Hopefully, the teachers can use the different kinds of artwork to strengthen their curriculum and share an enthusiasm for creativity with their students. Giving students a strong foundation in art teaches them that art is an experience that is vital to our culture and to our growth as human beings. The worst thing is for them to think art is used only as a centerpiece."

Teachers will be able to check our Purdue Galleries' ArtBridge computer displays, an ongoing project that will provide educational opportunities in connection with its fine art exhibits and permanent collection.

NCHS, a local nonprofit organization, provided funding for the ArtBridge program through a grant administered by Tippecanoe Arts Federation for capital projects to member organizations within Tippecanoe and the surrounding counties.

Teachers are encouraged to bring a favorite lesson plan or project to share, as well as scissors, utility knives, tape and glue for their work on the sculpture project.

Art Teacher Professional Day is free, and complimentary lunch will be provided. Free parking will be available in the Grant Street parking garage. The registration deadline is Sept. 12. To sign up, contact Mary Ann Anderson, administrative assistant at Purdue Galleries, at (765) 496-7899 or maanderson@cla.purdue.edu.

Writer: Kim Medaris, (765) 494-6998, kmedaris@purdue.edu

Sources: Craig Martin, (765) 494-3061, cdmartin@cla.purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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