Art at Donges Bay Elemetary School

"A man paints with his brains and not with his hands." ~Michelangelo Buonarroti

---Welcome to Art at Donges Bay Elementary School---

Art class provides a valuable experience to the growth of a child. In addition to the creativity usually associated with making artwork, a child must use observation and concentration to LOOK, INTERPRET, and CONSTRUCT the said art object, whether it is a drawing, painting, sculpture, or any other media. One’s feelings may even play a role. A student’s manipulation of tools and materials will enhance gross & fine motor skills in class. The act of doing becomes much more important than the finished product (yet the finished artwork is a reflection of progress). In learning how to see things in the world around them, as channeled through the art projects they make, children find details and other useful information that become internalized in their intellectual and emotional growth.

The younger students (Kindergarten and 1st Grade) are given projects geared towards following simple instructions, getting acquainted to the tools in the art room, and building both gross & fine motor skills. Usually, projects are based on stories, fables, or picture books.

The older students (2nd Grade - 5th Grade) follow an overall theme for the entire school year. Examples of themes include outer space, under the ocean, or pre-historic life. Following a theme, students take an imaginary adventure, as led by their art teacher, with an interconnected story-like narrative that links art project to art project. Each art project is a stop along the way following the overall story arc. Sometimes the stories are based on fact, sometimes on fiction, but always with numerous connections to art, science, history, or any other subject matter that pertains to the theme. Nurturing one's imagination is critical. Every year the theme is new (and so are the projects). Projects may be tailored for difficulty per grade level even if the project is essentially the same. Students at Donges Bay Elementary are explorers on a journey of discovery.

In the process of making and creating, students make discoveries about the world around them and develop an empowered sense of self.

Education:

Master of Visual Studies, Cardinal Stritch University, 2007

Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, 2001

• Majors in Art Education (high honors), Art History, and Painting & Drawing
• Honors Program

A little about myself:

I have taught here in the Mequon-Thiensville School District since 2004, first at Homestead High School (2004 – 2009) and now at Donges Bay Elementary School (2009 – Present). Previously, I taught in the Burlington Area School District at both Burlington High School and Cooper Elementary School.

I served in the United States Navy from 1992 – 1996 after graduating from high school.

My wife and I are originally from the Fox Valley area of northeast Wisconsin. We've been living in the Metro Milwaukee area since 2004. Our three children attend school in the Mequon-Thiensville School District. I enjoy running, reading, and hiking in the woods. My wife and I used to go on backpacking trips before starting a family.