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State's Art Teachers Gather at UWRF

By Lisa Stratton
UWRF University Communications

OCT. 12, 2007--The University of Wisconsin-River Falls will become a cauldron of creativity on Oct. 25-26 as it hosts the annual conference of the Wisconsin Art Education Association.

"The conference is our annual professional development effort to provide an opportunity for art teachers to gain new skills to apply in their classrooms and studios," says Lynn Jermal, president of WAEA and an art professor at UW-River Falls. "It also provides a major source of funding for three educational programs provided for Wisconsin students by WAEA."

The conference, called "Creating Connections," is from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. Planned activities include demonstrations on dyeing of shibori silk, expert glass-blowing, beadwork and InDesign from Adobe's Creative Suite software.

Various topics related to the field of art education will also be held. An exhibition of the works of many members of the WAEA will take place in the university's Gallery 101 during the conference. The conference includes a "Walk-About" gala in Hudson, Wis., on Thursday night, complete with an awards ceremony at The Phipps Center for the Arts at 6:30 p.m. and a scavenger hunt.

According to Jermal, some 250 art educators plan to attend the conference, including many UWRF alumni who are now art teachers.  

Roger Tomhave, a UWRF art alumnus and fine arts coordinator for Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia, will present "A Whole New Art Education" on the fight to retain art programs in schools and the creative skills taught in art education that are necessary to address 21 st century challenges in the economy, business and other sectors. Under his tenure, the Fairfax County schools were recognized for arts curricula excellence by the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. In addition, the Getty Education Institute selected his district as a demonstration site to train evaluators in arts programs across the nation.

Bill Ammerman, UWRF art professor emeritus, will have an exhibit of watercolors in the Chalmer Davee Library during the conference and will also be presented with the WAEA President's Recognition Award for his 50 years of contribution to the field of art education. Jenny Parranto, a recent graduate of UWRF, will receive the WAEA Outstanding Art Education Student award.

Internationally acclaimed keynote speaker Tim Rollins is traveling from New York City to discuss his work with the Kids of Survival, a series of creative workshops based on intensive mentoring relationships with inner-city children. Rollins will discuss his program and the achievements that art has provided its participants.

"Teachers work hard and the profession provides little encouragement, recognition or perks," says Jermal. "If the conference provides some of those things I am always thrilled. Seeing teachers getting excited about new information from vendors or inspiration from the speakers and presenters always gives me a great deal of satisfaction."

For more information on WAEA of the upcoming conference, please contact Lynn Jermal at 715-425-3375.

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Last updated: Thursday, 22-Apr-2010 16:08:35 Central Daylight Time