Jewel Robinson is a freshmen in her 2nd honors art class. She began in the Honors Art 1 High School class for 8th graders last year. Presently, she is soaring as a freshmen in art making in the Applied Arts Honors Art 3 class offered to tenth through twelfth graders. In the Briarcrest Regional Art Contest & Exhibition Jewel was awarded an honorable mention among many works of art for her digital art. Jewel Robinson has a real future as a graphic designer.
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I don't know about you, but I am tired of buying the same kinds of gifts over and over every year. I want new ideas. I want unique and vivacious gifts. I want affordability. I want to see my recipient's face light up with surprised kid-like delight when they open their present. Don't you just love that moment when you see the person's eyes spark alive and their mouth fly open with an excited gasp? That sudden jump that comes with the inhalation of glee is precious. It doesn't matter if they are three or eighty-three; it's a magical thing to witness. This year I have discovered the ideal store, Winter Arts, for my Christmas shopping. Winter Arts is a collection of approximately thirty local artists gathered together in one venue. The store is only open from Black Friday to Christmas Eve each year. This time, they are located in Saddle Creek, in the old J.Jill suite. They offer woodcarvings, glassware, knitted apparel, paintings, ironworks, jewelry, pottery, and so much more. The store is staffed by the artists, so finding expert assistance is never a problem. Whether you need a small hostess gift or a monumental "Wow!" present, Winter Arts will likely have the perfect solution. A full list of participating artists is located on their website: http://www.winterartsmemphis.com/, but for even more information and images, visit them on Facebook. May your lives be touched by the glory of His love, and may the true meaning of the season be ever present in our hearts and minds. Seven students were recently selected by the West Tennessee Regional Student Art Exhibition jury to participate in their seventh annual competition. What an honor! Two of the seven entries placed in the event. Congratulations to them all!
The exhibition is sponsored by The Tennessee Art Education Association (TAEA) and the West Tennessee Student Art Center (WTSAC). The exhibition is open to all middle and high school students. Located in Homboldt, the WTSAC is a permanent fine arts museum with a dedication to students and teachers. The WTSAC hosts three different exhibits each year, as well as house three permanent collections and numerous revolving collections. Did you know that Briarcrest High School has a yarn club? Well, we do. The Yarn Club is comprised of approximately 30 students. They meet once a month under the guidance of Mrs. Longworth and are now in their second year of existence. Up until this point, the group has enjoyed sharing their common interest in knitting, crocheting and needlepoint while working on individual projects; however, they are currently considering a joint project where each person will knit (or crochet) a square, then the squares will be joined together to make one large blanket. The finished product will be donated to charity. When I met with the group, they explained that knitting, crocheting and needlework serves as a stress reliever as well as a vehicle in which to share their passion with others. Having a club adds a social aspect to an otherwise solitude activity. No experience is needed to join because skilled members will happily teach those who want to learn. First row: Caroline Clements, Hillary Wofford, and Julianne Bryson Second row: MacKenzie Goodwin, Peyton Pugh, Aubrey Morris, Ethan Parsons, Savannah Shell, Rebecca Reseda, Olivia Roop, Rachael Harvey, Caroline Mohler, and Kathleen Spight Third row: Lily Johnson, and Mary Morgan Hawkins Not Pictured: Heather Walters, Abby Harris, Lauren Taylor, and Tyler Dean
Briarcrest's East Campus First Grade teacher, LeAnn Farris, had her work cut out for her, but boy did she succeed in teaching thirty-two eager adults to paint a beautiful picture, each and every one worthy of hanging. The evening was filled with laughter as we journeyed together on a path of exploration that uncovered hidden talents. Thank you Mrs. Farris, Mrs. Weintraub, and Mrs. Fergus for not only hosting the event, but for bringing out the artist in us all. There is already talk of another All Saints Paint event in the spring. It's not official yet, so don't quote me, but... maybe it can be worked out. If it does come about, you will see a link for the signup posted on the main BCS webpage, and I will post it again on this blog. Let me just warn you, it sells out fast, so when you see the link, grab a friend or two and sign up asap! Just look at all the fun you'll have: One participant, Betsy Ellis, summed it up well by saying, "What you did last night was really amazing---taking a not so ‘artsy’ crowd and helping us to have fun and create a unique piece of art is a real gift!"
I can't wait to do it again!
About The Artist
LeAnn Farris is a local artist and first grade teacher at Briarcrest. She grew up in Memphis and attended The University of Tennessee, Knoxville and received her Masters of Art in Education from Union University. LeAnn says of her art, “I have always loved art, but my love for painting really flourished when I began creating murals on my daughter’s bedroom wall. I instantly developed a passion for creating art on a blank wall or canvas. “ Her artwork can be recognized by its bright, vivid colors, mixed media, and textured canvases. Her theme reflects her southern roots and occasionally captures a scene from around her home in Fayette County, Tennessee, where she lives with her husband and three children. Last evening's artist lecture with Amy Hutcheson was spectacular! Ms. Hutcheson is a delightful speaker, to say the least. I wish the whole school could have been there. Ms. Hutcheson shared her personal approach to creating art, she gave insights into the life of a professional artist, and she addressed student's specific art interests by giving them one-on-one tips on how to nurture & grow their skills. It was fascinating to listen in on her discussion with a student interested in photography and learn how a painter and a photographer not only share a skill set, but can in fact, join together to enhance both talents and careers. She also introduced her audience to the idea that some people can "see" color values assigned to non-color items (such as letters, numbers and music). Fascinating stuff.
This year the Tennessee Art Educators Association conference will be held in Memphis at Memphis College of Art. Briarcrest’s own, Jenna Fergus’ art was chosen along with 23 other art teacher-artists to show in the MCA Artist/Teacher Juried Exhibition 2014. You are invited to attend this event hosted by the Art Education Department at Memphis College of Art, Nesin Graduate Building (477 South Main) on Friday, September 26th from 6pm-9pm. The artwork is currently on display in the Art Education Gallery on the Second Floor. Come down trolley night to see your favorite art teachers’ pieces. Jenna Fergus’ clothesline art was also selected this summer to hang in the prestigious Tennessee Arts Academy Fourth Annual TAEA Member Art Exhibition. Her work about legacy and hospitality showed throughout July and August in the Leu Visual Art Building on the campus of Belmont University. Jenna was honored to have been awarded third place from among the gifted artist-teachers of Tennessee. Most recently though, the international organization, Art of Education chose Mrs. Fergus to be an ambassador. Jessica Balsley, creator and leader of the AOE is determined to offer the most accessible, practical and relevant professional development for art teachers available on the globe. Houston Levee elementary art teacher, Tonya Loyd, first introduced Fergus to the AOE conferences two summers ago. One conference and she was hooked. ArtofEd has now become a real encouragement for her as she goes about her daily routine offering 6 different levels of art in some 20 different media to over 120 students each day. Being selected to represent AOE is a joy because she gets to share her connections to relevant professional development with art educators all over the state of Tennessee. We are so proud of you, Mrs. Fergus! |
Taylor Lollar
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