Myrna Kaiser Art Classroom Grant

The beginning of the year I spent quite a bit of time writing grants, and all that hard work is paying off. I was notified at the beginning on November that my proposal for the Myrna Kaiser Art Classroom grant had been approved, and it being fully funded!!

Weaving with a Tech Twist

This project will have two main goals; the first is to connect students to other cultures through learning about their art. Students will study and learn about the Navajo and explore their art of weaving.  My classroom does not have looms or basic weaving materials, so receiving supplies from Blick Art Materials will be crucial to completing this unit of study.

The second goal is to turn the students' weavings into an interactive art experience. This second goal is part Science and part Technology. While weaving students will add in pieces of aluminum foil (have in stock) to several sections of their project, this will turn each art work into part of a circuit. Using a device called a Makey-Makey (already have), students will be able to connect their fiber art to a computer through a series of wires. The circuits will then be built, but not functional.  The last step will be to close the circuit. Students or other members of the community will hold one wire, while touching each weaving. This will close each circuit, on contact and the computer will play a musical or spoken word audio recording. This is completely safe; there is no shock to completing the circuit. All you have to do is lightly touch the wire and the foil and music will play. Each work of art will play a different melody, or word. Allowing each performance to be completely customized, which creates a constantly changing experience each time someone closes the loop.

Here is the inspiration for this project.

Betty Bradstreet Grant

I received some very exciting news this week! My proposal to the Assistance League of Tulsa's Betty Bradstreet grant was approved, and is being fully funded.

My proposal is for a 3D printer, and a Desktop 3D Scanner!

Here is the proposal I submitted.

      As an Art Educator it is our job to survey the world of art, this constant changing organism that is laid out before us. We hunt for the pulse, we search to find the beat of the ever rushing vein of inspiration, that path which will elevate our students onward. We strive to not only encourage imaginative play, but to find the hook that will make them successful in the life.

      In doing so I find myself reevaluating my goals, where I thought my program would head, vs. the natural growth it has taken. I love teaching art, I also love technology and it has been a constant goal to merge the two as much as possible. Our students live in an age where technology affects almost everything they do. This year I want to make a huge jump with my art program. I am writing this proposal to obtain a 3D printer and 3D scanner for my room. These technologies will help bridge the gap to preparing our students for life, whether in the art room or in a medical lab.

      Students in all grades, Pre-K to 5th, can take almost any art supplies such as paper, play dough, or even pipe cleaners to design a sculpture. Then, using the 3D scanner, students can create a complete 3D digitized image. With that digitized image, students will be able to use the 3D printer to create a duplicate. Once we learn the basic operation of the process I hope that we will be able to print material that can be used in mixed media, and not just duplicate projects.