In this episode, the Creativity Department is joined by Christopher Strickland, Assistant Professor for Art Education University of Nebraska Kearney, to talk about what it means to embrace living a creative life. Drawing from a wealth of expertise as an educator and artist, Christopher provides practical tips and transformative ideas that will help unlock your creative potential and help you to inspire your students to do the same. Listen in to hear more from Chris!

In this episode, Davis Publications’ Fine Art Image Curator and Art Historian, Karl
Cole, joins the Creativity Department to talk about craft. Dive into a debate that is old as time – is craft art? Often implying skill and skill level, does the term diminish the work that goes into making a piece? What if it isn’t created in a traditional artistic medium. It’s a question to ponder, and it wouldn’t be a Coffee with Karl episode if he didn’t tie the topic back to art history! Hear about examples of craft as art from different periods in history and from a variety of cultures. Listen in and gather information to determine for yourself – is craft art?

In this episode, Oral Historian Dr. Mi'Jan Celie Tho-Biaz and The Creativity Department’s Matt Grundler continue the conversation on Cultural Responsiveness with NAEA’s Connected Arts Networks (CAN).  New York City educators Lidia Menniti & Catherine Plichta join the conversation to discuss creating inclusive environments. Discover how Cultural Responsiveness celebrates differences, encourages students to find their passion, and fosters empathy. Listen in to learn more from the latest CAN episode!

In this episode, Oral Historian Dr. Mi'Jan Celie Tho-Biaz and The Creativity Department’s Matt Grundler talk to New York City educators from The Connected Arts Networks (CAN).  Tina Barone and Edwin Brathwaite join the conversation to discuss Cultural Responsiveness and how they create such environments in the classroom. Discover how cultural responsiveness encourages genuine engagement and creates inclusive spaces that celebrate differences and foster equitable opportunities for all. Listen in to hear more from Tina and Edwin in this latest CAN episode! 

In this episode, The Creativity Department is joined by Emmy award winning radio and TV host Jeanne Sparrow to talk about being a creatively authentic teacher through communication, identity, connecting with others, and just being yourself! Jeanne shares her story and how she developed her life’s theme, Fearless Authenticity. Listen in to learn how you can follow her path to being your own authentic self! 

In this episode, The Creativity Department is joined by professional Potter, Author, and Art Educator, Steven Branfman. Steven lost his son to cancer more than 17 years ago. In the aftermath, as part of his grieving process, he made 365 Japanese style tea bowls, called chawan. Listen in to this moving conversation about making art through the grieving process as a way to heal and learn about Steven’s thought-provoking journey and process.

In this episode, the Creativity Department discusses mindfulness and expressive arts with Jane Dalton, author of The Mindful Studio the newest title from Davis! Matt, Jane, and co-host Raine Valentine dive into the difference between mindfulness and mindfulness mediation, why mindfulness and mediation are helpful in the classroom, and how Jane and Raine integrate mindfulness into their own art rooms. Listen in to learn more and hear about the new book all about mindfulness!

In this episode The Creativity Department dives into how to rethink curriculum with artist and Art Educator Richard Kim. Contemporizing curriculum is more than simply adding contemporary art. It’s about taking risks and developing content that taps into contemporary practices of how art is being made today. Listen in to hear strategies for developing curriculum content as a reflective practice instead of just providing art assignments. 

In this episode, the accessibility and inclusion conversation from episode 146 continues. Matt Grundler (of The Creativity Department) and Amy Appleton, CAN Project Director for NAEA, are joined by Kirsti Lewis, Founder of People Like Us. An organization devoted to providing inclusive and meaningful instruction to students with disabilities, People Like Us helps teachers implement curriculum that allows these students to partake equally in class and have fun doing it! Listen in to hear more from Kirsti Lewis! 

In this episode, enjoy the continuing conversation on Accessibility & Inclusion from episode 145. Matt Grundler (of The Creativity Department) & Mi’Jan Celie Tho-Biaz are joined by Rebecca Visintainer, Dance Educator at North Plainfield Middle & Highschools in New jersey, and Sean Turner, educator with the NYC department of education and an adjunct professor at Hunter College. During the discussion, Rebecca and Sean share their insights about strategies used to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for students of all abilities, how they learn about students’ unique abilities, and resources you can tap into to do the same.