Massachusetts Right Whale Climate Mosaic

In mid-June, Our Climate’s youth leaders will be constructing a huge mosaic of a Right Whale on the Boston Common to show our support for strong, effective Massachusetts climate policy. The mosaic will be made out of 12”x12” tiles, preferably from recycled cardboard, but foam board, poster board, etc. all work as well, decorated with a response to the prompt: “What to we stand to lose to climate change?” People are encouraged to write their name, age and representatives on the other side, and have the option to write to their representative responding to the prompt “What climate solutions make you feel hopeful?”

Making art related to climate change is a great way to get youth involved in the environmental movement, especially because their futures are most directly affected. Want to get involved? Host a tile-making party! Deliver completed tiles to an Our Climate Fellow or staff, or send them to: 
Our Climate, attn: Eben Bein
5 Glenn Terrace
Cambridge, MA 02139

Check out the Facebook event for regular updates and information about the event! For more information on the event and tile-making, click this link.

Have questions or need help with anything? Email Our Climate’s New England Coordinator Eben Bein at eben@ourclimate.us

Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest for Students

Students are invited to submit visual art, poetry, prose, film, and music that explore this year’s theme, Presence of Future: Climate Change and the Ocean. Students are asked to create a piece about a coastal/marine species, place, or system that will be threatened, altered, or lost due to climate change. 

Contest Information:

  • Students can earn scholarships of up to $1,500!
  • Open to: students from around the world ages 11-18
  • Students can work as individuals or a group
  • Free to enter
  • Deadline: June 17, 2019
  • Hundreds of scholarships available
  • For more information: www.bowseat.org/contest

Review of Draft 2019 Arts Curriculum Frameworks

On February 12, 2019 the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved the release of the draft 2019 Arts Curriculum Framework for public comment. It has been almost 20 years since the state’s arts standards were last revised in 1999, and the new draft makes several important changes. Specifically, it:

  • Recognizes media arts as a discipline alongside dance, music, theatre, and visual arts;
  • Utilizes a new organizational structure that
    • Is consistent across disciplines, supporting integration,
    • Integrates content from the 1999 framework’s Connections strand into the discipline-specific standards,
    • Includes standards for artistic practice aligned to the National Core Arts Standards;Provides more detailed learning expectations, with two-year instead of four-year grade spans.
  • Provides more detailed learning expectations, with two-year instead of four-year grade spans.
  • Adds guiding principles focused on engaging students and ensuring exposure to wider range of cultures and styles.

The Department wants to hear from you! Please review the draft and provide comments using this survey. Email Craig Waterman with any questions.

Volunteer Opportunity

The Bethany Health Care Center in Framingham, MA is looking for someone to teach a watercolor class for 30 – 45 minutes once a week. The center has 35 women in the unit, who are mostly retired school teachers or college professors. Their mission is to provide meaningful moments to the women in the unit; most of them have a form of dementia. Supplies would be provided. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Catherine E. Sabatini at 508-270-8634, or via email at Catherine.Sabatini@csjboston.org

Be “Wicked Smart”

Order your limited edition MAEA t-shirt to commemorate the 2019 NAEA Convention in Boston March 14 – 16.

  • T-shirts are available for presale purchase for $22 through February 18.
  • T-shirts purchased at the convention are $25 with shipping included.
  • T-shirts purchased after the convention will have to pay shipping costs.
  • Order Here
T-shirt design created by Woburn HS art educator Anne Fitzgerald

2019 Youth Art Month Flag Winners

Congratulations to all the 2019 Youth Art Month Flag winners!

Jesslyn Croteau, Gr.11 – Shepherd Hill Regional High School, Teacher: Stephanie Lashua

Elementary School Winner: James Whalen, Gr.4 – Albert F. Argenziano School, Teacher: Diana Taremi
Middle School Winner: Amanda Castro Silva, Gr.7 – Quinn Middle School, Teacher: Diana Hoff
High School Winner: Britany Larson, Gr.12 – Shepherd Hill Regional High School, Teacher: Stephanie Lashua

Grade K Winner: Abigail Cornelius – Albert F. Argenziano School, Teacher: Luci Prawdzik
Grade 1 Winner: Owen Fengler – Martha Jones School, Teacher: Maggie Pasquan
Grade 2 Winner: Colin Hennessy – Martha Jones School, Teacher: Maggie Pasquan
Grade 3 Winner: Alexa Ende – Martha Jones School, Teacher: Maggie Pasquan
Grade 4 Winner: Rosalind Balfour – Benjamin G.Brown School, Teacher: Amanda Ledin
Grade 5 Winner: Maggie Mullin – Martha Jones School, Teacher: Maggie Pasquan
Grade 6 Winner: Ellen Ryan -Albert F. Argenziano School, Teacher: Diana Taremi
Grade 7 Winner: Cooper Lacina – Quinn Middle School, Teacher: Diane Hoff
Grade 8 Winner: Said Soaib – Winter Hill Community Innovation School, Teacher: Emily Martin
Grade 9 Winner: Lily Campbell – Somerville High School, Teacher: May Chau
Grade 10 Winner: Lily Tran – Braintree High School, Teacher: Heidi Hurley
Grade 11 Winner: Hannah Guerin – Shepherd Hill Regional High School, Teacher: Stephanie Lashua
Grade 12 Winner: Aysit Tashkin – Lynn Classical High School, Teacher: Erin Sutton

NAEA Artisan Gallery at the Boston Convention

NAEA recognizes that a large number of our members are working visual artists, as well as educators. We also know that our members appreciate and are inspired by the work of their colleagues. Once again, NAEA will host an Artisans Gallery at the 2019 Convention, providing members with a space to showcase and sell their small works of art and handmade items.

In order to sell your work at the Artisans Gallery, you must register to participate and must be registered for the NAEA convention. Registration is $30 per table. Set up will be 6-7 pm, teardown 9-10 pm. Learn more.

NAEA Art Educator Scholarship Fund

The NAEA Art Educator Scholarship Fund supports art educators seeking further professional learning opportunities through the many programs and events offered by NAEA.

The scholarship award serves to support innovative leaders in art education and allow access to further development to support their work as an art educator. Recipients of the award will receive a scholarship that covers their participation in the NAEA National Convention. Up to fourteen scholarships will be awarded for the 2019 NAEA National Convention and is open to all current members. Learn more.

Youth Art Month 2019 Banner

We Need You!

We are currently looking for volunteers to help with the Statewide Youth Art Month exhibit at the State Transportation Building, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116.

As you know the Statewide Youth Art Month Exhibit is a huge undertaking and doesn’t happen without the help of many amazing volunteers. Sign up to help today!