Arts in Arkansas: Spotlights

Darren Parks & Eric Tribett - Students

This month’s student spotlight features two fantastic visual artists from the Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Darren Parks is an 8th grade student who loves dancing to Arianna Grande and drawing. Eric Tribbett is a high school junior who dreams of becoming a Catholic priest. Both of these young men create skillful works of art in Mrs. Spilman’s classes despite blindness or reduced vision. Listen to learn that the differences in how artists physically view our world has much less impact on the artwork they create than do the perspectives and personalities of the artists themselves.

Website:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/curriculum-support/fine-arts

Transcript:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qbWfLpktjVzAnoNb3gTD4c0Lnd-UZvEv/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=102414495116396977572&rtpof=true&sd=true

Check out Eric’s award-winning King Biscuit poster mentioned in this episode:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nHv4-u1rVw7ieiWKBy64OKf17KgMZXqW/view?usp=sharing

Learn more about the great things happening at Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired:
https://asbvi.ade.arkansas.gov/

Do you know an arts educator or student who you would like to see and hear featured on this show? Please nominate them at:
https://bit.ly/Spotlight_Nominations

Produced by Shelle House and Donnie Lee
Music: all music used is CC0, no attribution required
More information: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/communications/dese-podcasts

Elizabeth Spilman - Educator

How do students with no or reduced vision become skilled visual artists? Mrs. Spilman knows!

Elizabeth Spilman is the visual art teacher at the Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. She teaches all grades, from kindergartners to seniors, and has expanded high school art course selections each year she has been at ASBVI. Listen as she explains her unique perspective on visual arts and inclusive philosophy of education.

Check out the drawing by Mrs. Spilman's student discussed in the episode:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NxWUqgB7GDVw9SgVdBSa5exRGFIR28EY/view?usp=sharing



Website:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/curriculum-support/fine-arts

Transcript:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1g6l1IqVLzzr2--knDk-o_sUlkqnKrdoR/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=104750952408493783016&rtpof=true&sd=true

Do you know an arts educator or student who you would like to see and hear featured on this show? Please nominate them at:
https://bit.ly/Spotlight_Nominations

Produced by Shelle House and Donnie Lee
Music: all music used is CC0, no attribution required
More information: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/communications/dese-podcasts

Helana Alexander - Student

Helana is a senior at Bentonville High School. She recently attended Arkansas Governor's School for Visual Art where her and her partners’ social change project, an app concept designed to manage study time and anxiety through personalized timers and gaming, was voted best overall by her peers in Area III. Helana is an active member of the art, vocal music, and forensics programs at BHS, serves as a leader on the Teen Council at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, and is an enthusiastic Dungeons & Dragons player.

Learn more about Teen Council at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art:
https://crystalbridges.org/councils/teen-council/

Website:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/curriculum-support/fine-arts

Transcript:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gxOm5gNJFMVcHaIQO5qOa8N_L4mvmJXQ/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=102414495116396977572&rtpof=true&sd=true

Produced by Shelle House and Donnie Lee
Music: all music used is CC0, no attribution required
More information: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/communications/dese-podcasts

Shawna Bridgeman - Educator

Shawna Bridgeman is a National Board Certified Teacher at Greenbrier Middle School. She teaches choir and general music and also serves as a dyslexia interventionist. Shawna excels in student engagement, social-emotional learning, and community outreach. Listen as she shares her personal and professional experiences in the arts in Arkansas.

Website:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/curriculum-support/fine-arts

Transcript:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H8-KQRax1lMAUB-_i0LR3BSOaIa4Vuzh/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=102414495116396977572&rtpof=true&sd=true

Produced by Shelle House and Donnie Lee
Music: all music used is CC0, no attribution required
More information: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/communications/dese-podcasts