Forging a Strong Future: Reflect, Refine, Reignite

Posted on August 20, 2013by lvartscouncil

The Lehigh Valley will host the 2013 Pennsylvania Art Education Association (PAEA) Conference, “Forging a Strong Future: Reflect, Refine, Reignite,” on October 18-20, 2013 at the Best Western Plus Lehigh Valley Hotel and Conference Center, 300 Gateway Drive, Bethlehem. Colleagues from around the state will join together in a spirit of camaraderie for a weekend of professional development designed to revitalize their teaching and art making practices.

Art educators will gather for hands-on workshops; presentations related to theory and best practices in art education methods; and an exhibition hall featuring the newest products and services for arts professionals. The Lehigh Valley Arts Council is sponsoring presentations by two contemporary, local artists.

Off-site events include visits to local arts organizations, such as the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts in Bethlehem; walking tours and regional dinners at restaurants along historic Main Street in Bethlehem; a student art exhibition and reception in Payne Art Gallery and awards ceremony in Foy Concert Hall, both on the Moravian College campus.

Keynote lectures will be given by Dr. F. Robert Sabol, National Art Educatin Association President; David Darts, Chair of the Department of Art and Art Professions and Director of the NYU Steinhardt MA in Studio Art Program in Berlin, Germany; and Neda Ulaby reporter for National Public Radio, covering arts, cultural trends and digital media.

PAEA Members are invited to submit works of art created by their students in grades K-12, to our student art exhibition in Payne Art Gallery, Moravian College. The exhibition will be on view from September 26-October 19th, 2013. The deadline for submitting artwork is September 3, 2013. For more information about the student art exhibition, contact Kelsey King, Assistant Curator, at stklk10@moravian.edu

100+ presentations on topics such as:
• Using Pinterest, twitter, apps, gaming and other technology in art lessons
• Advocacy and building relationships with your political legislators
• Creating a professional portfolio, resume, and cover letter; e-portfolios
• Teaching art to children with disabilities
• Museum Education & Art History in K-12 art education
• Photography in the K-8 artroom
• STEM to STEAM initiatives

Hands-On and Interactive Workshops include:
• Jewelry Design
• iMotion and iMovie animations
• Nichos: Latin American clay shadow boxes
• Felting
• Tech Café
• Fashion Show featuring wearables made by local high school students, using only recyclable materials
• Exhibition Hall with vendors featuring new art education products and services

Special Events:
• K-12 Student Art Exhibition, Payne Art Gallery
Curated by Moravian College art education student, Kelsey King
• Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts: Stitched Together: Samplers from Past and Present
• Candlelight Walking Tour of Historic Bethlehem
• Tours of Central Moravian Church and the Moravian Museum

The scope of the programming indicates the quality of the arts specialists in our schools. There should be no doubt:

Art education is integral to the purpose of public education, which is to produce good citizens.

The arts provide a context for public discourse through exhibition and performance of student work. They foster self-expression and self-determination while respecting others with an opposing point of view. These are key attributes in our democracy, and like freedom, require vigilance to protect them.

For more information and to register, visit http://paeaconference.org. Add your voice in support of strengthening art education. Be a part of the dialogue