Art Teacher Takes Conference Inspiration and Makes Kids be "SEEN"

Sometimes, inspiration sneaks up on you when you least expect it. While at a conference I recently attended I had the opportunity to listen to a keynote speaker by an artist who was giving a presentation on her work.  The artist went out into the community she lived in and photographed people within it. She then painted large portraits of them and hung them in a gallery.  She brought the people she painted to the art show and filmed some of their reactions. Their reactions were so joyous and genuine when they saw the portrait of themselves and it made me want to bring that joy to Arcadia as well. So I thought I would put my own little twist on things. I wanted to photograph and spend time drawing students who are more quiet in my class. They don’t have a lot of questions or they are more focused on art than in conversation. I often think about these students and I hope they know I care about them and their work just as much as the students who seem to get or need more of my attention.  I want them to know that just because I don’t chat with them as often as some of my more extroverted students I still see them! I want them to see that they are valued and not simply just another student who goes in and out of this high school. They are SEEN and they are important.