Art and Self with Cindy Ingram

The Truth About My Work: What We Create is Magic ✨ Oct 29, 2024

In this vulnerable share on my podcast and YouTube, I open up about my journey of embracing my true self through healing through art and creative community. Watch as I process these revelations through art journaling while discussing last night's powerful tarot session, the magic that happens in our art interpretation circles, and my upcoming tarot program. Join me as I reflect on self-acceptance, neurodiversity, and the healing power of creative community.

To see me making art at the same time, watch this podcast episode on YouTube:

🎨 Mentioned Programs:

* Art Church (Monthly Free Sessions) - https://cindyingram.com/art-church

* Art Connection Circle - https://cindyingram.com/circle

* New Tarot Program (Coming Soon!)

✨ Want to join our creative community?

* Subscribe to my Substack - https://cindyingram.substack.com

* Learn about Art Church - https://cindyingram.com/art-church

🖼️ Featured In Video:

* Light Seer's Tarot Deck - https://amzn.to/48ExgFb (affiliate link)

* Last Week's Video -

* More about my River Trip - https://cindyingram.substack.com/p/sunday-strokes-a-river-trip-and-a

* This is Me - Table Sing -

* This is Me - Britain's Got Talent -

Art and Self with Cindy Ingram is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

Introducing Spacious Creative - Episode 1: Our Creative Roots Jul 11, 2024

Hello! I'm excited to introduce you to the first episode of a brand new collaborative podcast with my friend Heather Doyle Fraser over on our new substack, The Spacious Creative. In this limited series podcast, we'll explore the topic of creativity from all sorts of angles. If you are a creative person or especially if you are a creative person "in hiding," I know you'll get great value from listening to our conversations on creativity. In this episode, we break down our histories of being creative, including times when we both went into hiding as creatives. We'll be releasing episodes every Thursday through the end of August! Also be sure to register for our upcoming workshop on July 24! Click here to register.

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In Episode 1 of Spacious Creative, Cindy Ingram and Heather Doyle Fraser explore how creativity has shaped and shown up in their lives. For both, being creative isn’t something that “happened” to them; it is an identity that has been with them as far back as they can remember: early childhood. During this time, creating wasn’t hard or challenging—it was a joy and a comfort and a place of freedom.

This beginning place of ease and contentment didn’t remain static. After exploring these beginning experiences with creativity, Heather and Cindy walk us through how they navigated being creative over their lives: the natural ebbs and flows and the imposed expansions and contractions that we all experience as creatives, artists, and writers.

What we experience in our early lives is often indicative of the passions and pursuits that enthrall us as adults, though, if we can allow ourselves to follow and trust those inclinations. We all have a story of creativity and how we began our creative journey, and although Heather and Cindy’s journeys might have different details, the broad brushstrokes might bear a striking resemblance to your experiences. Here are some of the brushstrokes these two creatives explore in their conversation:

Early childhood creativity had a clear impact on lifelong artistic pursuits.
Inspiration came in many forms and there are clear and distinct childhood memories, like drawing, painting, making up stories, “writing” before you could write, and arranging spaces to feel comfortable and safe.
The influence of encouragement and discouragement on sharing creativity and artistic endeavors.
Navigating perfectionism and its effect on the creative process.
Using art to process emotions and experiences during adolescence
Personal stories and reflections on the role of creativity in self-expression and growth.
We sometimes stop creating for ourselves when our society deems it impractical, but we can come back to these endeavors over time when we begin to trust ourselves and our creativity again.

To register for our workshop on July 24, Trust Your Why: Your Creative Comfort Zone Needs You, click this link!

Click here to subscribe to our substack!

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

on coping, compassion, and accommodation with Melissa Cox May 29, 2024

In this engaging podcast episode, Melissa Cox joins me to discuss the artwork Coping by Nicole Eisenman.

Here's a bulleted list of what we discussed in this episode, thanks to our friend Chat GPT.

The feeling of being worn down by internal struggles or long-term challenges
Reflections on hope and despair, and the isolation it can bring
The importance of representation and seeing possibilities for different choices
Personal anecdotes illustrating the impact of representation on decision-making
Discovering one's neurodiversity and the journey of self-acceptance and accommodation
The need for radical acceptance and compassion for oneself and others
Coping mechanisms and harm reduction strategies in facing life's challenges
Externalizing internal struggles through creative mediums like art and fan fiction
The evolving nature of long-term friendships and the acceptance of change
The therapeutic value of art and conversation in processing emotions and experiences
The role of verbal processing and receiving feedback in personal growth and problem-solving
Understanding the dynamics of evolving friendships and accepting change over time
Embracing compassion for oneself and others, and reframing past judgments
Using art as a medium for self-reflection, externalizing internal struggles, and seeking new perspectives
Recognizing the importance of community in reducing isolation and realizing shared experiences
Setting explicit boundaries and needs for personal well-being

Links:

Watch this episode on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/artandselfcindy/videos/471458611941506/
Watch this episode on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/events/podcastlivestreamwithmelissacox7198400028728573952/comments/
Watch this episode on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAIpKTn3yCo
Join Art Church - https://cindyingram.com/art-church/
Enroll in the Art Connection Circle - https://cindyingram.com/circle
Buy my Book - Art Is About Being Whole: A Memoir - https://geni.us/ArtIsAboutBeingWhole
Art and Self on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube

Melissa Cox's Contact Info

Facebook: Melissa Cox - https://www.facebook.com/melissa.cox.7549
Facebook Page: Living With Disaster - https://www.facebook.com/livingwithdisasterArtist
Facebook Group: Living With Disaster - https://www.facebook.com/groups/2154024138072188/
Instagram: living_with_disaster

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exploring internal parts and shadows in Naudline Pierre's painting May 17, 2024

In this episode, I chat about what I have been up to, tell you about the new(ish) format for the show, and explore a work by my favorite artist, Naudline Pierre, through the lenses of Internal Family Systems and Shadow Work. Links:

Watch this episode on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/artandselfcindy/videos/765619205553447
Watch this episode on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/video/live/urn:li:ugcPost:7197299338065186817/
Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtube.com/live/xuN9_FL93U0
Join Art Church - https://cindyingram.com/art-church/
Enroll in the Art Connection Circle - https://cindyingram.com/circle
Buy my Book - Art Is About Being Whole: A Memoir - https://geni.us/ArtIsAboutBeingWhole
Allison Crow
Eisley Hallows Shadow Study
No Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz ** affiliate link

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How Art Teaches Us to Embrace the Discomfort of Vulnerability with Dr. Jamie English Dec 04, 2023

In this episode, Dr. Jamie English, a licensed professional counselor who specializes in body acceptance, and I engage in a deep exploration of two artworks side-by-side: Self-Portrait Naked with my Mother II by Chantal Joffe and The Opening by Aleah Chapin. Both artworks are featured in my new book, Art Is About Being Whole: A Memoir. The conversation delves into body image, vulnerability, and the relationship between a mother and daughter portrayed in the art. We analyze the body language, symbolism, and emotions conveyed in each painting, drawing connections to personal experiences and societal expectations. The discussion unfolds into a reflection on self-acceptance, the journey toward embracing one's flaws, and the power of art in facilitating introspection.

To sign up for the Art as Oracle workshop, visit this link.

To join the next Art Connection Circle, visit this link.

To see the artworks and links for the episode, visit the show notes at this link.

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

The Sacredness, Duality, and Symbolism of Nature: A Exploration of Night with Madalyn Gregory Nov 13, 2023

Before I transitioned the podcast to its new format as Art and Self with Cindy Ingram, some of my all-time favorite episodes were the ones where I had captivating art conversations with my dear friend, Madalyn. We'd dive deep into a single piece, exploring its intricacies, and unraveling the layers that make art truly fascinating. The goal was to not just talk about art but to show the depth and complexity it holds, offering listeners a glimpse of the incredible possibilities within the world of art. It's all about the power of showing rather than telling—a theme that's been resonating with me lately, especially in connection to my new book.

To mark the book's release, I brought Madalyn back to the podcast after a two-year hiatus, and it was an absolute joy. We delved into the enchanting painting Night by Natalie Wadlington, one of the artworks featured in my new book, Art Is About Being Whole: A Memoir.

In this episode, we explore:

The sacredness, duality, and symbolism of nature
Themes of curiosity, authenticity, wholeness, and joy in simple moments
A journey back to childhood wonder and the importance of embracing our true selves
Reflections on societal expectations, productivity, and the art of resistance through self-care

For links to the artworks and other resources we mention, head over to the shownotes at this link.

also be sure to get my new book, Art Is About Being Whole: A Memoir!

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

How a Boring Textbook Transformed into a Courageous, Artistic Memoir with Heather Doyle Fraser Nov 02, 2023

The creation of my new book, Art Is About Being Whole: A Memoir, was a pretty epic journey from start to finish. When I first started the book, it was going to be an art education book, but somewhere along the way, in both little and big moments, the book morphed into what it is now, which is a soulful, poetic, artistic exploration of not only the story of my growth but of the basic human emotions and experiences that so many of us share.

I could not have ever created such a heart-wrenching and incredible work of art without the help of my amazing publisher and book coach, Heather Doyle Fraser of Compassionate Mind Collaborative. I recently sat down with Heather, and we reminisced on the whole creation process as we highlighted those big, transitional moments that sent the book from a research-based textbook to a poetic, artistic memoir.

Here are just some of the highlights of our conversation:

the importance of compassion in the writing process
what it was like to relive and reprocess all of the emotions of my past
how the books I read during the writing process influenced this book
how poetry can express deep emotions without explanation getting in the way
how the addition of poetry unlocked creative expression and creative freedom in ways I never could have ever predicted
a reminder to stay true to and to always start with the art
the resistance to and then acceptance of including my own art in the book

This conversation with Heather was so fun, and it was so great to sit and outline the entire process. Because, you know, with every artwork, with every poem, with every book, with every theater production, with every dance, there is always a story of its creation, the support systems, and creator.

But what’s so exciting is—this book’s story? It’s not over. It now continues with you, the reader. I can’t control the process from here on out, but I can’t wait to see what happens as this creation touches lives across the globe, starting with you.

To continue the magic of Art Is About Being Whole in your own life, get the book at this link. I know there are treasures, insights, and wholeness waiting for you between the lines of this book.

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

A Soulful Glimpse Inside Art Is About Being Whole's 'The Two Fridas' Chapter Oct 31, 2023

I'm excited to announce that my new book, Art Is About Being Whole: A Memoir, is now live and ready to buy! Click this link to get your copy.

Today, I’m thrilled to give you a sneak peek into one of my favorite chapters! Okay, it’s tough to pick a favorite chapter of the book as each one took me on such an emotional journey, but my interpretation of Frida Kahlo’s The Two Fridas, in conjunction with my shame, social anxiety, and discovery of my power as a teacher holds a very special place both in my heart and in the development of this book.

In this special episode, I read both The Two Fridas chapter. I teared up many times when recording this, so I hope when you listen, you’ll feel the love that went into the creation of this book.

Click here to see The Two Fridas by Frida Kahlo.

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Growing with Progress: Ascending the Staircase of Self-Discovery with Carol LeBlanc Oct 16, 2023

In this episode, I have the pleasure of welcoming my friend and colleage Carol LeBlanc from Love Your Numbers Now as my guest, and together, we dive into the thought-provoking artwork Grow With Progress by Erik Johansson. This surreal photograph depicting a woman ascending a staircase inspired a chapter in my upcoming book and it offers a powerful metaphor for personal growth, self-discovery, and the pursuit of wholeness. As Carol and I unpack the layers of meaning within the artwork, we explore essential themes like self-trust, shedding societal expectations, and embracing expansion. We draw striking parallels between the artwork's message and real-life experiences, from navigating business endeavors to the complexities of parenting. We highlight the liberating power of embodying our truth and speaking up, even when it requires courageous conversations. It's a conversation that beautifully aligns with the overarching theme of my book, Art Is About Being Whole: A Memoir coming soon on October 31!

For pictures of the artwork and the links we discussed in the show, head over to the show notes at this link.

P.S. Count how many times one of us brought up the Barbie movie! That was unexpected!

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Unveiling Our Hidden Artists: How We Ditched The Rules And Embraced Exploration with Margaret McDonald Oct 09, 2023

In this episode, Margaret and I, both passionate art educators, open up about our own artistic journeys. We get real about the struggle of finding our artistic identities as teachers, grappling with imposter syndrome, of not being “good enough” or niched enough, and the “shoulds” that help us back from embracing our own art. But what we have found on the other end after letting all of that go is freedom of expression, the joy and satisfaction of making art for us and no one else, and the safety and nervous-system regulation that art provides us that we knew as children but forgot as we grew up.

It's been all about letting the process guide us and having the curiosity, the playfulness, and the consistent practice lead us to whatever comes next.

I know you’ll love this conversation.

Get the links to stuff we talked about on this episode on the shownotes at this link.

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Introducing Art Around the World in 30 Days - July 2023 - Day 1 - Parade by Mequitta Ahuja Jul 03, 2023

In the episode, I introduce the Art Around the World Series, invite you to explore the work of art on your own, discuss the many interpretations possible, share a little about the artist, tell a story about my own connection to it, share a compare/contrast opportunity, and give ideas for teaching it in your classroom! Today's video is a little longer than the rest will be because I introduced the series at the beginning a little and had a very personal story about the artwork to share! Sign up to receive email notifications for each featured artwork this month at https://artclasscurator.com/aatw Click here to see the artwork: Parade (diptych) by Mequitta Ahuja. Watch on Facebook or YouTube
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Exploring the System of Self: Dissociative Identity Disorder and Art with Geoffa Fells Jun 15, 2023

After interviews, I often say "wow that was my favorite one" and looking back I have a lot of favorites, but this one may be THE favorite. My conversation with artist and musican, Geoffa Fells, about art and emotion and neurodiversity and music and how all of those intersect still give me chills when I think about it a month after having this conversation. I am so excited for you to hear it!

For links to all of the artworks featured as well as Geoffa's contact links, head over to the shownotes at this link.

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Want to connect?

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Geeking Out About Art Philosophy (Part 2) with Dr. Kate Wurtzel May 25, 2023

After episode 117 with Kate Wurtzel, we realized we had been looking at a cropped image, and because of this we had more to say! In this episode, we have a blast geeking out about art philosophy, the idea of the artist as genius, the artist as a healer, following intuition, experimentation, and much more. I had so much fun talking to Kate again, and I hope you enjoy this conversation with her as much as I did.

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Word of the Year Update #6: Giving Myself Permission to Fully Listen to the Call to Create May 18, 2023

This week I've gotten the delightful experience to witness the joy of creation through my 13-year-old daughter. That, plus my musing on the book Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey, have made me think more about the ways in which I am not following my own advice and how I can give myself a deeper permission to create without the burden of capitalism on my shoulders. For links discussed on today's episode, visit the show notes at this link.

Get Involved

Join the Art Connection Circle -- Now enrolling for summer sessions!
Art and Self on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube

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Surviving Uncertainty and How to Pull It All Together with the Arts with Amanda Koonlaba May 11, 2023

Amanda Koonlaba is a blogger and art teacher who has been running her blog “Party in the Art Room” for more than a decade. In this episode, Amanda and Cindy discuss One Woman Show by Celeste Rapone through our lenses as mothers, educators, and creatives. As former art teachers, we talk about the importance of arts integration and how art can help face uncertainty.

For links to all of the artworks featured as well as Amanda's contact links, head over to the shownotes at this link.

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Word of the Year Update #5 - The Benefits of Knowing Yourself Plus Being on the Other Side of the Artist/Viewer Equation May 04, 2023

I've been talking about it for a while, but I'm finally sharing my painting I made! In this episode, I talk about the vulnerable process of sharing and creating this painting as well as what benefits I get from knowing myself better.

Click here to visit the shownotes to view my painting!

Get Involved

Join the Art Connection Circle -- Now enrolling for summer sessions!
Art and Self on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

How to Examine Our Stories and Release Patterns That No Longer Serve Us with Dr. Charryse Johnson Apr 21, 2023

Daniel Popper's Chasm is one of my favorite works of art as there are sooooo many rich, personal connections to be found. I was delighted Dr. Charryse Johnson, therapist and author of Expired Mindsets: Releasing Patterns That No Long Serve You Well, chose it as the artwork to focus on. We talked about a lot in our discussion from how we change and grow as we age, to how we adopted stories from a variety of sources that aren't really who we are, how we can explore our own inner selves, and how we can break away from any 'expired mindsets' that may be holding us back.

For links to all of the artworks featured as well as Dr. Johnson's book and social media, head over to the shownotes at this link.

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How to Partner with Your Body and Spirit to Make Art with Dr. Kate Wurtzel Apr 06, 2023

We flip the script on the podcast this week as my guest, Dr. Kate Wurtzel, chooses and presents the art choices. t was so fun to have it flipped on me, and the artworks she chose are right up my alley. I absolutely loved this delicious conversation about painting through the lens of Byzantium by Jenny Saville. Kate definitely made me want to paint during this conversation! See all of the art choices and links to things we discussed over at the shownotes on artandself.com.

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Word of the Year Update #4: How to Conquer the Need to Be Perfect by Creating Garbage Mar 23, 2023

In this episode, I talk about how I am working to overcome my perfectionism in my art, writing, and business--taking inspiration from Simone Seol's Garbage Post Challenge (Joyful Marketing Podcast Episode #160) and Anne Lamott's "Shitty First Drafts" (in her book Bird by Bird)

Perfectionism stops creativity in its tracks. In this episode, I discuss how I have taken these messages to heart by taking time to experiment, to play, and to create without any expectations of the outcome. When we let go of our need to be perfect, we open ourselves up to our authentic selves, and this is where the magic lies.

For links and more info about the Art and Self podcast, check out the shownotes at https://artandself.com/116-create-garbage

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Capturing Essence and the Duality of Old and New with Kelly Ferguson Mar 16, 2023

In this episode, photographer Kelly Ferguson and I discuss the artwork Desire by Miss Meatface aka Kat Toronto. This artwork captures the complexities of identity in a single photograph. In the conversion, we discuss the layers of influence a person goes through as they express their identity, themes of blending in and standing out, how to capture a person’s true essence on camera, and the freedom of expression of womanhood across generations.

Get more episodes and information on the show notes at https://artandself.com

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How the Energy of Horses Breaks You Open To Reveal Your True Self With Lyn Carpenter Mar 02, 2023

There are moments in life that you walk away from forever changed. One of the most magical, forever changed moments in my life happened thanks to my guest today, Lyn Carpenter.

Lyn is an Equine Gestaltist who helps women discover their authentic selves and recover from people pleasing through coaching and a healing environment filled with a herd of horses.

The majesty of horses and their connection with humans has been captured in artwork for generations. It's easy to understand why when you experience their incredible ability to sense when the words you say do not match your heart.

See the artwork we discussed and learn more in the show notes.

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How I Am Uncovering Long Forgotten Parts of My Artistic Identity Feb 23, 2023

Word of the Year Update #3 - In this episode, I share about a few powerful conversations that cracked me open and helped me tap into parts of my creative identity that I had long forgotten.

Also, check out the beginning of the episode for some updates about the podcast moving forward and my availabilty for coaching!

Interested in checking out coaching, schedule a free discovery call at https://artandself.com/discovery

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Perspective Lenses: Is Life Happening to You or Are You in Control? with Dr. Michelle Gordon Feb 16, 2023

There is so little in the world that we can control. All we really have power over is our own actions, reactions, and the thoughts inside our head. That doesn't seem like much in a world moving at the speed of scrolling screens with opinions and expectations at every turn.

But it's everything we need and more.

The covid pandemic changed all of us. Some in big ways. Some in small ways. For Michelle Gordon, life before 2020 looks very different to life now. She left a career in medicine and discovered who she was beneath society's shoulds and shouldn'ts.

In this episode, we discussed the power of perspective through the artwork When We Return You Won't Recognize Us by Glen Brown.

How do you get your voice back? How do you get rid of shame? How do you learn to love yourself?

What changes when you realize everything you need is already inside of you?

Get links and more in the show notes.

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Authenticity Unmasked: Celebrating and Reflecting on Autism Through Art with Chris Bonnello Feb 09, 2023

We all want to belong, but what happens when the world doesn't accept who you are?

All of us wear (often uncomfortable, ill-fitting masks), but the masks society tells autistic people to wear degrades their authenticity and ability to recognize and be themselves.

Chris Bonnello is an author, activist, and autism advocate. Together, we discussed neurodivergency through the artwork Mask the Decay by Mitch Christian.

Chris talks about how autistic masking feels for him, radical acceptance, his writing journey, and what the world is missing out on by asking autistic people to deny their full selves.

See the artworks and get all the links mentioned in the show notes.

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

Word of the Year Update #2 - How do I handle the highs and lows of creativity? Feb 03, 2023

Thoughts on being an artist this week after a few tortured days. Having compassion for the creative process. Showing up for my practice even when it is hard. Giving myself the support to work through it.

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How Musical Theatre Captures the Heart and Soul of Our Times with Josh Kreitzman Feb 02, 2023

Though music has been a part of theatrical arts since ancient times, modern Western musical theatre was born in America. Josh Kreitzman, my guest today, argues that musicals are the best art form, and I'm inclined to agree with him. How often do you get to witness art as it is happening and be a part of its creation with a room of people?

Musicals are fully body sensory experience and the stories they tell have always been a reflection of the triumphs and heartbreaks of life. Music is a language beyond borders—how better to capture the heart and soul of our times?

In this episode, we discuss Prayer from Come From Away by Irene Sankoff and David Hein. The musical tells the real life story of the Newfoundland town of Gander during the week following the September 11th attacks when 7,000 passengers were ordered to land unexpectedly at Gander International Airport.

We discuss the power of musicals, the lasting effects of grief and trauma (even when we get up to go to work the next morning), the difference between being in an audience and being a viewer, and how tragedy can bring good.

See the links to the videos of the songs we discuss at the shownotes.

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

Word of the Year Update #1 - Why I Was Inspired To Choose "ARTIST" as My 2023 Word of the Year Jan 26, 2023

They say that those who can't do teach. Unsurprisingly, teachers hate that phrase. It isn't true. And yet, for so much of my life, I believed it.

I could be an art teacher, but I would never be an artist.

I resisted the label mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally. My version of being an artist wasn't worthy.

But something has shifted. I'm finally learning what it means to be an artist and to live my life as an artist. It's playful, risky, experimental. It's not about being good. It's about the process.

Through the magic of attention, daily practice, and community, I've opened myself up to what the world has to teach me.

And that is why my 2023 Word of the Year is ARTIST. Join me on this year-long journey of connection and creativity as I share my insights on what it means to live life as an artist.

If you'd like to experience the magic of making art in community, join me in The Creativity Cocoon.

See the show notes at this link.

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3 2 1 Lift Off: On Science, Art, Truth, and Passion With NASA Astrophysicist Dr. Amy Winebarger Jan 19, 2023

Does truth exist? If it does, is it possible to know the truth? That's what me and Dr. Amy Winebarger talked about as we discussed Action Painting II by Mark Tansey.

Science and art are often seen as opposites—one concerned with numbers and facts, the other dipping into emotion and feelings. But both science and art are a way of exploring and explaining the world, the universe, and our experience of it all.

Humans are curious. We've been seeking knowledge and attempting to share our own truths for as long as we've existed. No matter how we view the world, what matters most is the space between us and the connections we make there.

Amy R. Winebarger is an astrophysicist in the Heliophysics and Planetary Science Office at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. She specializes in the analysis of observations of the solar corona. In our conversation, she shared the thrilling nature of her work, the magic of finding the career that's right for you, and talked about where she finds God in the universe.

See all the artworks and get the links in the show notes.

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

How Compassion in the Creative Process Leads To Layered Connections and Deep Impact with Heather Doyle Fraser Jan 12, 2023

Creating a work of art is a process—a process that can change who you are. Too often, we judge or rush our creative pursuits, ignoring the messages included in every brushstroke or written word. We end up saying too much or not enough.

But when we approach the creative process with patience and compassion, we make connections with ourselves and with all who resonate with our work. And the impact? It's infinite.

Heather Doyle Fraser is a publisher, writer, and coach who believes in the power of voice and works with writers to bring their words to the world. In fact, she's helping me write my book! Together we discussed the deep work and tangled process of creation through the artwork Alison the Lacemaker by Swoon.

See the artworks and get the links from this episode in the show notes.

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

Ghost Stories in Art: Delighting in Paranormal History and Experiences with Jane Mesa Jan 05, 2023

Do you believe in ghosts? Have you ever had a paranormal experience? Are you drawn to ghost stories in art?

Jane Mesa's first encounter with a ghost happened in her childhood bedroom. Now she investigates the paranormal. Jane joined me to discuss her experiences, both frightful and delightful, as we discuss Haunted House by Morris Kantor.

Get all the links and see the artworks Jane chose from in the show notes.

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

Motherhood, Bodies, and Being Whole: How to Feel Contentment in Our Conflicting Ways Dec 29, 2022

What is your relationship to your body? Our society does not make it easy to have a healthy, loving connection to your body. Krystal and I discuss how motherhood changed our bodies, how being fat affected how we move through the world, and how our thirties brought healing and wholeness.

Get all the links mentioned in this episode and see the artworks Krystal chose from in the show notes.

This episode contains conversation about an eating disorder.

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Art With the Rising Tides: How To Find Hope and Power in Climate Change with Nikole Pearson Dec 15, 2022

How do you feel when you think about climate change?

Overwhelmed? Scared? Hopeless?

Nikole Pearson has a different point of view. Together, we discussed one of Jason deCairnes Taylor's powerful underwater sculptures and Nikole shared her insight on how we can find hope and opportunity in the rising tides.

For more the links and other artworks featured in this episode, visit the show notes at this link.

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The Discomfort of Being With: Unarmored Presence in the Wild Edges of Being Human with Allison Crow Dec 08, 2022

I've discussed The Two Fridas by Frida Kahlo with hundreds of people of all ages in my career, and this discussion with Allison Crow helped me look at this inspiring painting in a completely new way. In this episode, we talk knowing ourselves, being present with our pain, our emotions, and all of our parts, and the beauty and healing power of connection.

You can get Allison's new book, Unarmored: Finding Home in the Wild Edges of Being Human, on Amazon. *affiliate link

To see the artwork, click here.

For more the links and other artworks featured in this episode. Visit the shownotes at this link.

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Revealing the Door Into Our Hearts: Delighting in the Duality of Creative Existence with Yola Mehmeti Dec 01, 2022

Art is magic, it changes with us. You never see the same artwork twice. Your life changes what you see and how you interpret it.

Yola and I talk about how the meaning we find is shaped by our experiences and choices, and how our choices and experiences are shaped by the meaning we make.

The artwork discussed on this episode is from the exhibit The Real Deal is Talking to Dad by Chen Ke. You can find the artwork here.

Read more in the shownotes.

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Messages From Nature and the Expansive Universe: How To Find Peace Within Yourself with Angie Stegall Nov 17, 2022

Angie Stegall joins me to about an incredible artwork by Vasilis Avramidis. We talked about our connection to nature, the interconnectedness of all things, and the many rooms we hold inside ourselves.

Link to the artwork by Vasilis Avramidis from the Caretakers exhibit. (The artwork we discuss is the 9th image on this page.)

See the shownotes here.

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Authenticity, Belonging, and Losing Control: Finding Yourself in BDSM and Art with Taylor Posey Nov 10, 2022

Sex. Dominance. Submission. Vulnerability. Power. Pleasure.
Taylor Posey is an intimacy coach, podcaster, and a dominatrix. In this episode, we're talking about something very human and often depicted in art...sex.
We talk about Taylor's experience with BDSM, how we find comfort, and being ourselves—all through the lens of an artwork, Natalie Frank, DOMINA III, 2017.
Taylor's Instagram
Taylor's Podcast All Tied Up

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Should You Fight the Storm or Surrender to Its Force? with Megan Winkler Nov 03, 2022

In this episode of the Art & Self Podcast, I welcome Megan Winkler, The Good Business Witch. Megan is a leadership and anti-burnout coach. We spoke about time, the choices women have, chaos, slowing down, and burnout. This conversation gave us both chills.

The artwork discussed on this episode is Looking Back by Erik Johansson.

See the artwork, a transcript, and full show notes at this link.

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How to Align your Inner and Outer Spaces to Cultivate Safety and Flow with Annette Stahl Oct 27, 2022

In this episode of the Art & Self Podcast, I welcome Annette Stahl—an entrepreneur, coach, and designer. We spoke about life transitions, how our homes reflect and influence our lives, safety, energy, and how inner and outer spaces can align.

The artwork discussed on this episode is The Mysterious Garden by Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh.

Note: Domestic violence is briefly mentioned in this episode in the 34th minute.

See the artwork, a transcript, and full show notes at this link.

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Understanding Grief and the Power of Chasing What We Really Want with Bryna Talamantez Oct 20, 2022

Join me as grief therapist and podcaster Bryna Talamantez and I discuss the artwork There's a Thread You Follow by Linda McCabe.

To view the artwork we discuss, but not while you are driving, click here.

For a full transcript and other links we discuss on the show, please visit the full show notes at this link.

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Introducing the Art and Self with Cindy Ingram! A Podcast Rebranding Revealed Oct 13, 2022

Don’t be alarmed, Art Class Curator followers! The art lessons, blog posts, and other goodies are still here for your enjoyment. But the podcast has undergone a re-branding and slight shift in focus.

My own personal journey over the last few years has led me to this moment. So in this episode, I explain why I’ve changed things and what you can expect from now on. Welcome to the Art and Self podcast!

Next week, you'll start to hear some intriguing art interpretations and conversations with soulful guests that illustrate the range and depth of what it means to be human.

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Death and Life: Observations of Gustav Klimt’s Artwork with Madalyn (Part 2) Jan 24, 2022

Last week, I had a fascinating conversation with Madalyn Gregory discussing Gustav Klimt’s Death and Life. I left that conversation so excited, only to discover that we weren’t done yet. Even after going off the air, we kept talking about it and realized we missed a lot of important things. So we decided to do a follow-up conversation to share even more of our insights with you!

4:55 - Awareness of a gender issue from last week and what it says about our conditioning

13:40 - Impact of gender and gender limitations as human-made constructs

16:37 - Diverse racial representation (or lack thereof) in art

24:14 - Importance of authenticity of different perspectives shown in artwork

28:23 - How the patterns in Death and Life resemble quilt work

31:57 - Ruminating over what the circles in Death’s robes symbolize

36:23 - The negative space between Death and Life more effective as black to represent the unknown

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/61-gustav-klimt/

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Death and Life: Observations of Gustav Klimt’s Artwork with Madalyn (Part 1) Jan 17, 2022

Today, I’m excited to try a brand new type of episode where I have art conversations with other people and talk about favorite pieces of art, personal connections to art, and what drew us to the world of art. For my first guest, I’ve brought on one of my best friends for the last 10+ years, organizer for all things at Art Class Curator and brilliant writer Madalyn Gregory. In this episode, she’s chosen to discuss Death and Life by Gustav Klimt, an artwork that stopped her in her tracks when she saw it in person in Vienna during one of our curator trips.

3:09 – What it felt like for Madalyn seeing the artwork for the first time

6:13 – Describing what Gustav Klimt’s Death and Life looks like

9:34 – The many observations we had while interpreting Death and Life

15:04 – Possible meanings and symbolism behind the skin tone used

24:20 – The loneliness and personality of Death

30:44 – An important lesson for art teachers to realize about their students

32:45 – Why we connected with Death and Life and the messages imparted to us

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/60-death-and-life/

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How Naudline Pierre's Art Reflects My Life Then and Now Jan 10, 2022

Today’s a different kind of episode. I had an idea recently and wanted to experiment with something new...

I went back to the Dallas Museum of Art to revisit Nauline Pierre’s exhibit. Why? I want to look at the same artwork again and again to see what new lessons I get out of it and how the artwork grows and changes as I grow and change.

And I want you along for the ride to see what that looks like in practice. I’m not just recalling my experience but also giving you a true taste of it in the immediate aftermath. So in this episode, I’ve captured my fresh thoughts and perspectives on Pierre’s exhibit, from the comfort of my car outside the museum.

5:59 - Describing the next painting in the story of the falling woman, Power Within

9:14 - Why one particular angel in this artwork resonated with me so much

12:28 - Describing Pierre’s Hereafter, Ye Shall Be Changed and the storyline I see within it

14:49 - How this painting reflects my own life right now

19:01 - New insights gained, a couple of days later

23:52 - Why I wanted to do an episode like this and create the Art Connection Circle

27:01 - The three things necessary to treat something like art as a sacred act

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/94-how-art-reflects-my-life/

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Falling for Naudline Pierre’s Evocative Art: A Conversation with Madalyn (Part 2) Dec 27, 2021

Last week, Madalyn and I geeked out over Naudline Pierre’s art exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art. It blew us away so much that we ended up talking for an hour and a half about our experience there. In part two of our discussion, we wrap up our thoughts on Lest You Fall and move on to Pierre’s Hold On, Hold Tight featuring more angels, nude figures, and clashing colors.

1:20 - The different energy vibes given off by the angels in Lest You Fall

5:10 - Why the Bible quote similar to the artwork’s title triggers me

10:43 - Describing Pierre’s Hold On, Hold Tight oil on canvas painting

14:03 - What the fetal position of the main character could symbolize

18:42 - The personal reason behind why Madalyn feels drawn to this work of art

21:27 - Possible interpretations for the depiction of two angels who seem a bit removed from the action

26:22 - Why this exhibit made me want to go home and paint afterward

31:14 - Being expansive, multiple, contradictory, and living in the fullness of possibility

Mentioned in the Show:

Art Connection Circle

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/91-falling-for-naudline-pierres-art/

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Falling for Naudline Pierre’s Evocative Art: A Conversation with Madalyn (Part 1) Dec 20, 2021

Madalyn’s back on the podcast to discuss a favorite subject of ours: art! This time we talk about a Naudline Pierre artwork exhibit we just happened upon in Dallas recently. Our conversation ran well past the hour mark, so I’ve broken it up into two parts. In this part one episode, we discuss Pierre’s Lest You Fall oil on canvas painting and all the feelings and imagery it evoked within us.

5:46 - Madalyn tries to describe what she saw when walking into the exhibit

8:53 - How Pierre’s work reminds me of a Baroque painting

13:29 - Discussing Pierre’s Lest You Fall, featuring a falling nude person

18:41 - My back-and-forth feelings on the winged creatures in the artwork

22:21 - The ability to see your identity reflected in art mediums

26:06 - Possible duality in the bird’s actions in the painting

31:31 - Life, faith, and the universal experience that draws us to these images

41:32 - Reflecting on what the figure could be falling towards and how that translates to life

Mentioned in the Show:

More Wonder, Please podcast

Art Connection Circle

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/91-Falling-for-Naudline-Pierres-Evocative-Art

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How Art Can Enhance Your Health with Olivia Ollis Dec 13, 2021

Today’s episode features a great interview that really illustrates the power of art connection. I talk with Olivia Ollis, an art teacher of over 30 years living in rural North Carolina. Her experience over the last year has deepened her personal connection to works of art and helped her discover new things about herself in the process. She discusses her health obstacles recently and the museum program that’s helping her through it.

6:52 - Why Olivia wanted to teach art and how she got into the field

8:06 - A program at her local museum that’s helping Olivia through endometrial cancer

13:34 - Surprising things Olivia has learned about herself since starting the program

19:56 - How Olivia’s relationship with art will change going forward

21:30 - The wonderful ways in which art has helped Olivia through her healing process

23:11 - The most powerful artwork in Olivia’s life right now

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/90-enhance-your-health-with-art/

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[ART CLASS CURATOR] Why You’ll Want In On the Teacher Workshop Fun in 2022 with Madalyn Gregory Dec 06, 2021

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator episode and is targeted specifically for art teachers.

--

I live for being in the same space with the artwork, visiting art museums and spending time in them with fellow enthusiasts. The Art Class Curator summer workshop where I get to do just that is probably my favorite thing every year. It lights up my soul and gives me the most energy and excitement for the work I do.

This past summer’s workshop felt like the best ever, and I want to make it even better next year. So today, I’ve got Madalyn Gregory with me again to discuss our experiences there and tell you how you can join us on this fabulous ride in 2022.

1:37 - The origins of the workshop

5:28 - Where the workshop will be held in the summer of 2022

8:31 - The new activity on the first day of the workshop this year that had everyone buzzing

14:27 - Art activities that stood out the most to us

20:04 - A magical art discovery we made on the second day of the workshop

26:05 - How we dialed in on personal art connection for the rest of the day

30:34 - Revealing some personal connections made from the experience

37:36 - How everyone took on a teacher role for the last activity

44:38 - The structure of the 2022 workshop and registration details

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/89-art-class-curator-summer-workshop/

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How Too Much Art History Knowledge Prevents a Personal Connection Nov 29, 2021

Are you really engaged with the artwork when you walk into an art museum? Or are you too busy thinking about what you know about the art and artist? Perhaps you’ve even noticed other people reciting facts and background on a piece of art to whomever they’ve brought along. When I was younger, I was that person. I’d be all about the artist’s life, the colors and brush strokes used, the behind-the-scenes story I knew, and on and on.

We art teachers know a lot of stuff. We’ve taken art history classes and engage students in all sorts of ways. So when we go into a museum, we can fall into this way of engaging quite easily and automatically. In this episode, I talk about one of the most meaningful things for me when it comes to works of art, the emotional connection, and how knowing too much history can get in the way of it.

3:15 -Why I decided to study art education instead of art history

8:39 - An excerpt from my essay about a Picasso painting that knocked me off my feet

11:03 - The magic that happened when I looked at that Picasso art again 10 years later

15:25 - The lesson I learned from a squirrel that held my curiosity for an hour

19:22 - Choosing which way you want to engage with artwork

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/88-art-history-knowledge/

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[ART CLASS CURATOR] How to Handle Your Anxiety at School: A Discussion with Highly-Sensitive Teachers Nov 22, 2021

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator episode and is targeted specifically for art teachers.

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I’ve noticed that the excitement and energy that comes with teaching wasn’t really there at the beginning of this school year. And if you’re one who struggles with anxiety or high-sensitivity, teaching these days is harder than ever.

Today’s episode is a re-release for both new listeners and old ones who’ve forgotten or missed out on this one the first time around. It involves one of my favorite conversations and is highly relevant to the trauma and stress educators are facing in the world right now.

In it, I interview two highly-sensitive teachers, Monica Wright and Amber Jordan, and we talk about how we handle our anxiety and sensitivity in the classroom. By the end of the show, I hope you find some nuggets of wisdom for your use or, at the very least, feel less lonely in your struggle.

2:59 - Monica and Amber introduce themselves briefly

7:37 - What it’s been like for me as an introverted, socially anxious person

9:01 - What it really means to be a highly-sensitive person

10:02 - Amber’s #1 management tool for dealing with noise in the classroom

13:21 - How Amber avoids light sensory overload in her class

19:54 - Monica’s approach for handling the noise level in her classroom

24:09 - Preventing students from getting uncomfortably close and invading personal space

30:09 - A way to help alleviate the biggest cause of anxiety for new teachers

32:46 - Do this in the first weeks of school for a long-lasting, positive impact

36:57 - Monica’s coping mechanisms for social events at school

39:06 - How we’ve struggled to not take home the emotions of our students

49:39 - Solutions for dealing with our “hot spots” (peak stress moments)

1:01:36 - How Monica and Amber deal with teaching and parenting at the same time

1:08:43 - A tendency among the super anxious to over-plan and be hard on ourselves

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/87-how-to-handle-your-anxiety-at-school/

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The Power in Partnering Poetry and Visual Art with Glenis Redmond Nov 15, 2021

When you’re a kid into art, it’s hard to imagine doing that and getting paid for it like a job. (We all know that old adage about starving artists). This is possibly even more true for those who like writing poetry. You don’t often hear about professional poets.

Well, today’s an exception. My guest Glenis Redmond is an award-winning, professional poet, and teaching artist. In this episode, she talks about being drawn to poetry from an early age, her biggest inspiration for diving into a poetry career, and how she approaches teaching poetry in workshops and the classroom. I hope you love this conversation as much as I did!

2:49 - How Glenis made the transition from counselor to professional poet artist

8:25 - The discipline of being an artist and how dialing in on your desire affects other people

10:16 - Why Glenis decided to start teaching poetry

14:22 - The intangible objective to working with teachers and students on poetry

16:23 - The keys to getting students to go deep and share their vulnerability through poetry

22:53 - Why introverts are big storytellers and the power of giving students agency

25:04 - How visual arts and poetry intersect and influence Glenis’ work

32:24 - Using praise poetry as a tool to connect with visual art in the classroom

36:10 - How praise poetry speeds up the social-emotional learning process

42:12 - The artwork that changed Glenis’ life

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/86-partnering-poetry-and-visual-art/

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Delighting in the Connection Between Art and Spirituality with Eric Booth Nov 08, 2021

After graduate school, I worked at an art non-profit called Big Thought. While I was there, my podcast guest today Eric Booth was a consultant who went high up in the company straight out of college. He did a lot of staff development training and programs for the non-profit. This episode represents a full circle moment for me as I thrill at reconnecting with him! In it, he and I talk about his path as a teaching artist and the connection between art and spirituality, a topic we both care about tremendously.

3:16 - Eric talks about his transition from Broadway actor to teaching artist

6:36 - How the teaching artist field has changed and the effects of the pandemic on the industry

12:18 - Two ways to bring a teaching artist into your classroom

15:38 - Eric describes what a good teaching artist partnership looks like

21:03 - The single best sentence Eric ever wrote, the idea behind it, and the companion book it eventually created

24:51 - How I recently made my own art and spirituality connection

27:52 - Paying a higher quality of attention to all different kinds of things in your life

32:20 - Eric explains what he means when he talks about the “verbs of art”

37:40 - The different between big art and religion and little art and religion

41:10 - The three concepts the Everyday Work of Art book boils down to

45:01 - Ideas on how to help students develop responsiveness to works of art

49:58 - What you can do right now to become more connected with art and spirituality

55:51 - How Hamlet changed Eric’s life

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/85-connection-between-art-and-spirituality/

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Coming Full Circle With the Joy of Art Connection: My Interview with Lisa Carpenter Nov 01, 2021

Over the last few months, I’ve really been exploring what really lights me up in my work. While helping teachers bring the joy of personal art connection to their students has been wonderful, I also know that I want to teach again and be in conversations about art rather than just helping others facilitate them.

To that end, I’m offering a new program on November 8 that’s not just for teachers, it’s for anybody. As a precursor to this, I did an interview with a friend and colleague of mine, Lisa Carpenter, on her podcast called Full Frontal Living. I’ve known her for several years and after the interview, I realized that I really wanted to share this conversation with you too.

So in this episode, Lisa interviews me about making personal connections with art as a tool for self care and healing. I also share a bit about the upcoming program, Art Connection Circle, and walk her through an interpretation exercise of Miquel Barceló’s art, Sopa d’Europa.

4:44 - I discuss my deeply emotional connection with art

8:28 - Art’s ability to allow you feel safe in your feelings

10:11 - How to start thinking about art as a way to practice self-care

13:25 - The tendency of different forms of art to meet you wherever you are in your life

18:08 - Why even the works of art that bore or repel you are worth exploring

22:24 - Approaching self-care and art in a different way

27:50 - Lisa makes a personal connection with art live on the podcast

38:51 - What’s different for Lisa after connecting with Miquel’s artwork

41:43 - Where the real meaning behind any work of art can be found

45:15 - How art can serve as a safety net for hard conversations

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/84-joy-of-art-connection/

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Studying the Disturbing 2000 Self-Portrait of Marcos Raya with Madalyn Gregory Oct 25, 2021

Some pieces of art just make you uncomfortable. Maybe it’s a movie or scene that hits too close to home, or a book about a particularly violent event (real or fictional) that makes you squirm... or a painting that brings up regrets or painful memories.

For Madalyn Gregory and myself, Marcos Raya’s 2000 painting The Anguish of Being and the Nothingness of the Universe made us feel ill at ease. So of course we had to discuss it! I’m excited to welcome Madalyn back on the show to talk about art. In this episode, we describe and interpret Raya’s piece, making personal connections along the way that surprised even me.

1:14 - A description of Raya’s self-portrait

6:13 - Our initial reactions to the artwork and the various connections we see in the details

10:30 - How the painting puts the mundane of day-to-day life in perspective

13:37 - How Raya’s work reflects the messiness and complexity of life and space

17:46 - Madalyn shares an interpersonal interpretation of the throat area’s depiction

19:44 - The contrast between the cleanliness of the painting and the message it conveys

23:51 - A possible double meaning behind the cardboard imagery

30:55 - Another interpretation of the cardboard detail and how it relates to our life experiences

38:59 - The very personal realization that brought back my discomfort with the artwork, just as I started feeling more at ease with it

44:48 - The necessity of allowing your kids (and others) to see the humanity in you

48:26 - Madalyn and I discuss the depressive title of Raya’s self-portrait

51:55 - How my views changed on the artwork from beginning to end of this conversation

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/83-studying-the-disturbing-2000-self-portrait-of-marcos-raya/

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[ART CLASS CURATOR] The State of Art Education with Mario Rossero Oct 18, 2021

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator episode and is targeted specifically for art teachers.

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I am so excited about today’s guest! Today, I talked to Mario Rossero, the Executive Director of the National Arts Education Association (NAEA). He had an exciting journey as an art teacher before joining the NAEA in January 2020, just before the world exploded. In this episode, we discuss his journey and experiences, but, most importantly, we discuss the direction of the NAEA and its priority as an organization.

02:08 - Mario talks about himself, his background, how he got into art education, his experience coordinating curriculum building for arts education, and teaching leadership through arts.

05:09 - Finding a role in art supervision and administration.

09:47 - Coordinating an arts program at the Central Office.

11:38 - Mario’s experience working in Chicago.

18:02 - Mario talks about his work with neighborhood art communities as the vice president for education at Kennedy Center.

20:55 - How Mario got into the NAEA.

23:20 - The biggest challenge in art education.

27:55 - How strategy and welcoming decision-makers aid art education.

29:40 - How teachers can show the positive value proposition of art education.

32:40 - Resources for art teachers to learn art leadership.

34:22 - The challenge of policy and budget.

38:00 - How the events in 2020 affected Mario’s original vision for NAEA.

44:43 - The NAEA’s equity, diversity, and inclusion policy.

48:14 - Incorporating the ED&I framework into the continuous learning process.

50:37 - How to make space for inclusion and diversity.

52:40 - How a diverse approach to art learning improves art education.

55:20 - How the NAEA team responds to criticisms of the ED&I policy.

56:59 - What part of work is Mario currently excited about.

58:28 - The role of art-making in Mario’s life.

60:18 - Mario’s wall of art and drawing inspiration from them.

61:10 - The artwork that changed Mario’s life and how it aided a second-grade art class.

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/82-state-of-art-education-mario-rossero/

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[ART CLASS CURATOR] Making Your Classroom Management Easier and Effective with Michael Linsin Oct 11, 2021

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.

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Positive moments in the classroom don’t just spring up out of nowhere. A well-run classroom makes teaching and learning fun for you and your students... something Michael Linsin has spent years studying, practicing, and offering in his guides on his website.

Michael was one of my first interviews on the podcast. It’s among my favorites, and I want to share it again. So in this re-released episode, he offers his amazing tips and insights on best practices for effective classroom management planning and forming relationships with your students, with a special focus on art classrooms.

2:19 - Michael’s #1 tip for being a fun and effective teacher

4:56 - What makes a good classroom management plan and why consequences really don’t matter

7:17 - The most effective way to teach your students the classroom rules

10:30 - How art teachers can find a balance between teaching the rules and teaching the lessons

13:55 - Why you might want to ditch filling out reflection forms as a consequence

16:29 - One important thing that can make running an effective classroom a bit easier

19:36 - How you can still leverage relationship-building with your students even if you have hundreds to teach

22:39 - When to transition away from time-outs and effective consequences for older students

26:19 - Why Michael doesn’t recommend a rewards system for your classroom

30:05 - What you can do to encourage your students to develop a motivation to do the work

32:21 - Why you must follow-through on your classroom management plan

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/art-classroom-management/

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Treating Text and Art as a Sacred Practice for Growth with Vanessa Zoltan Oct 04, 2021

Guess who I have on as my guest today! Long-time listeners know that I love the Harry Potter and the Sacred Text podcast. One of the co-hosts, Vanessa Zoltan, has similar views about connecting with literature as I do with artwork. In this episode, she and I discuss her book Praying with Jane Eyre and how to use sacred text (or sacred art) as a tool to help you deal with some of life’s problems, do good in the world, and become a better person in the process.

2:24 - Vanessa briefs us on her background in education and chaplaincy

4:46 - Vanessa explains why she loves Jane Eyre so much

8:15 - What it means for something to be sacred, according to Vanessa

10:22 - Exploring the idea of how treating text as sacred leads to treating your neighbor as sacred

16:35 - The gift Vanessa recently received while reading Jane Eyre that we can all heed

19:25 - A brief description of Vanessa’s book and why her chapter on destiny shook me so much

21:27 - How a recent controversy involving JK Rowling tested people’s capacity to separate art from the artist

26:05 - How problematic elements in Bronte’s Jane Eyre reflect a dark side of the U.S.

30:42 - How to find your own sacred text or art and work with it

36:02 - Why re-reading the same exact text can still produce a different experience every time

40:20 - The artwork that has changed Vanessa’s life for 20 years running

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/81

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[ART CLASS CURATOR] Boost Student Engagement and Success with Social-Emotional Learning with Jeffrey Benson Sep 27, 2021

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is specifically for art teachers.

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The percentage of U.S. students who graduate from high school has never been higher in our history. But have schools ever been structured, resourced, or intended to educate everybody’s child?

During Jeffrey Benson’s time as a teacher, mentor, and administrator for over 40 years, he worked with neglected, abused, traumatized, and autistic students who struggled with mainstream education. He now focuses on helping schools be more successful with more students through a better understanding of how people learn. In this episode, he and I discuss social-emotional learning and how to use it to improve your lesson planning and boost your students’ engagement for greater success.

2:21 - Jeffrey’s background and the unorthodox way his imagination helped him make lesson plans

7:18 - Exploring the meaningful question from Jeffrey’s webinar that I loved

11:26 - How Jeffrey defines social-emotional learning and its main characteristics

16:06 - So many examples of how Jeffrey would incorporate SEL into an art lesson

29:43 - The value of praising versus redirecting students in class

35:28 - Digging into the idea of positioning yourself as a learner while teaching

38:41 - Advice to help you be more intentional about adding SEL elements into your lesson plans

41:39 - Other simple ways you can intentionally put social-emotional learning at the forefront

45:55 - Jeffrey’s SEl recommendations for teachers

49:07 - The artwork that changed Jeffrey’s perspective on art

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/80

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

Art as a Powerful Gateway for Conversations About Race with Dani Coke Sep 20, 2021

We sometimes talk about using art to make a difference. And while some may be cynical about that claim, my guest today isn’t one of them. Dani Coke has an incredible story to share about how her art went viral overnight, made a difference, and really changed her life, and she explains her artistic process. As you listen to her describe her journey, you’ll get chills at the power of her art, just like I did!

2:01 - Dani briefly explains her history as a lover of art and creativity

5:56 - Dani reveals the events behind her art going viral on social media

11:45 - Dealing with the duality of personal, empowering success under awful circumstances

16:34 - COVID and Asian hate as an example of Dani’s process for creating art with a message

20:42 - How Dani manages to avoid dealing with people nitpicking her over semantics

25:07 - The teacher with an assumption about Dani that almost put her off the art path for good

30:01 - The chorus teacher who encouraged Dani on her creative journey

32:48 - Advice for teachers who want to have difficult conversations with their students about race, gender, and privilege

39:29 - Using your sphere of influence to bring about change for causes that matter most to you

43:43 - Where Dani gets her creative inspiration from and some book recommendations from her

47:48 - The work of art that changed Dani’s life

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/79

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

Rediscovering the Emotional and Personal Power of Art Sep 13, 2021

In the wake of the pandemic last year, I recorded a conference, Called to Art, that brought together educators from across the U.S. It was an amazing experience where I used real-world examples of myself to discuss what we learn from looking at art, how we can become emotionally connected to particular pieces of art, and why you should show more works of art to your students. It was all about discovering and rediscovering the emotional power of art, and I want to share that presentation with you in today’s show.

3:50 - How I developed my deep connection to art

10:36 - Why I switched from art history to art education

14:02 - A question to think about as you listen to the rest of the episode

16:02 - What you get out of art when you really slow down and look at it

20:36 - Embracing uncertainty and answers within through artwork

23:47 - The surprising amount of emotional fluency of the average person

29:37 - An exercise to discover your emotional connections with art

36:25 - Examples of my powerful, personal connections with art

49:06 - Four areas where you can prime your students to have their own emotional art connections

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/78

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

[ART CLASS CURATOR] Bringing the Past Into the Present: A 9/11 Memorial Artwork Case Study Sep 06, 2021

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.

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The 20th anniversary of 9/11 is right around the corner. So many people, including your students, weren’t alive when it happened. That’s shocking when you think about it because of how it changed our world practically overnight and still influences current events. So in this episode, I want to use the 9/11 Memorial artwork as a case study for bringing past (and present) events into the classroom and using art to process, reflect, practice empathy, and better understand complex issues.

4:57 - How the 9/11 monument lesson inspired one particularly creative junior high student

8:59 - How art serves as a way for students to experience history, past and present

13:12 - A description of the memorial, who created it, and what it feels like to view it in person

20:10 - One of the lesson activities provided for the monument and other activity ideas

23:01 - Various ways you can apply this lesson (and others available in the Library) to your classroom

26:01 - How incorporating lessons like this can help you in other ways

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/77

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

Pretty In Pictures: The Art and Business of Photography with Beryl Young Aug 30, 2021

Imagine that you’ve never experienced a whole lot of grief before. Then something devastating happens to you and leads to something beautiful. It happened to my guest today, Beryl Young. I’ve known her for several years, ever since I first started Art Class Curator at a blogger conference. Before working with teachers and schools on photography curriculum, she taught kindergarteners and 1st graders for 10 years. Listen as she shares the powerful story of how she started her photography business and how it’s evolved.

2:54 - The painful incident that triggered Beryl's transition from photography hobbyist to entrepreneur

9:29 - How Beryl taught herself photography and what inspired her to create her first class

13:21 - How the pandemic served as a huge catalyst for Beryl to shift her business

21:04 - An overview of Beryl’s approach to the teentography curriculum

26:16 - Why Beryl focuses on making photography as accessible as possible

31:37 - Beryl discusses her teentography and kidtography kits

36:01 - The platform that changed Beryl’s life

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/76

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

Why Picasso’s Guernica Paints Such a Powerfully Emotional Picture Aug 23, 2021

Art as a defensive weapon? It seems strange, but Pablo Picasso demonstrated its power in his painting Guernica. I’ve brought Jennifer Easterling back onto the show for another art conversation, and this time we discuss Picasso’s famous artwork. Both of us had strong gut reactions to it, so in this episode we talk about what it’s taught us and its importance in history.

1:47 - Jenn recalls her reaction when she first laid eyes on Guernica

6:02 - I discuss my unexpected emotional experience seeing it in person

9:10 - Painting a picture of what this Picasso artwork looks like

14:20 - The diabolical history behind why Picasso created this painting

18:21 - Why we had such a strong reaction to seeing Guernica in person

21:48 - How the pandemic impacted Jenn’s connection with the artwork

25:18 - Legacy of the Jewish woman who secretly taught art to children in a concentration camp

33:06 - What I kept seeing in my mind when I went to view the painting

37:26 - Picasso’s ultimatum and Guernica’s lengthy journey from Paris to Spain

42:22 - Picasso’s view on symbolism in art

44:51 - Discussing the symbolism we see in his painting

48:08 - A difference I noticed in his drawings versus the final painting

54:08 - Picasso’s experimentation with the drawings

56:40 - How our husbands reacted to Guernica

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/75

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

[ART CLASS CURATOR] Getting Great at Grant Proposal Writing with Barbara Lardner Aug 16, 2021

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.

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Does the idea of writing a grant proposal intimidate you? Barbara Lardner is an art teacher who’s taught in multiple grade levels throughout elementary, middle, and high school for over 25 years. She also happens to be an expert at grant writing for the classroom. So in this episode, I’ve invited her on to share her experiences, tips, and best practices for how you can write a great grant proposal.

2:56 - How Barbara was granted a trip to Paris

5:14 - Different types of grants offered and where to begin your search

8:54 - Crucial tips, steps, and goals to begin the grant writing proposal process

14:49 - One thing you might need (and shouldn’t put off) when writing your proposal

18:47 - Examples of vagueness, specificity, and clarity in proposal writing

22:49 - Why Barbara missed out on receiving an extra $2,000 for her school this year

24:39 - The kind of assessment requirements you need to follow after you get a grant

28:06 - Advice for making the grant writing process easier and less scary

31:11 - What to do before you finally submit your application

35:50 - Recap and more tips and best practices for writing your grant proposal

38:49 - Biggest piece of advice that gave Barbara the grant to attend graduate school

41:44 - What sparked Barbara’s interest in art as a 4-year-old

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/74-getting-great-at-grant-proposal-writing/

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

[ART CLASS CURATOR] What is a SPARKwork? Using SPARKworks to Light Up Your Art Lessons Aug 09, 2021

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.

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What in the world is a SPARKwork? At Art Class Curator, we love to do things differently than what you’ll find anywhere else. Recently, I relaunched The Curated Connections Library with SPARKworks, a new name with new features for an established framework. In this episode, I walk you through what a SPARKwork lesson is, how to follow one step-by-step, and offer tips on how to use these sorts of lessons in your classroom.

3:21 - Why The Curated Connections Library became more than just about art history

5:21 - Goals of the membership for teachers and their students

10:22 - What a SPARKwork is and where the name comes from

14:22 - SPARKwork step #1 and the 4 Cs to curate a good work of art for your lessons

19:48 - Leading your lesson with art discussion and the goal you should aim for

25:25 - How SPARKworks encourage student engagement and impress your administration

29:29 - Discussing ways to complete the 4th step in the framework

33:07 - New details and benefits of joining the recently relaunched membership

39:28 - Why becoming a member is a preventative self-care gift to yourself

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/73-sparkworks-to-light-up-your-art-lessons/

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

[ART CLASS CURATOR] Destroying the Big Myth That Can Cause You to Underestimate Your Art Students Aug 02, 2021

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.

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Ever since I started Art Class Curator in 2014, I’ve heard a lot of teachers who haven’t tried our lessons tell me that their students can’t do them. They think the lessons are too high-level or their students won’t connect with the works of art. Oh how wrong they are! So today I want to dissolve the myth that your students can’t handle higher level thinking and gain a deeper connection with art in the classroom.

8:18 - The only difference between age groups during art lessons

9:39 - One of the biggest fears of art teachers and why the worry isn’t necessary

14:32 - Why you shouldn’t underestimate your students’ ability to think critically

16:53 - How haiku and thinking like a math teacher can help you teach art

24:33 - Other ways we can help students engage with art lessons

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/72

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

[ART CLASS CURATOR] Reclaim Your Classroom and Teaching Spark With Intention, Joy, and Purpose Jul 26, 2021

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.

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This year was one of, if not the hardest, for teachers in their entire career. Many reached a breaking point and decided to leave the classroom or retire early. And while it might be better going forward, everything isn’t fixed. The pandemic goes on, and teachers will still face many of the same worries as last year.

The question to ask yourself in preparing for this year is, “How do I get the spark back and re-take power in my classroom?” So I decided to create an empowering program using our SPARK framework to help you do just that. Today the Reclaim Your Classroom free course begins, and in this episode I go through the program, giving you an overview of what you can expect after you join.

2:14 - A quick overview of the 5 steps in the SPARK framework

5:32 - What to expect when you first sign up for the program

6:59 - How to take inventory of what’s going on with you right now

10:57 - The emotional exercise to expect on Day 2 and the tool that can help

14:52 - The simple, cool tool and method you’ll use for completing step 3

18:41 - Taking the A in SPARK and using it twice

20:39 - Bringing it all together for step 4 to start moving toward where you want to go

22:48 - What the K stands for this time and how to create your battle cry for this year

24:27 - Reading the manifesto I wrote for Art Class Curator

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/71

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

The Countless Ways Art Can Change You and the World Through You Jul 19, 2021

The personal connection you have with works of arts--what it does for you and how you use it in your life--rubs off on your students too and impacts their lives and those around them. Author John Butler once said, “Art changes people and people change the world.” How? I did some research to discover what looking at art does for us as people and the countless ways art can change you.

In this episode, I discuss how it benefits the broader spectrum of humanity physically, mentally, emotionally, and more.

5:38 - Hormonal and other health effects that just 30 minutes of art gazing has on your body

9:16 - How art rescued me during an emotionally vulnerable time on a week-long retreat

10:55 - How art alleviates feelings of isolation and increases empathy, tolerance, and compassion

18:56 - Why engaging with works of art makes you more insightful and creative

24:22 - Ways in which looking at art can transform and improve your thinking skills

29:32 - The impact of art connection on your relationships, communication, and emotion

31:46 - How seeing Picasso’s Guernica reflected in a real life event shifted my inner kaleidoscope

35:06 - Why yawns are contagious and what they have in common with looking at art

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/70

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

[ART CLASS CURATOR] How Learning and Teaching Art Powers Personal Connection with Jenn Easterling Jul 12, 2021

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.

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Jenn Easterling is back on the show today! She’s been in the classroom for 11 years teaching grades K-12 and has taught drawing, painting, and a little art history in her studio. Jenn joins me to talk about how learning and teaching art powers personal connection

We also talk about some of the lessons offered at Art Class Curator as well as the fun, impactful insights and conversations those lessons sparked in our students and ourselves personally.

7:01 - Jenn’s emotional perspective on teaching Art Class Curator lessons

10:23 - How teaching works of art fuels your personal connection

15:20 - Why using the same art work lessons for multiple grade levels still works

20:52 - How looking at artwork impacts students’ art creation in the classroom

24:52 - A lesson that bridged the gap between the art and the personal for Jenn’s students

34:58 - Why you don’t need to worry about bringing any works of art to your students

38:34 - What you’re not doing when you’re looking at and talking about a piece of art

40:22 - How students often have way more interesting interpretations of art than the official story

44:13 - Examples of fun lessons for Jenn’s students that also encouraged art connections across campus

49:19 - Ways that teaching art can instigate outside-the-box thinking

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/69

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

[ART CLASS CURATOR] SPARKing Interest in Your Art Students with Teacher Staci Sterenberg Jul 05, 2021

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.

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Believe it or not, the pandemic had its bright side. During this tumultuous year, we’ve had so many teachers across the nation successfully use our SPARK Hybrid curriculum. They're sharing amazing stories about how they are SPARKing interest with art students and connecting with works of art. Today, I interviewed one of those teachers, Staci Sterenberg, who’s taught grades K-8 at a Chicago parochial school for 19 years.

Staci Sterenberg is a teaching artist living in Chicago. Her work as an art educator has brought her into classrooms and learning spaces for all ages and her art practice ranges in media from mosaic to sculpture to crochet. Her mission as an educator is to promote and value the creative experience while facilitating exploration in a variety of media. Her perfect world is a place where curiosity and creativity are free to discover and where mistakes are detours and not dead ends. Staci holds a Bachelor's in Studio Art from Michigan State University and a Master's of Art Education from the School of the Art institute of Chicago.

In this episode, she and I discuss her feelings about being an artist, how the Coronavirus impacted her classroom, and the unexpected gifts she received from the pandemic. We also dive into some of the amazing lessons from SPARK that her kids participated in and greatly enjoyed this past school year.

4:18 - How Staci’s history lead her to teach art

6:19 - How SPARK influenced Staci’s education philosophy in the classroom

8:27 - Why Staci felt with her district and administration at the start of the school year
13:09 - A SPARK lesson that went particularly well with Staci’s 4th graders
17:24 - What made the lesson Staci found for her 7th and 8th grade classes so timely

23:01 - The art piece that proved to be a misstep for Staci’s e-learning students

30:23 - How the art teacher community online came together at the start of lockdown

32:16 - Staci’s big, one-word takeaway from this year to use in future years

35:54 - A false belief many people have about being a good artist

38:29 - How art got Staci through the pandemic and her identity crisis as COVID hit

44:42 - The blanket decision that prompted Staci to leave her school district

47:13 - A life philosophy that Staci learned from an old boss and wants to pass down

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/68

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

[ART CLASS CURATOR] How the Blood, Sweat, and Tears Mindset Poisons Teachers’ Self-Care Jun 28, 2021

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.

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Like I said in last week’s episode, this summer, we’re focusing on getting a good feel for what teachers have gone through this year. What struggles you’ve had, and we want to acknowledge you for the work you've done and empathize with you for how hard that was. We also want to celebrate, but right now doesn’t feel like the right headspace for that. So this week I want to encourage you to take stock of the year.

In a survey we did, many shared that this year was a wake-up call, but they weren’t sure what they were waking up to. I think a lot of teachers are waking up to the fact that teaching has become toxic, that teaching has become too much to handle. They are expecting too much out of teachers, they are not respecting the work that we're doing, and they are not giving us the support that we need. This year, I heard story after story about districts giving webinars on self-care, telling teachers, “Don't forget self-care,”

And this summer, taking stock is a great way for teachers to practice self-care.

3:01 - Ways toxicity in public education took its toll

9:46 - Long history of lack of support for teachers boiling over

14:40 - Reflecting on your wake-up call from this year

19:53 - Positives that came out of the pandemic for educators this year

23:14 - How to make next school year different

Transcript at artclasscurator.com/67

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

[ART CLASS CURATOR] Teaching Art in a Treacherous Year: Interview with Teacher Mary Greim-Gallo Jun 21, 2021

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.

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For this summer, I really want to focus on art teachers and what they went through in the last year teaching through the pandemic. Every teacher has a different story to tell about what they faced, and I want to talk about one of the hardest years in memory for teachers and celebrate getting through it.

Looking forward to the new school year, what have teachers learned from this experience that’ll change the way they teach moving forward? Let’s take back the joy of reconnecting with art and reclaim our power as teachers and individuals by first reflecting on what we’ve gone through and the lessons learned. So in this episode, I start off by welcoming my first guest in a series of teacher interviews: Mary Greim-Gallo, a K-5 elementary art teacher in Rhode Island.

4:33 - Mary’s art teaching philosophy and the classroom environment this past year

11:44 - Particular artwork lessons that connected really well with Mary’s students

14:20 - Regional art and having to carefully choose what to teach students

21:08 - What changes Mary plans to incorporate for future years

28:28 - Why Mary feels a little unnerved about planning the upcoming school year

31:56 - Going forward with a focus on social-emotional learning and diversity

37:45 - The artists that changed Mary’s life

Transcript at artclasscurator.com/66

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

Rebellious Silence: Shirin Neshat’s Cultural Gift Captured in Her Visual Art Jun 14, 2021

Today, I’m here with Jennifer Easterling who is another wonderful staff member of Art Class Curator. She writes lessons for our membership at Curated Connections Library and our curriculums. In this episode, she’s chosen Shirin Neshat’s Rebellious Silence for our conversation which she’s been enraptured with ever since she came across it when looking at an AP Art History class. Recently, this artwork came to Fort Worth, Texas and Jenn got to go see it!

4:22 - What the art piece looks like

9:23 - What surprised Cindy and Jenn about Neshat’s photographs

15:05 - The nuances of the photographs in person vs. online

21:51 - Opening eyes to Muslim women’s rights

26:13 - Discussing the symbolism of guns in Neshat’s artwork

31:34 - Getting lost in Neshat’s dramatic eyes

33:46 - What Neshat wants from us looking at her work

36:58 - Speculating about the meaning of the poem

44:10 - The artistic beauty of the Farsi language

47:48 - Going back home never being the same

52:10 - Watching Neshat’s video art

59:49 - Key personal connection for Jenn to take forward

1:04:38 - Insights from Jenn teaching this art in the classroom

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/64

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

[ART CLASS CURATOR] Enhancing Your Social-Emotional Learning Skills in the Art Classroom Jun 07, 2021

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.

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Today’s episode is a recording of a webinar I did recently with Kris Bakke at Nasco Education. I talk all about social emotional learning, it’s importance, and how we accomplish that in the art room through working with works of art. In the process, I use a Molly Crabapple portrait as part of an exercise for the webinar group and give an overview of the new curriculum, Art Curator Class Perspectives (in partnership with Nasco).

4:58 - What I’m aiming to accomplish in this webinar

13:11 - Ways in which education isn’t focused on learning to be an effective adult

16:46 - What social emotional learning looks like in the classroom

23:48 - CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) and the 5 competencies

34:24 - Attendees and I engage in the Reflect Connect worksheet activity for Crabapple’s artwork

45:09 - Ensuring the inclusion of artwork diversity and artist representation in the curriculum

48:29 - An overview of the Perspectives curriculum

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/64

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

[ART CLASS CURATOR] How to Guide Your Art Students to Have Deeper, More Engaging Conversations May 31, 2021

This episode is part of the former Art Class Curator podcast and is targeted specifically for art teachers.

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As an introvert, it always fascinates me how I can get into a really deep conversation with someone for a while and feel energized and motivated by it, and can keep talking all night. Then there are other times where talking to someone just sucks the life out of me and takes my energy away. In this episode, I discuss small talk versus big talk and how to go beyond small talk to have deeper, more meaningful conversations and teach our students to do the same. I also share some strategies you can use in your classroom to help develop these skills in your students.

5:10 - Defining small vs. big talk and small talk’s vital purpose

14:25 - Revelations from a small talk/big talk research study

16:50 - Benefits to having deeper conversations, especially for art students

19:23 - Ways to encourage and teach your students to have substantive discussions

27:40 - Vulnerability in deep conversations and creating a safe space for students

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/63

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

Arguing with a Van Gogh Gatekeeper to Make Art Accessible to All May 24, 2021

I rarely comment about the Internet, but sometimes I have to speak up when something bumps up against my values. This impromptu episode is brought to you by a little argument about Van Gogh I got into online.

I realized I had some really strong feelings that I don’t know if I’ve really discussed in any format here. It’s a very important perspective that we need to consider so that our students don’t end up perpetuating elitist thinking when it comes to art, and so that we can create a space where we make art accessible to all.

2:44 - What sparked the argument and my reaction

7:22 - Examples of elitism built into the art museum system

11:46 - Kids’ reactions to the immersive Van Gogh show in Chicago

16:28 - The argument for “being educated” and making art accessible to all

Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/62

Get full access to Art and Self with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe

Death and Life: Observations of Gustav Klimt’s Artwork with Madalyn Gregory (Part 2) May 17, 2021