By Amy Wallot
amy.wallot@education.ky.gov

Teachers were offered a cornucopia of art experiences during the 3rd annual Berea Festival of Learnshops in July. Over 100 workshops were offered to teachers and the public.

I spent some time with a group of teachers who took the Program Review: An Integrated Approach class. Veteran educational consultants Judy Sizemore and Sarah Evans presented the class that included one session on the Program Reviews, two hands-on learnshops and a morning spent visiting three working artist studios. Learnshop options included jewelry making, pastel landscapes, integrating music and reading, music for children with special needs, printmaking, basket making, corn shuck arts, storytelling, teaching color theory in the classroom, modular origami, creative writing, photography, henna art, using picture books in the classroom, watercolor, gourd birdhouses and fiber arts. The two-day class was offered twice.

 

Artist Dinah Tyree, right, talks to teachers about negative and positive space in creating a painting during the Berea Festival of Learnshops. Photo by Amy Wallot, July 22, 2013

Artist Dinah Tyree, right, talks to teachers about negative and positive space in creating a painting during the Berea Festival of Learnshops.
Photo by Amy Wallot, July 22, 2013

Crossroads Elementary School (Bath County) arts and humanities teacher Jessica Bowling uses a water bottle to spray paint over her hand and create a negative space on her project. Photo by Amy Wallot, July 22, 2013

Crossroads Elementary School (Bath County) arts and humanities teacher Jessica Bowling uses a water bottle to spray paint over her hand and create a negative space on her project.
Photo by Amy Wallot, July 22, 2013

John Hardin High School (Hardin County) art teacher Brenda Harting shares teaching techniques with other art teachers during a professional learning class on color mixing lead by Kentucky artist Luann Vermillion. Photo by Amy Wallot, July 22, 2013

John Hardin High School (Hardin County) art teacher Brenda Harting shares teaching techniques with other art teachers during a professional learning class on color mixing lead by Kentucky artist Luann Vermillion.
Photo by Amy Wallot, July 22, 2013

Weaver and artist Mary Colmer, left, shares her weaving ideas with teachers in her studio. Photo by Amy Wallot, July 22, 2013

Weaver and artist Mary Colmer, left, shares her weaving ideas with teachers in her studio.
Photo by Amy Wallot, July 22, 2013

Owsley County Elementary School 6th-grade teacher Jason Hall learns more about PGES and CIITS from education consultant Judy Sizemore during a class on Program Reviews. Photo by Amy Wallot, July 22, 2013

Owsley County Elementary School 6th-grade teacher Jason Hall learns more about PGES and CIITS from education consultant Judy Sizemore during a class on Program Reviews.
Photo by Amy Wallot, July 22, 2013