Week 10: March 21st 2022

Today is my last day with WACTAC!!

We started with intro questions like every week. A nice consistent calming beginning. Something silly and playful to bring something lighthearted to the day. Afterwards, Hibaaq presented an art talk. This time was a bit different instead of going into the galleries we stayed in the classroom and looked at pictures from the collection on the projector. This was a sweet exercise where the students had to guess the name of the piece before knowing the names. 

Some examples - “French Girl” “ “Abstracted Sodoku” “Me on Mondays” “sea lion”

This exercise shows how interpretation and change of perception and change the meaning of the works!! It was really fun and insightful for the students who were very engaged!

After the art talk we then switched to work time on the research project. Some deadlines are approaching so we started with a checklist of goals and needs. 

For the checklist we made a clear interactive visual with giant sticky notes. After we finished the checklist they went into specificity of when these tasks should be done, this week, next, after the deadline, etc. I believe this helped solidify goals and excitement.  Scheduling is gruesome but necessary, this was a great way to have the students lead but still have a solid schedule ahead.

Super productive day and was a fantastic end to the Practicum!!! I will miss the students and teacher dearly.

Week 9: March 7th 2022

This week we visited the Carolyn Lizard’s exhibition on the top floor. Approximately 15 minutes completely submerged in Carolyn’s experience she provided. It started a great conversation on accessibility as well as practical action as an artist. We referred back to her artist talk and seeing the work in person after hearing about it was truly fascinating for the students.

When we got back to the art lap Hibaaq supplied a lovely art exercise where we all pulled a card and had to sculpt the object. We then had to guess each others pieces with our eyed closed. This emphasized how the experience changed and adapted with the different senses. This teaching method pulled the gallery show in to their research project/zine on accessibility.

After the art talk we delved into their research project. Lauren was kind enough to reformat and break down the zine to pages and assignments for the students and what has yet to be assigned. Lauren then asked each student to say a goal they will be working on for the rest of class. This gives them a bit of ownership and focus. I’m super excited to see the progress after spring break!!

Week 8 February 28th 2022

Before heading to the classroom on Thursday I was able to see Julie Mehretu’s show one last time before it closed. It was an absolutely beautiful show It'll be sad once it's gone. 

This week during WACTAC I was able to catch up on their progress from last week! The council made some headway within their abstract vs realistic zine. So far pages are planned and today they had some work time to delegate pages with the writing and visuals.

The students had time this week to get access to the library to specifically look through their zine catalog. Super lovely being able to see the library within the Walker. What a great resource for the students and the town!

The second half of the class we met with some of the curators within the moving image department. We were able to see two feminist short films, one of them being - Girl Power and A Herstory of Women Filmmakers by Kelly Gallagher. Many of the students really gravitated to the colorful and humorous way of pushing the artist's point. This was such a great introduction to the Riot grrrl and this dialogue.

Looking forward to seeing the progress they made on their pages. :)

Week 7 February 21st 2022

On Wednesday I was able to participate in the PTAC meeting one last time! Bittersweet but a lovely meeting nonetheless.

I was able to start the class with an introduction to Claes Oldenburg and had a lovely art discussion within his work. It was fantastic to see the students wheels slowly start turning about art and the relationship with the museum. This was the first art talk within PTAC and I am sure wont be the last! They had two curators visit, Pablo de Ocampo, and Matthew Villar Miranda, to answer any questions they had on the Walker Galleries. The group had such lovely questions that the curators went above and beyond answering with personal and professional stories. :) It ended with an in depth conversation on if art constitutes as mandatory work. A super interesting topic to delve into.

I had to miss the WACTAC meeting this week but am looking forward to next week!!

Week 6: February 14th 2022

WACTAC had their first day back in person!! 

Being able to walk and experience the galleries alongside the students was just so wonderful after so many weeks online. We were able to walk through David Hockney and Julie Mehretu’s exhibitions. This was super insightful due to the BIG question they have for their research project. They want to create a book that helps visitors see and know how to talk about abstract and realistic pieces.

After we went back to the classroom and started planning out the book they will be making. I think the students were a little reserved to put in the work and make some decisions so to reward the hard we ended the day going through the Walkers lost and found. 

Next week I will be teaching a lesson within PTAC! Lets see how it goes.

Week 5: February 7th 2022

I started off the week with a meeting with Simona on potential lesson opportunities alongside the potential of me being a part of a new program call PTAC which is a remote teens council for students in Minnesota outside of the twin cities.

Wednesday I was able to participate with the PTAC’s first meeting. The group was small but mighty, a total of five students. They were all eager to get to know each other and start this endeavor. I’m really excited to see what they learn and pull from this experience.

A day later I was able to participate in the WACTAC and observe. They had a lovely guest speaker Carolyn Lizard. Carolyn just finished putting up their show at the Walker, and will open 02/12 here is the link to their show. Their work explored collectivity, dependency and community. Their works explores ableism and how we as a community and spaces can reframe our idea on access and how we approach it. We can see accessibility rules as a way to show art to more people rather than a cumbersome extra step to go through for legal means. This was an absolutely lovely artist to talk with WACTAC students due to their research project partly surrounding accessibility. Carolyn shared their website with resources on accessibility. This website is so helpful in so many arenas. It has writings explaining and reframing access as well as accommodations, and functional budgeting info.

Next week WACTAC is back on-sight! I’m looking forward to see all the students in person.

Week 4: February 3rd 2022

This week was the Career day for the Teens art Council!! We got to hear from more than ten employees from the Walker Art Center. hearing from each on what they do in their day to day and how they found their way into their career.

We spent some time at the very beginning for long intros and questions before each talk so people could trickle in. I think it made people quite comfortable. As for the speakers, we had a MN artists journalist, three people from the Development branch, librarian, public relations coordinator, education programs assistant, building maintenance worker, membership associate, and a graphic designer. This was such an exciting quick overview of how such a big organization can work.

The students were structured to only ask questions within the chat which worked well for the tight 5 min talk schedule. Even through the chat they were asking such great questions specifically on ethics, balancing work and art, and how to gain access in museum work.

Week 3: January 27th 2022

First observing day!!!

From 4:30 to 6:30 I was able to observe the Walker Arts Teens Art Council. Today they had a guest speaker from social media at the Walker Art Center. The Social media branch was visiting to hear the teens opinions on how they could improve, as well as asking their personal experiences with social media.

Lauren the Walker’s Lead Educator, took on an art history lecture/discussion on Sherrie Levine’ Fountain (Marcel Duchamp) 1991. It brought up a bunch of interesting discussions and for many of the teens an introduction to purposeful appropriation. We went back historically to who Duchamp was and his influence.

This was a lovely conversation! seeing teens involved in the art discussion rather than merely being listeners. We ended the art talk with a couple questions on if artist can ever be fully original. The students were quite active within this discussion even after such a long day.

Overall it was absolutely lovely to observe the council and am looking forward to next week.

Week 2: January 20th 2022

Simona shared with me a lovely video collaboration with the Walker describing the long term effects within teen programs in museums. Overall how they grow and influence their communities. Here is the link to the video. This showed the honest importance and role Museums can have in the community. Museums have so much opportunity to bring the art world which is thick with classist walls to everyone within their community and beyond. They can be a bridge in a sense if they fully take advantage of the opportunity. Every year I see museums like the Walker bring new branches or programs to bring art education to the community. How can they better break down those antiquated walls within the art world? It makes me hopeful seeing things like this and the council. :) Looking forward to the first observing day!!

This is an article that was shared with me about better informing oneself about Healing Centered Engagement.

Week 1: January 11th 2022

First Meeting with Simona Zappas, the Walker’s Youth and Community Programs Associate, for My Practicum Under the Walker Arts Center Teens Art Council!! We got down a rough schedule for me as well as some fantastic resources. My first observation date is set for the 27th of January, Excited to meet the council. :)

Here is WACTACs Instagram and TikTok

She shared three fantastic articles with me on Visual Thinking Strategies. These seem really important for facilitating gallery conversations. Spaces like the museum have so much opportunity to educate and spread awareness in ones community. To confront issues. It’s exciting to see.

Honoring Students, Teachers, and the Work of Kerry James Marshall Through VTS

What More Can We Do?

The Societal Frame: A Tool To Address Racism in the Galleries