thoughts on teaching...

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so my student teacher carrie bell's last day was today... we will all really miss her.

talking to carrie extensively in the past 6 weeks has made me really reflect on what i do and how i do it.
i feel so blessed to be able to work with young people who care so deeply about not only making great art, but being really good people... and who are dedicated to growth and to each other.
i feel lucky every day.

if you are reading this, chances are you are part of the reason i feel this way.
so, thanks.

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we got to draw outside today in ap art, and before the end of class, took some great group pics of everyone together, holding up their big pastel self-portraits.


up-and-coming artist :: jordan tiberio

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many times, students come to the high school with natural abilities as artists and designers. their 8 years of art training by our awesome art staff gives them all the tools to see the world in their own unique way. its then our job to take those raw materials and help form and guide them into artists' whose voices are unique and personal (lots of times we're just along for the ride).

jordan tiberio is one of many students who display this personal vision.
jordan is currently a junior who spends many many hours outside of school working on developing her eye as a photographer (she also spends many hours during school here honing her drawing skills).

she has recently won 4 regional gold keys (3 photo, 1 drawing) from the scholastic art & writing awards, along with 1 national gold key (photo)!
i am amazed by her vision as an artist already, and am excited to see where all this work and thought takes her from here!

if you want to see more of her work, visit her flikr.

doodle for google 2010!

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google is having a contest again this year to design a 'google' logo for their homepage. it is constantly changing to recognize different holidays and events, and you have your chance to design one of them!
this year's theme is 'IF I COULD DO ANYTHING, I WOULD...'
you have access to a drawing tablet to draw in photoshop whenever you want - all of our computers have them installed, along with the laptop cart that is in my room.
this is an AMAZING opportunity - and the deadline is march 31!
let me know if you want to enter.

find out more information here
check out info on dennis hwang, the original google doodler here
download the google template here


What prizes are awarded to Doodle 4 Google winners and finalists this year?

:: The National Winner will win a $15,000 college scholarship to be used at the school of their choice, a trip to New York City for an event on May 26, 2010, a laptop computer, a Wacom digital design tablet, and a t-shirt printed with their doodle on it. Google will also award the winner's school a $25,000 grant towards the establishment/improvement of a computer lab. The winning doodle will be featured on the Google.com homepage on May 27, 2010.
:: Each of the other 3 National Finalists will win a trip to New York City for an event on May 26, 2010, a laptop computer, a Wacom digital design tablet and a t-shirt printed with their doodle on it.
:: Each of the 40 Regional Finalists will win a trip to New York City for an event on May 26, 2010 and a t-shirt printed with their doodle on it.
:: Each of the 400 State Finalists will receive a "Doodle 4 Google" certificate and be featured on the Doodle 4 Google web site.

barnstormers video.

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the barnstormers are a crew of artists mainly from nyc and japan, who, in 1999, joined together to paint old tobacco barns in rural cameron, north carolina. subsequently they have become an energetic creative force that continues to contribute to contemporary art worldwide.
this video is a time lapse image of them painting and repainting a barn in the southeastern center for contemporary art in winston-salem north carolina, in ocbtober 2004.
you can see more here.

The Barnstormers - 360 from David Ellis on Vimeo.

shared spaces art show at naz

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nazareth college is hosting wonderful new art show opening tonight, january 15th, from 6-8pm in their new arts center gallery entitled 'shared spaces'. the show celebrates graduating high school students and their teachers/mentors.

sami chudyk and i are representing thomas high school, with casey cardillo and her teacher bill stephens representing schroeder high school. i feel honored to have been asked to be a part of this event, and to show next to such a talented young artist.

you can find out more about the show (including gallery hours) here.

sami chudyk "past tense"
colored pencil on canson paper
completed january 2010
((to see more of sami's work, check out her portfolio blog.))

todd stahl "new beginnings"
cardboard, spray paint, and ink
completed november 2009

erik otto :: sf dump residency

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first let me say i am in awe of erik otto's paintings. the way he uses paint and texture is something i truly relate to and feel akin to... its dirty and beautiful all at once.

he is at the end of a 4 month residency at san francisco recycling and disposal, collecting material and working on new paintings for his most recent show.

you should all check out the videos of erik working on this body of work. you can view the videos here. ((if you are not familiar with how flikr works, to proceed to the next video in the series, select the furthest thumbnail in the top right portion of the screen.)) its nice to see these videos because it shows how important the process of making art is. its not always as direct as: get canvas. sketch. paint. hang and admire.

if you ever get the chance, check out some of erik's work in person. ((or at least check out his website.))


my top 12 albums of the decade

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so its that time of year where people are making lists... and theres more of them this year than most because not only is it the end of the year, but its the end of the decade. it got me thinking about making my own list. my top albums of the 2000's. i gotta say, i was worried about music around the turn of the century/decade. really worried. but there were a ton of albums that given me confidence about the state of music, and creative thought in the world... and by the end of the decade, it seems that alot of this independent-minded music has started to win.

so here ya go - 12 albums to check out if you havent already. and if its been a few years since you've heard them, dig out the old cd or look them up on itunes and give them a fresh spin.

12. mastodon - crack the skye :: there are few really heavy albums that i can listen to on a regular basis (achilles and metallica withstanding)... but this is an album that consistently finds its way back into rotation. i think its because there is a real soul to it. its not just blast beats and screaming or groaning. the music is is powerful and heavy, but there seems to be a heart beating below the weight of the music. and there's great vocals.

11. pearl jam - backspacer :: a true return to form - full of muscular pop and rock songs and a few spectacular ballads. the vocals are strong, as are the melodies and hooks. if you liked pearl jam back in the 90s, you should definitely check this album out. its a concise half hour of great rock n roll.

10. john mayer - continuum :: i realize that this pick sounds wussy, but its a solid blues/folk/soul/rock album. its pretty perfect if you take off 'waiting for the world to change' (and just make it its own single). it sustains a continuous vibe throughout, and doesn't go in the normal cheesy lyrical directions that his records typically do.

9. the postal service - give up :: i think i have listened to this album more than any other album that has come out this decade, because it is perfect artroom music. when i first heard it, it was so fresh and different. ben gibbard's voice floats perfectly above and amongst the textural electronic beats. i can't wait for more music from this duo.

8. my morning jacket - it still moves :: my first introduction to one of my favorite bands. they are a wonderful mix of neil young and radiohead. it just feels like REAL music. 'nuff said.

7. modest mouse - the moon & antarctica :: to be honest, i didnt begin to love this album until after i heard their 2 more recent albums. but after hearing this album, it is obvious that it is their best work. it has an energy and flow that the others lack. this is a real gem of the turn of the century.

6. the black keys - attack & release :: i remember reading about the black keys in rolling stone - 2 dudes from crumbling urban ohio playing indie garage blues. it sounded like a cool premise, and with the addition of producer danger mouse, this album cooks. it has a wonderful atmospheric presence that accents the texture and sensitive muscle of the music.

5. arcade fire - neon bible :: indie rock that channeled springsteen. recorded in a church. tons of interesting instruments and multiple vocalists, both creating unique sonic textures. its a little dark but still manages to be uplifting. the perfect winter album.

4. radiohead - kid a :: this one shows up at the top of many many decade-end lists... and it deserves to be there for sure. i didn't think they would be able to top 'ok computer', but this took their fusion of rock and electronic elements to a new level. they were able to fuse passion and detachment into one cohesive package.

3. death cab for cutie - transatlanticism :: i have to thank rob & mandi on this one - they suggested i check this album out. i did, and havent looked back since. death cab has become one of my favorite bands - they have continued to grow and push since this record, but it still stands as their most complete statement. it felt so fresh when i heard it, and it remains that way today.

2. iron & wine - the shepherd's dog :: i loved sam beam's voice from the first time i heard it. but at the time, i was a bit bored by the minimalist instrumentation that backed it (basically just his guitar... very lo-fi recording). 'the woman king' ep came out, and i was more interested. but it lacked a full, solid body of songs. then came the 'the shepherd's dog', recorded with a full band. this, to me, is the quintessential indie folk album. off-kilter rhythms and instrumentation, dynamic shifts within songs as well as between songs, and abstract thought provoking lyrics. this album has been in constant rotation since it was released - and i have a feeling it will continue to be that way. it takes me someplace far away, but is still grounded here in the earth. listen to it and you'll get what i'm saying.

1. wilco - sky blue sky :: this album was all i could talk about for 6 months after it came out. its all i wanted to listen to, it was the first thing i recommended to anyone, and it showed up on all my mix cds. it is the closest thing to a perfect album that i can find - not just in this decade, but its up there with jeff buckley 'grace', pearl jam 'ten', and miles davis 'kind of blue' for me in the realm of complete, perfect musical statements. its not the most exciting album of all time (that title may to go mastodon 'crack the skye'), but with the addition of nels cline on guitar, jeff tweedy found his classic rock and avante-garde partner. this album is escape. its a worship of love and life. its simplicity and subtlety. if nothing else, listen to 'impossible germany' and see for yourself.

ROC pendant

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i have been waiting for a while now to see lia beauchemin... not only because she is one of my awesome former students, but because she had a necklace for me. on wednesday, she brought me her new creation - my very own ROC logo pendant. so stoked.
you should get one too.

thanks lia. i show it to everyone.

"the rochester city symbol imprinted on this pendant has rich historical significance. around 1832, rochesterville, as it was originally called, became known as the flour city for the numerous and booming flour mills that sprang up along the genesee river. as the city grew and the expansion out west caused a slowing in the flour industry, rochester became known for the seed companies it was home to - several of which were the largest in the world. so by 1850, rochester was known officially as the "flower city." the symbol is meant to represent both of these formerly booming industries - it is both the lilac flower, which grows prominently in the area and is also a waterwheel which represents continual progress and vitality."