For you

Educators Art Lab

The annual Educators ArtLab, held each July, is a chance to get back to a college campus setting to revitalize your mind and refresh your thinking. High school art instructors from around the country visit KCAI’s campus for a one-week residency program. Educators choose from one of two electives, which are rotated each year. Also within the curriculum we present a glimpse of a fascinating liberal arts topic that will add depth to your art-making experience. Past participants have been treated to 36 hours of studio time, a campus tour with a presentation on portfolio preparation, opportunities to share news and tips on technique and tours of local museums and studios. ArtLab is free to high school art educators, and on-campus housing, meals and standard materials will be provided. Transportation to and from Kansas City is the responsibility of each educator. Check the special programs and continuing education Web site each January for application information.

Educators ArtLab 2010
July 18-23, 2010

We are inviting applications for our 10th annual Educators ArtLab. Up to 30 high school art educators (currently teaching grades 9-12) will be accepted to attend this week-long studio workshop.  

This workshop may taken for two graduate level credits at $125 per credit hour if the participant so chooses. Please be advised that these credits are non-cumulative and will not transfer into a master’s degree program. Their intent and purpose is to provide professional development for art educators.

This summer select applicants will be treated to the option of two studio choices (applicants will need to choose one): fiber or printmaking (15 teachers in each studio).

Together with art educators from across the country, you will not only explore one of these studio options and make art like a crazy person, you will share your knowledge, skills, challenges and frustrations as educators. All the wonderful work produced will be exhibited at the end of the week, and we promise you will leave Kansas City refreshed, renewed and revitalized for the fall semester ahead!

The 2010 curriculum
Fiber
“Felt: Rediscovering an Ancient Process and Exploring Contemporary Applications”
Felt is probably the earliest textile made by man. This workshop will cover every relevant aspect of the felting process and explore various methods and applications. We will start with an overview of the properties of wool fiber and proceed with the cleaning, dyeing, carding and felting stages. Several approaches to working with felt as a means for artistic expression will be discussed, ranging from wet felting and Nuno felting to needle felting in both two- and three-dimensional form. Acid immersion dye and resist dye methods will be covered along with suggestions for smaller projects that can easily be carried out in the classroom. Applications in fashion, interiors, fine art and craft will be explored through digital presentations.
Faculty: Pauline Verbeek-Cowart

Printmaking
“Analog to Digital and Digital to Analog Creativity”
In this studio we will emphasize the dilemma every art teacher faces when his/her students are lost for ideas.  You will explore and convey your own cultural images or artifacts in order to create and recreate meaningful images on paper or on a printed form. You will benefit from experiencing a series of drawings based on the aesthetic, conceptual and varied technical experience necessary to understand a developing artistic culture. Throughout the week we will explore the use of hand drawing and watercolor painting approaches as an initial state to your personal experience. These works will be digitized and will be printed using laser prints and colored with an innovative manual printing or direct transfers. The series of prints will be analog based and will be scanned again to reverse the creative process. The end products will be a series of intervened drawings with a digital output and a series of traditional prints with a manual/digital initial birth. We will also introduce a variety and combination of media using simple transfer processes and other drawing strategies. Alternate approaches include color, layering, photography, transfers, text, monotypes and digital technologies. Instruction and guidance will be given in order to make these approaches feasible and accessible to any class with limited equipment and space.
Faculty: Miguel Rivera

The Logistics
With the generous support of the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation, accepted applicants’ room and board and all materials are free of charge. The only expense to you is your transportation to and from KCAI.  

You will be living in your own room in our clean and air-conditioned Student Living Center with communal restrooms on each floor. Meals will be in our campus cafeteria with thought given to any dietary restrictions you may have. Participants are encouraged to stay in provided housing in order to take full advantage of this program.

Application Requirements
The application process is simple, just send us these items:

•     Resume (including the grades you are currently teaching)
•     How to contact you at your school (full address, phone number and e-mail)
•     How to contact you at home (full address, phone number and e-mail)
•     Statement answering this question, “What would be the most important aspect of this program that I     would take away with me this summer?”
•     Choice of studio concentration

Application Deadline
Application materials MUST be received no later than Friday March 19, 2010.  All applicants will be notified of the status of their application by April 1.

Send your materials via e-mail to soleary@kcai.edu, or mail to:
Kansas City Art Institute
Special Programs - EAL 2010
4415 Warwick Blvd.
Kansas City, MO  64111

Questions?  Call Shirley O’Leary, associate vice president for special programs, 816-802-3445; or e-mail her at soleary@kcai.edu.

Faculty bios

Pauline Verbeek-Cowart, a native of the Netherlands, received her BFA in Fine Art from the Maryland Institute and her MFA in textile design from the University of Kansas,  She has been on the faculty of KCAI developing the area of constructed textiles since 1997.  Ms. Verbeek-Cowart’s academic and Fine Art careers have garnered her numerous awards including KCAI’s Excellence in Teaching Award and most recently the 2008 Kansas Arts Commission Master Fellowship in Visual Art/Fine Craft.  She is one of the leaders in the use of new technologies in hand-weaving and has also conducted research using industrial looms in The Netherlands and the U.S.  Her industrially woven work crossed boundaries between Fine Art and applied textiles and is directed toward structurally textured fabrics for apparel as ell as home-furnishings.  She is co-founder of Studio Structure, a design house specializing in high-end artisanal fabrics.  Her work has been exhibited extensively I both national and international venues including France, Austria, German, Japan and Korea.

Miguel Rivera was born in Guanajuato, Mexico and received his BFA in printmaking and painting from Southern Oregon University and his MFA in Visual Studies from West Virginia University.  Currently he is the chair and associate professor in printmaking at KCAI.  He has also been chair and associate professor of the Art Department of the University of Guanajuato, Mexico. Rivera has shown his work extensively in Mexico, Japan and the U.S.  His current work addresses a transition of his previous figurative work to a rendition of the form and value against the surface of the paper.  Apart from the collaboration process, Miguel’s work is concerned with shapes and visual drawing hand marks as a result of a culturally driven mental process.  Identity is present as well as the “hand made” allegory using industrial recycled by-products.  Miguel is constantly working between the two countries and creating timepieces only evident in their layering using several printmaking techniques such as Vandyke brownprint, digital imagery, collage, drawing and painting.

Graduate level courses

KCAI also offers graduate level courses in the fall, spring and summer. Tuition is $250 per course and each course counts as two graduate hours. Area art teachers interested in enhancing their curriculum will benefit from the weekend format of the classes, which typically are held Friday evening and all day Saturday and Sunday. Please note, the courses are non-cumulative and will not transfer to a master's degree program. Their intent and purpose help teachers meet criteria for re-certification and to provide professional development. 
 Graduate level courses for Art Educators - Spring 2010
  Procedures

• Tuition for each of the following classes is $250 for two graduate hours. There is no discount for anyone who take the classes for non-credit.
• Advance enrollment and payment is required.
• ENROLLMENT DEADLINE: one week before the class is to start.
• Enrollment is handled online. See the “Enroll Now” link  (on the upper right hand of this page) and follow the prompts to pay with your Master Card, Visa, American Express or Discover card. Please note: You will not be enrolled in the class unless payment is made at the time you register online, so please complete the entire process through payment.
• Additional work after each class is required and due to the instructor three weeks after each course ends.
• Transcripts can be ordered online for a $5.00 processing fee per transcript.
• Please be advised that these courses are non-cumulative and will not transfer into a master’s degree program. Their intent and purpose is to provide professional development for area art educators.

Curriculum  The Art of Collage II
We will begin a journey examining collage artists past and present and simple bookbinding techniques. A variety of experimental collage samples will be demonstrated and available to use. Over the weekend each participant will create a section of artwork to be included in their "journal of choice."  Home work will consist of the explanation of the process used and the artists examined. The art work and description will be scanned and mailed to each participant for assemblage in to a simple personal bound book. (Original artwork will be yours to keep!) This workshop will provide the artist the opportunity to be part of a collaboration of artists to create art to be shared. Contact with me prior to class will be necessary to be prepared for the weekend!
DATE: Feb. 26, 27 and 28
TIME: 5:30 – 9:30 pm Friday, Feb. 26
8 am – 5 pm Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 27 and 28
LOCATION: KCAI, Northland Campus for Special Programs
1801 NW Platte Rd., # 275, Riverside, MO  64150
INSTRUCTOR: Peggy Wilson
MATERIALS FEE: $10

(Above: Collage piece from Instructor Peggy Wilson's fall semester collage class)

Creating Series using the Monotype
This class will explore different techniques and mediums used to produce a series of meaningful monotypes that can be applied to the art classroom setting. The monotype can be made simple to complex, employing single or multiple mediums in the printing process. Because the monotype is a single print unrelated to an edition, the print itself can be the finished image, but is potentially open to modification through any number of techniques not the least of which could be drawing or painting. The emphasis of this class, however, will be on the exploration and production of the series, or serial production. The series opens the door to investigating content in multiple layers that may or may not overlap, entwine or simply hang together by a thread of thought or visual information … a fun, challenging introduction to, or continued study of, independent thought processes in ourselves or our students.
DATE:  March 19, 20 and 21
TIME:  5:30 – 9:30 pm Friday, March 19
8 am - 5 pm Saturday and Sunday, March 20 and 21
LOCATION: KCAI, Printmaking Dept.
INSTRUCTOR: Lawrence Randall
MATERIALS FEE: $15

Beyond Filters: Building Image Impact with Photoshop Layers and Blending Modes
Using hand-drawn, painted and photographic images, you will experiment with layers and blending modes in Adobe Photoshop to create imagery that goes beyond traditional compositing techniques. This class is not just for artists or graphic designers but for anyone interested in using the computer in the classroom for grades 8-12 or in your personal work. There will be discussion on using these techniques as strategies for any computer class as well as assisting AP Studio, Graphic Design or Portfolio art students in developing multiple ideas on a theme. Time to experiment with these techniques will be given in class, and you will receive a resource disk with power point presentations and student samples. Follow up assignments will be submitted digitally. Please bring images on a disk for experimentation and an external travel drive of at least 512 MB to transport your images home. Beginning Photoshop skills are required.
DATE: April 9, 10 and 11
TIME: 5:30 – 9:30 pm Friday, April 9
8 am – 5 pm Saturday and Sunday, April 10 and 11
LOCATION: KCAI, Irving Bldg., Rm 111
INSTRUCTOR: Carolyn Berry
MATERIALS FEE: $5

The Figure
This class will concentrate on the figure. Models will be available for each session. Bring the materials you wish to work with. Oil painters must use odorless materials.
DATE: April 13, 14, 15 and 17
TIME: 4:30 – 8:30 pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, April 13-15
8 am – 5 pm Saturday, April 17
LOCATION: KCAI, Northland Campus for Special Programs
1801 NW Platte Rd. #275, Riverside, MO  64150
INSTRUCTOR: Peggy Wilson
MODEL FEE: $25

Wrap, Fold, Rivet and Cast Metal Jewelry
Explore the art of jewelry design in this no solder process jewelry class. Create jewelry using techniques that will transfer easily to the classroom. Techniques will include cuttle bone casting with pewter, modifying the surface of metal with textures and patinas using an etching process, hammering, piercing/using rivets, wire and metal weaving and embellishing the jewelry with found objects such as beads. No jewelry experience required to take this class.
DATE: April 23, 24 and 25
TIME: 5:30 – 9:30 pm Friday, April 23
8 am – 5 pm Saturday and Sunday, April 24 and 25
LOCATION: KCAI, Northland Campus for Special Programs
1801 NW Platte Rd. #265, Riverside, MO  64150
INSTRUCTOR: Dan Dakotas
MATERIALS FEE: $25

(Above: Students at work during Instructor Dan Dakotas' Advanced Enamel Class)

A Weekend of Portrait Studies
Students love self portraits yet find it difficult to successfully do self portraits from life. Our intensive weekend class will be geared toward developing a sequential portraiture unit that will introduce the students to this genre by having them learn about portraiture from an historical point of view. To gain confidence in their abilities, the units will progress from working from digital images to create portraits from expressive and fantasy styles, to the introduction of portraiture from a mirror. You will be given instructional materials to help in the implementation of portraiture units in your classroom. This unit could be adapted to fit into the curriculum of secondary and middle school student populations.  Click here for materials list.
DATE: June 4, 5 and 6
TIME: 5:30 – 9:30 pm Friday, June 48 am – 5 pm Saturday and Sunday, June 5 and 6
LOCATION: KCAI, TBA
INSTRUCTOR: Pat Nemchock
MATERIALS FEE: $10

Instructor Bios

Carolyn Berry has been teaching art for 22 years, but has also worked in college admissions, museum education and business. Berry has a master's degree in education with extended course work in digital imaging from Anderson Ranch, Milwaukee Art Institute, Kansas City Art Institute, Minneapolis College of Art, Arrowmont, SAIC Teacher Institute in Contemporary Art and Savannah College of Art and Design. During the last 16 years, Carolyn has been teaching in Lawrence, Kan., where she has taught drawing and painting, advanced placement in art and digital imaging. Berry has been awarded the Outstanding Kansas Art Educator of the Year as well as the NAEA/MIAD Creative Educators Award.

Dan Dakotas’ many years of teaching high school art has been recognized with multiple teaching awards including Outstanding Kansas Art Teacher and The Kansas City Star’s Excellence in Teaching Award.  He is the State of Kansas Governor’s Artist. His students’ artwork received awards regionally and nationally, and their portfolios have been recognized with scholarships to many art schools across the country. His photography has been exhibited in one-man and juried shows winning numerous awards. His photographs are published in Focus Kansas City: A Heartland Portrait. Dakotas has also served on the National Endowment of the Arts panel in Washington, DC.

Pat Nemchock is a Master Teacher, recently retired, who has mentored hundreds of the nation’s most outstanding high school art students to receive regional and national recognition. Her reputation as a leader in her field is recognized nationally and in her own state. Her approach to teaching drawing and painting and curricular innovation is unique and effective. She especially likes to teach art teachers because they impact the life of so many young artists.

Lawrence Randall is recently retired – and doing a lot of playing – after teaching high school art for 28 years. Among his favorite subjects to teach were drawing and portfolio design, where he helped scores of students produce uniquely individual portfolios for acceptance and significant scholarships to the art schools of their choice. He is a member of the UMKC Hand Print Press (a juried organization of printmaking artists) and the Blue Springs Public Art Commission. He loves to help facilitate others’ self inspection and thought processes to arrive at self-actualization.

Peggy Wilson has her B.F.A. and M.A .degrees in painting. She is a “reformed public high school art teacher,” an International Baccalaureate instructor and adjunct instructor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She is now happily retired, enjoying the life of an artist and teaching continuing education classes at KCAI’s Northland Campus for Special Programs.
  

Educators ArtLab Saturday Workshops

Educators ArtLab workshops are offered four times per academic year, twice in the fall and twice in the spring on Saturdays. Local art teachers attend the free workshops to learn new hands-on techniques to take back to their classrooms.

Two free Saturday workshops for art educators – Spring 2010
Sponsored by the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation

Techno Textiles: New Directions and Possibilities in Textiles
Saturday, Feb. 20
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
(lunch provided)
Fiber Studio, KCAI  
Pauline Verbeek-Cowart,
Interim Chair, KCAI Fiber Dept.

The astonishing new technology in contemporary textiles is narrowing the gap between the worlds of art, design, engineering and science.  Fabrics can now harvest solar energy, emit light or heat, respond to touch or function as digital displays.  This workshop is structured to give you an overview of recent developments in e-textiles, intelligent textiles and interactive textiles.

Through presentations, demonstrations and hands-on projects, you will be introduced to the world of electronics and computer science through the medium of textiles.  With conductive thread and conductive fabric, textiles are moving into the world of electronics in a way that is very hip, new and fresh.  You will learn how to sew LEDs onto fabric and program a simple lighting sequence.

The Language of Art and Arts Education
Saturday, April 17
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
(lunch provided)
TBA
Jonah Criswell,
Urban Culture Project Studio Resident

In this workshop you will be introduced to classical, modern and post-modern theories of art and art making in order to develop a more nuanced relationship with your students.  The workshop will begin as an historical overview spanning the past two hundred years and move quickly into a discussion regarding successful strategies and difficulties engaging students in their work.  We will discuss the various environments and circumstances in which an articulate critique might help both educator and student.  The goal is to provide you a method of engaging with contemporary art as well as refreshing perspectives of classical and modern art forms. 

To enroll in the Saturday KCAI workshops:
Please register and pay the $25 deposit online. If you have questions, contact Ruth Kartman at 816-802-3505 or rkartman@kcai.edu   Enrollment is limited to 15 participants per workshop. Lunch and materials are provided.   **A $25 deposit is required to register for these workshops. When you attend, your deposit will be refunded.

How to request a transcript

Students may request an official copy of their transcript from KCAI using our Online Transcript Request Form. Once you have submitted the request, the next required step is to contact the KCAI business office to pay (816-802-3500). You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your request for your records. No transcripts will be sent until KCAI has received payment. Transcript requests that are not paid for within two business days will be canceled, and you will need to resubmit your request.