In this episode, The Creativity Department is joined by members of the Trace Layer Play Collective to talk about their work in public participatory art making and how their collective came to be in the wake of online learning in 2020. Their most recent work included inviting 120 middle schoolers into their exhibit to explore the concepts of asking research questions through the lens of the art making process and how these students surprised them with their understanding of the ideas. Listen in to hear more from Trace layer Play!

In this episode, The Creativity Department is joined by artist, educator, and author of “The Power of Popular Culture in Education: History, Music, and Visual Imagery” Zerric Clinton. Dr. Clinton joins Matt & Laura to share his expertise and insights on the role pop culture plays in our students lives. As well as, how pop culture is defined, the importance of pop culture accurately representing diverse groups of people and the effects of when it doesn’t, and how art educators can help students think critically when engaging with pop culture. Listen in to hear more from Zerric! 

In this episode, The Creativity Department is joined by returning guest Paula Liz, Youth and Preservice Program Manager at NAEA, to talk about National Art Honor Society (NAHS). Listen in to learn what it is, projects and activities students can participate in, and the amazing opportunities available to members. For example, during NAEA 2024 in Minneapolis, students worked with world renowned mural artist Alice Mizrachi to create a mural that is on exhibit at the Davis Art Gallery. Discover how to start your own chapter!

In this episode, Matt & Laura gear up for another eventful year! Sharing tips and techniques they've used in the past to help prepare their students and themselves for creative success in the art room. From time management to beginner projects, they cover a wide variety of topics from over their combined years of teaching. 

In this episode, The Creativity Department is joined by Alexis Thomason an art educator whose classroom is entirely digital! She shares her experiences with transitioning education paths, the difficulties of fostering student creativity and collaboration in a virtual environment, as well as some of her greatest creative challenges and the innovative teaching techniques and tools she employs to overcome them. 

In this episode, The Creativity Department discusses Divisive Concept Laws with Karen Salvador, Associate Professor and Chair of Music Education at Michigan State University. Karen joins the conversation to help demystify what exactly these laws are. As they pop up across the country, they could affect arts classrooms which means it’s important to understand exactly what is in them. Karen shares her research findings about and experiences with these laws and how they have shaped some curriculum. Listen in and discover how art educators can work within the mandates, ways to navigate and translate the laws, and how administration can help.

In this episode, The Creativity Department is joined by David Matteson – Associate Curator of Education at Rollins Museum of Art and Orlando Art Educator Christy Garton to talk about how art educators can connect with art museums and the many resources they offer! Christy and David share the story of their successful partnership and how it’s helped not only Christy’s students, but the surrounding schools and community as well. Listen in and learn what art museums can offer art educators, how to connect with them, as well as opportunities for professional development.

In this episode, The Creativity Department is joined by author and Associate Professor of Art Education, Dr. Christina Bain! Dive into the topic of ethics as Matt & Laura talk to Dr. Bain about her upcoming book - “Ethical Decision-Making in Art Education”. From what ethical dilemmas educators might face to ways they can ensure fairness and equity in their classrooms, explore some of the challenging topics this new resource will cover. Listen in and discover what ethical decision-making in the art room looks like.  

In this episode The Creativity Department is joined by artist and art educator Amy Lee – whose art room is entirely mobile! For the past 13 years, Amy has taught art from a cart and has never looked back. She shares how she keeps her materials and projects organized and how teaching in a different location for each class affects the students. Gather advice from the field as Amy shares successful projects as well as some challenges she’s faced. Listen in to hear more from Amy!

In this episode The Creativity Department is joined by artist, art educator, and returning guest– Jorge Lucero to continue the conversation about maintaining creative practice while being an art educator. Listen in as Matt, Laura, and Jorge discuss the myths we’ve created for ourselves about what being an artist means. Hear about the importance of continuing to develop personal practice, but from a different angle. Discover advice for dealing with the struggle to maintain a work, life, and creative balance, and the importance of considering a new take on what creative practice can be. Listen in to hear the full conversation with Jorge!