JOY: An Art Teacher Showcase
Artist Statement
In college, while studying to become art teachers, we created for many reasons: to earn a grade, to pass the time, to discover the artists within ourselves. Over time, we learned to listen to our professors, refine our skills, and eventually create what we truly wanted. We became educators. We became artists. We created art for ourselves. Then we graduated and found jobs.
Once in the classroom, the learning began all over again. We used our skills to whip up classroom examples, design posters for the homecoming parade, or create decorations for school events. Somewhere in the hustle and bustle, the original purpose of creating began to fade. We forgot to create for ourselves.
I became that art teacher—especially now as a stay-at-home mom. I felt the need to create, but struggled to find the time. If I didn’t make it a priority, it simply wouldn’t happen. I began to wonder if I was the only art teacher who wasn’t creating for themselves. That question led me to another: why not create an opportunity for art educators to make art with purpose again?
It is an honor to present this showcase of fellow art teachers—individuals who have personally shaped my life as an artist, educator, mother, and advocate for the arts.
As this exhibit travels across Iowa, it mirrors the journey of education itself: moving from place to place, shaped by those it encounters, forming our identity and creative practices. This showcase is rooted in the dual identity of artist and educator. It carries with it a collective tale shaped by diverse voices and experiences. We invite our viewers to pause, look closely, and experience the transformative JOY of art.