In this episode, The Creativity Department chats with Crayola’s Manager of Education Content, James Wells. Listen in to learn about Crayola’s upcoming Creativity Week! Explore the meaning of creativity and ways of balancing traditional art supplies with the technology of modern art rooms. James shares inspirational ideas for celebrating Creativity Week across your school and information about how Crayola is partnering with schools and organizations to amplify impact. Listen in to learn more abou...
Jan 23, 2025•45 min
In this episode, Oral Historian Dr. Mi'Jan Celie Tho-Biaz, Matt Grundler, and Connected Arts Network (CAN) members Rachel Harrison & Lissen Ellington share the strategies they use to build lasting relationships with students. Listen in and explore everything from introductory projects and representative examples to classroom routines and rituals that help create a sense of belonging. Hear how these arts educators have impacted students’ lives throughout their careers and how you can incorpor...
Jan 16, 2025•34 min
In this episode, Oral Historian Dr. Mi'Jan Celie Tho-Biaz, Matt Grundler, and Connected Arts Network (CAN) members Rachel Murray & Malissa Baker share how they incorporate their action research in their art classrooms to make it an inclusive space for students. By making adaptations to classroom environments and allowing students to develop a community within the art room. Listen in and discover how Rachel and Malissa make their arts classrooms engaging and inclusive spaces where students ca...
Jan 09, 2025•50 min
In this episode, Matt & Laura are back from winter break refreshed and ready to talk about the new year! With the successes of 2024 igniting what’s expected in 2025 they share their hopes, goals, and plans for the podcast in the New Year. Listen in to hear more from Laura & Matt and ring in the new year with an episode of #K12ArtChat the Podcast!
Jan 02, 2025•43 min
It’s our 200th episode! To celebrate, the Creativity Department invited Julian Wade, President of Davis Publications, on the podcast to talk about the deep history of Davis Publications. Discover the impact the world of art education has had on the Davis family, why art education is so strong today, and the depth of passion behind their work. Join in celebrating with Laura, Matt, and Julian by listening to this special conversation that reflects on the past, celebrates the present, and looks tow...
Dec 19, 2024•56 min
In this episode, The Creativity Department chats with NAEA’s Southeastern Region Vice President, Joshua Drews about the evolution of Media Arts over the years. Throughout his career, Joshua’s students have used a variety of media but over the last handful of years much of that has been digital. In this episode, Joshua discusses how technology has evolved within the art classroom and changed it for the better. Learn how much technology has shifted since he started teaching and even from when he w...
Dec 12, 2024•42 min
In this episode, The Creativity Department chats with oil painter and host of the CANDYcolored podcast Katrina Berg to explore the art of balancing a thriving creative practice, a career in classroom teaching, and a fulfilling personal life. Katrina shares insights on staying inspired and how she nurtures creativity while managing multiple roles. Listen in to hear how Katrina’s experience can help you find harmony in your own chaos.
Dec 05, 2024•50 min
In this episode, The Creativity Department discusses art and design careers with renowned designer and former design dierctor of Air Jordan, Dr. D’Wayne Edwards. Discover how Dr. Edwards embraced his creative passion to forge a career where he created over 50 patents, designed more than 500 footwear styles for premier entertainers, MLB, NFL, and NBA athletes, and earned numerous honors and awards. Listen in for advice and resources on how to guide students through choosing career paths in creati...
Nov 21, 2024•52 min
In this episode, Oral Historian Dr. Mi'Jan Celie Tho-Biaz, Matt Grundler, and Connected Arts Network (CAN) members Kimberly Olson and Kyla Davis share how they integrate storytelling in their arts classrooms. Hear how sharing their personal stories impacts their teaching. Learn how allowing students to express themselves openly and how observing students in the artmaking process can inform what they’d like to see more of in the classroom. Listen in and discover how Kimberly and Kyla make their a...
Nov 07, 2024•44 min
In this episode, Oral Historian Dr. Mi'Jan Celie Tho-Biaz, Matt Grundler, and Connected Arts Network (CAN) members Meghan Wlodarczyk and Martin Rodriguez share how they foster student feedback in their arts programs. By making adaptations to classroom environments and encouraging open conversation with students, these educators have created environments where everyone’s voice is heard. Listen in and discover how Meghan and Martin make their arts classrooms trusting, engaging, and effective learn...
Oct 31, 2024•56 min
Raine Valentine, the Past Chair for NAEA’s Caucus on the Spiritual in Art Education, joins The Creativity Department to explore spirituality as the expression of self and discuss how that manifests in the art we make. Listen in to hear what that can look like in the art room as she shares her personal experiences and methods. From personal beliefs and how they translate to art making, to how approaching art making from a different perspective can be beneficial, learn how entwined art and spiritu...
Oct 24, 2024•40 min
In this episode, The Creativity Department is joined by Dan Ryder to talk about student success in and out of the art room! Helping students be successful and not burn out takes balance. It feels like an impossible task but as educators it’s what we strive to do. From teaching effective time management skills and balancing schoolwork and extracurriculars, to helping students set goals for themselves, discover tools and educators can use to assist. Listen in to hear more from Dan!
Oct 17, 2024•48 min
In this episode, The Creativity Department is joined by Illinois Art Education Association (ILAEA) leaders to discuss their success of leading an organization collaboratively. Sarah Ackermann, Nick Hostert, and Chris Grodoski share their experience with collaborative leadership, how they restructured their organization, and the part the community played in their success. Listen in to hear more from ILAEA!
Oct 10, 2024•59 min
In this episode, The Creativity Department is joined by returning guest Holly Bess Kincaid to talk about her experience being a long-serving art educator at a new school. Holly has taught across multiple states and grade levels, which comes with its own challenges – Matt, Laura, and Holly discuss how hard it can be to advocate for your program and yourself as an educator at a new school, as well as setting new goals to help foster student’s creativity and advice for educators in similar situatio...
Sep 19, 2024•37 min
In this episode, The Creativity Department is joined by members of the Trace Layer Play Collective to talk about their work in public participatory art making and how their collective came to be in the wake of online learning in 2020. Their most recent work included inviting 120 middle schoolers into their exhibit to explore the concepts of asking research questions through the lens of the art making process and how these students surprised them with their understanding of the ideas. Listen in t...
Sep 12, 2024•1 hr 3 min
In this episode, The Creativity Department is joined by artist, educator, and author of “The Power of Popular Culture in Education: History, Music, and Visual Imagery” Zerric Clinton. Dr. Clinton joins Matt & Laura to share his expertise and insights on the role pop culture plays in our students lives. As well as, how pop culture is defined, the importance of pop culture accurately representing diverse groups of people and the effects of when it doesn’t, and how art educators can help studen...
Sep 05, 2024•42 min
In this episode, The Creativity Department is joined by returning guest Paula Liz, Youth and Preservice Program Manager at NAEA, to talk about National Art Honor Society (NAHS). Listen in to learn what it is, projects and activities students can participate in, and the amazing opportunities available to members. For example, during NAEA 2024 in Minneapolis, students worked with world renowned mural artist Alice Mizrachi to create a mural that is on exhibit at the Davis Art Gallery. Discover how ...
Aug 29, 2024•27 min
In this episode, Matt & Laura gear up for another eventful year! Sharing tips and techniques they've used in the past to help prepare their students and themselves for creative success in the art room. From time management to beginner projects, they cover a wide variety of topics from over their combined years of teaching.
Aug 22, 2024•32 min
In this episode, The Creativity Department is joined by Alexis Thomason an art educator whose classroom is entirely digital! She shares her experiences with transitioning education paths, the difficulties of fostering student creativity and collaboration in a virtual environment, as well as some of her greatest creative challenges and the innovative teaching techniques and tools she employs to overcome them.
Aug 15, 2024•28 min
In this episode, The Creativity Department discusses Divisive Concept Laws with Karen Salvador, Associate Professor and Chair of Music Education at Michigan State University. Karen joins the conversation to help demystify what exactly these laws are. As they pop up across the country, they could affect arts classrooms which means it’s important to understand exactly what is in them. Karen shares her research findings about and experiences with these laws and how they have shaped some curriculum....
Aug 08, 2024•30 min
In this episode, The Creativity Department is joined by David Matteson – Associate Curator of Education at Rollins Museum of Art and Orlando Art Educator Christy Garton to talk about how art educators can connect with art museums and the many resources they offer! Christy and David share the story of their successful partnership and how it’s helped not only Christy’s students, but the surrounding schools and community as well. Listen in and learn what art museums can offer art educators, how to ...
Aug 01, 2024•39 min
In this episode, The Creativity Department is joined by author and Associate Professor of Art Education, Dr. Christina Bain! Dive into the topic of ethics as Matt & Laura talk to Dr. Bain about her upcoming book - “Ethical Decision-Making in Art Education”. From what ethical dilemmas educators might face to ways they can ensure fairness and equity in their classrooms, explore some of the challenging topics this new resource will cover. Listen in and discover what ethical decision-making in t...
Jul 25, 2024•53 min
In this episode The Creativity Department is joined by artist and art educator Amy Lee – whose art room is entirely mobile! For the past 13 years, Amy has taught art from a cart and has never looked back. She shares how she keeps her materials and projects organized and how teaching in a different location for each class affects the students. Gather advice from the field as Amy shares successful projects as well as some challenges she’s faced. Listen in to hear more from Amy!
Jul 18, 2024•26 min
In this episode The Creativity Department is joined by artist, art educator, and returning guest– Jorge Lucero to continue the conversation about maintaining creative practice while being an art educator. Listen in as Matt, Laura, and Jorge discuss the myths we’ve created for ourselves about what being an artist means. Hear about the importance of continuing to develop personal practice, but from a different angle. Discover advice for dealing with the struggle to maintain a work, life, and creat...
Jul 11, 2024•51 min
In this episode The Creativity Department is joined by renowned artist and returning guest– Alice Mizrachi! This year at the national convention Alice facilitated a collaborative mural making workshop for attendees. The session focused on how to create collaboratively through mural making. Working together educators made a vibrant, inventive, and modular mural of the Minneapolis skyline from a variety of art supplies and found materials! Listen in to hear more about this session, the spectacular...
Jun 27, 2024•41 min
In this episode The Creativity Department is joined by Professor of Research at the University of Alaska Fairbanks – Laura Conner and her colleague Perrin Teal Sullivan to dive deep into the topic of how the Arts and Sciences intersect. How art and science educators can collaborate and create innovative projects for all students, how the elements of art reflect the scientific principles, and how art can be utilized to raise awareness about scientific research and environmental awareness. Listen ...
Jun 20, 2024•43 min
In this episode The Creativity Department is joined by returning guest Jason Blair to close out another school year. Matt and Jason reflect on their school years as well as how they encourage their students to reflect on the work they’ve created throughout the year, “Three I’s” Jason follows, and purposeful meaning making. Listen in to hear more from Jason!
Jun 13, 2024•35 min
In this episode The Creativity Department is joined by Adobe Senior Marketing Manager Martha Niño! She shares her emotional journey from migrating to the US, learning English as a second language at a young age, having to prioritize work over school, the teachers who helped her along the way, and much more! Listen in to hear all of Martha’s inspiring story!
Jun 06, 2024•57 min
In this episode The Creativity Department speaks with art educators and artists James Rees, Frank Juárez, and Rama Hughes! As a follow up to their extremely popular NAEA conference presentation, Frank, James, and Rama join Matt and Laura to discuss ways of maintaining creative practice and the benefits it holds for art educators. Explore how nurturing studio practice strengthens teaching practice, helps educators relate to students’ experience, and helps re-ignite the creative spark that energiz...
May 30, 2024•57 min
In this episode The Creativity Department is joined by returning guest Frank Juárez, who was recently named the new Editor and Chief of SchoolArts magazine! He joins Matt & Laura to talk about the importance of writing and publishing in the world of art education. Listen in to discover how it benefits the work we do, how to overcome challenges like what to write about, and what’s to come from SchoolArts magazine!
May 23, 2024•48 min
