about

Clyde Gaw

11754 Sinclair Dr. Indianapolis, IN 46235 (317) 507-3832 rhizome14@gmail.com

Affiliations: Massachusetts College of Art and Design (professor), Teaching for Artistic Behavior (professional development), New Palestine Community Schools (retired), National Art Education Association (member), Art Education Association of Indiana (member), National Alliance on Mental Illness (member)

Biography: The Arts Pulled Me Out of the Fire

Born in 1959 in LaPorte, Indiana.

Before he was 13 years old, Clyde the oldest of 6 children worked as a Christmas tree freight car packer, mopped nursing home floors, landscaped neighborhood property, shoveled pig and chicken manure, worked on a trash collection route, delivered newspapers and babysat his siblings while his mother worked nights at an auto parts factory. From 1967-72, during the breakup, separation and eventual divorce of his parents, Gaw experienced childhood trauma, physical and emotional abuse, poverty and parental abandonment. Because of a handful of teachers who provided encouragement and educational opportunities for dynamic, personal growth during his formative years, Gaw is an advocate of child-directed art experience, embodied activity, self directed learning and creative self expression as a catalyst for the development of resiliency, intellectual development and insight.

Gaw was employed in a myriad of jobs during his undergrad years at Indiana University, including Briscoe Quad cafeteria worker, pizza maker, fry cook, dishwasher, oyster shucker, head cook at Kilroy's of Bloomington, fiberglass parts manufacturing assembly line worker and mold maker and exterior/interior residential painter.

After graduating from IU with a bachelor of science in education, Gaw began substitute teaching for Indianapolis Public Schools and later became the art teacher at IPS #74 and #110. After being released from IPS because of a reduction of force (RIF), Gaw took the art teaching position at New Palestine Elementary where he remained for 29 years. While conducting electronic portfolio research with Clark Fralick in 1998, observations of children’s self-directed art experiences led to an ongoing investigation of child centered learning experience and leadership position within the Teaching for Artistic Behavior art education network.

In 2014 Clyde joined the faculty of New Palestine High School and also became a professor of continuing studies at MassArt as one of the original faculty of the Teaching for Artistic Behavior Institute summer professional development program. Gaw continues to develop special projects, create and exhibit art. 

Education: 

M.A.E. Herron School of Art and Design, IUPUI; May 2001
B.S. Indiana University, Bloomington; Visual Arts Education, May 1984 

John Glenn H.S. graduate, Walkerton, IN, 1977

Gaw is associated with the following individuals: Will Counts, Robert Barnes, Katherine Douglas, Diane Jaquith, Clark Fralick, Enid Zimmerman, John Crowe, Maria Rusomaroff, William Pinar, Kelly P. Vaughn, Bob S. Mulligan

Exhibitions:

2026 SALI National Abstract Art Exhibit XXI

2026 Wonderlab Cardboard Engineering Extravaganza, Bloomington IN
2018-25 Indiana State Museum, Cardboard Engineering Exhibition w/C. Fralick 

2014-17 “Teachers as Artists,” https://tinyurl.com/m9zevqn

2004-17 “Art As Semiotic Experience,” www.clydeagaw.blogspot.com
2012 “100 Years of Indy Parks,” Garfield Park Art Center, Indianapolis
2011-’12 “Oranje,” Indianapolis
2011 “Artprize,” https://www.artprize.org/clyde-gaw/2011/rhizome , Grand Rapids, Michigan 2010 “People for Urban Progress Gallery,” Indianapolis

2010 “40/40,” Herron Alumni Exhibition, IUPUI, Indianapolis 

Publications:

Gaw, C. Transition to Choice Based Art Education, www.clydegaw.blogspot.com (2004-2026).

Gaw C., Stonehouse N., Kim S., McGarrigle J., Rosenzsweig V., Yang, A.; "Abstract Thinking and Beneficence Revealed: Tales from the Visual Arts Studio." EARCOS Journal, Spring 2025

Gaw C., "Creativity and Benevolence: Teaching for Artistic Behavior Studio Experience, EARCOS Journal, Winter issue 2025

Gaw C. Co-Editor: School Arts Magazine Spring Issue, “Choice-Based Art Education,” March 2023, April 2024 

Gaw C. “In Search of Generative Experience,” Praxis: Curriculum Studies in K12 Classrooms, Teacher Preparation Programs, Arts:, Edited by K.Vaughn & I. Nunez. Teachers College Press (2023)
Gaw C., Fralick C. “I Got An Idea: Inside Communities of Studio Practice” Journal of Art Education (2020)

Gaw, C. All Children Are Creative, http://www.livingindialogue.com/all-children-are-creative/2016 

Gaw, C. “Secret Art of Boys,” edited by Hathaway, N. & Jaquith, D. “The Learner-Directed

Classroom: Developing Creative Thinking Skills Through Art,” Teachers College Press NY, 107-118 (2012)
Gaw, C. “Indiana Art Education Advocacy Action Blog,” www.savearteducation.blogspot.com (2009-’22) Fralick, C., Gaw, C. “Blocks, Paper, Scissors Podcast,” https://blockspaperscissors.podbean.com/

Professional Teaching: 

2014-present TAB Institute-Massachusetts College of Art & Design; professor of continuing studies/studio manager

2014-'25 New Palestine H.S. (Indiana), art education-grades 9-12

1985-'13 New Palestine Elementary (Indiana), art education-grades K-6

1984-'85 Indianapolis Public Schools, art education-grades 1-6 (School's #74 & #110)

1988-2001 New Palestine H.S. assistant wrestling coach

Professional Development Workshops:

2026 Indianapolis Art Center

2026 Warsaw, Poland Art Educators Q&A (virtual)

2025 EARCOS Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2005-'25 Art Education of Indiana State Conferences

2016-'24 TABSTOCK, Three Oaks, Michigan

2016 Northern Kentucky University

2015 Eastern Illinois University

2013 Texas TAB-LAB, Austin

2010 Indiana University, Bloomington

2009 Indiana University South Bend

2004-2016 National Art Education Conferences

Other Information: Since 2005, ongoing collaborator with Teaching for Artistic Behavior co-founders Katherine Douglas and Diane Jaquith. Visitations with members of the Indiana General Assembly, speaks to school administrators, school boards or community groups whenever called upon to advocate for visual arts education in Indiana Public Schools. Gaw is a distinguished fellow of the Art Education Association of Indiana.