They do like cherries...

I found this after realizing it had been so long since I'd posted ANYTHING on this blog. The end of school is near, the weather is warming up, I'm not feeling real motivated... but this is from last summer, the girls could not get enough cherries.

And now I've found one with color...

Here it is!

I haven't spent too much time here, but the introduction on this alone is great! This TeachPaperless post speaks to the integration of art and technology in the classroom, not just the integration but of the natural connection between the two. I'm looking forward to checking out the archives and previous posts.

Thanks!

Another great resource!

The folks over at Free Technology for Teachers have posted the Forward Thinking Museum. Great concept with an easy to use format, art can be viewed by category, artist or gallery. Well done, and thanks again!

California passes a budget...

Was it 106 days late? So how will the arts in education be effected? Still trying to figure it all out, but it doesn't look too good. Really though, is there any part of the economy that looks good right now?

Not really. More to come, check back to see what I find, and please, leave some comments.

What a great toy!

I think I've now spent a half hour playing with this... Thanks to the Free Technology for Teachers blog and the guest blogger Janet Bianchini, I came across Wordle. You paste a bunch of words, link to your delicious tags, or any blog with a feed and you get something like:



So thanks to everyone who puts this kind of thing together, and puts the word out for others to see! I've already passed it on to some co-workers.

Arts help in overall education...

Seems to me that this same story has been played before. Now it's been done in Colorado... Arts Education has a positive effect on other aspects of the student. Reading and writing skills increase with an education in the arts.

Please note that my skills should not reflect this increase, as they are sub standard.

Textbooks go digital: Appeal of e-books increasing - News

This is great! I've read articles in the past discussing the issue of online texts and the how, when, who of it all. So I was excited to see this post... Textbooks go digital: Appeal of e-books increasing - News. Aside from the publisher selling users information, I think it's great to at least offer the option of an ebook.

Arizona State making cuts in programs,,,

In a statement from January 15, Arizona State representatives report that, "Cuts of this magnitude would require ASU to reduce costs by up to $126 million in less than five months and $194 million next fiscal year." The proposed cuts referred to in the quote amount to $388 million in 2010 and $243 million for 2009.

This happens at a time when the University has already been restructuring to help reduce costs in 2010. We posted about this earlier as the restructuring was set to effect the Arts at ASU. I have no doubts that the cuts are effecting all aspects of the University, but what about the sports programs?

More to come as the story unfolds...

An evolution of Buddha

An exhibit at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, displays a variety of interpretations of Buddha. The exhibit, which runs January 31 through April 19, 2009, looks to be a must visit if you are on the area.

There is an article in today's Sacramento Bee by Victoria Dalkey that gives an overview of the exhibit and a brief description of some very basic Buddhist beliefs.

Why do I need to learn this?

I just read a post (So Very High High School) by Richard Bellush on his blog and found it very interesting. I'm going to use this in the classroom next time I hear that Math or History are useless subjects.

You may have already won...

Anyone else irritated at the amount of junk mail that comes in the door? This lady is great! Annette Lawrence decided to save a years worth, cut it all into two inch strips and then bind some stacks together. The article discusses a petition one can sign to reduce the amount of 'paper spam' delivered to your home. Some incredible numbers and an image of the works. What I like best of all is that the artist has sold the month of December for $10,000 to the Dallas Museum of Art.

Axe Library Digital Collection... now online

Straight from the AXE Library's website, "The collections specialize in printed materials from Southeast Kansas, its culture and inhabitants, and the correspondence, libraries, business files and memorabilia of significant Southeast Kansans."

After a quick look-see at the site and their collection, you can see a wide variety of images there to browse. This is a great resource and a wonderful view of some historical Kansas structures.

Academic reorganization in the Arts at ASU

A move that will help reduce costs in 2010 by $2.7 million. Although the cost savings are significant, the focus is being put on the issue that the merger will, "... build on intellectual connections and enhance potential opportunities for students and faculty members." The reorganization plan will merge the existing Arts and Design programs. It appears that Departments will be disestablished while Schools will be established, one example listed in the press release is the disestablishment of the Department of Dance while they intend to establish a School of Dance. It seems that it is coming down to a merger of administrative positions.

I thought there was nothing...

So I thought there wasn't much to write about today. As I look through the news reports and blogs I see article after article about a government level cabinet position for the arts, or the contemporary art market taking 3-5 years to recover, and then I saw this headline about Obama's waste of spending.
I happened upon the California Conservative article that bashes Obama. I'm not so put off by that as much as i am the line that reads, "This year, they’re praising Obama’s plan to piss money away for things like $650 million for digital TV coupons, $50 million in funding for the National Endowment of the Arts...".

I can agree about the digital TV coupons, but the Arts! I don't think enough is put toward the arts! Does anyone remember the generic grocery products from the 80's? Without art education and programs to support the arts the world might look like those products...

SF International Arts Festival effected by budget cuts

Today's San Fransisco Chronicle reported that the city will not provide $100,000 from its general fund for the San Francisco International Arts Festival. This money represents 40% of the Festivals budget, the loss of this will undoubtedly have a negative impact on the festivals operation this year.

Is graffiti art or vandalism?

The debate continues, Eric Sloss from Carnegie Mellon posted some thoughts and an interesting link.

Beer Art ! a contest from PBR

The good folks at Pabst Blue Ribbon have started a contest, the PB-Arts Contest. Four categories include painting, photography, sculpture and poetry. Check it out and get your entries in, the prizes are wonderful!

Office of the Arts in the White House?

This was posted January 6 in Artnet, but I am just now seeing it, and what a great prospect it is! At the very lest the attention on the Arts at that level will bring some great conversation. Looking into this further, I find this article by Drew McManus on his blog who thinks it may not be a good thing to have such a position.

Time will tell

A work in progress

But really, what's not a work in progress?

This is a place to check out what's going on in the arts, I don't want to get too specific now as to limit myself. So check it out every now and then. Let me know what you think, give me the good and the bad, I can take it.