Art Connects Us

Did you know that making art for twenty minutes instead of scrolling on your phone can be a life changer? We are going to take an old book headed for recycling and make it a safe place to doodle, collage, and write, the beginning of a daily art and writing practice.

Create a fluffy creature as a pet, worry monster, or fuzzy pal using simple hand sewing techniques.

Fluffy, furry creatures encourage comforting cuddles. In this hands-on workshop, learn to hand sew a simple stuffed animal that some may call a "Furbel," a "Worry Pet," or a "Tribble" for classic Star Trek fans. These fuzzy friends can become your students' companions. Create your own new pal from synthetic fur, craft felt, fiberfill, and embellishments. Then take your sample and some extra materials back to your classroom or studio. Teaching materials and connections to state and national standards will be shared along with student rubrics and optional lesson extensions. This fur-flying workshop is sew much fun!

How do we get students of all ages excited about abstraction while learning about composition, movement, and color? Is there a way to encourage artists with 'fail-free' layered projects in your classroom, community center, or museum education department? Come experience the layers and colors of an OMA project while creating a layered, non-objective work of art!

Opening Minds through Art (OMA) is an award-winning, evidence-based, intergenerational art-making program designed for people living with dementia. It was developed at Scripps Gerontology Center, an Ohio Center of Excellence at Miami University, in 2007.

Siobhan McDonald received her OMA Facilitator Certification in 2022 and has implemented the program with great success in Swampscott, MA

Coiled pots are often misunderstood as boring, dull and tedious. WRONG! By using the coiling technique, you and your students can make some amazing works of art. You can easily make tall pieces, control the form and the pots will not explode in the kiln.

Doodletag' is a community-building art 'holiday' where young artists exchange sketches as an alternative to any secret snowflake or similar gift exchanges that can take place during the school year. This session will review how to facilitate and enjoy this with your class and attendees will participate in a mini-Doodletag where they request, create and exchange artwork together.. 

This workshop will introduce engaging ways to introduce animation into your classroom. The hands-on session will explore three different analog animation toys and discuss how these activities can be used as a springboard for digital animations.

Discover ways to incorporate screen printing into your classroom by learning several techniques that are easily adaptable for any age, timing, and budget in this hands-on workshop. Students are drawn to the “magic” and wearability of this process.

Please note: This session includes an additional fee of $10. Please be sure to purchase that add on ticket on Eventbrite, even if you've already purchased your conference registration ticket. 
Once you purchase your add-on ticket, this session will be added to your schedule. 

In this “Make it Take it” style Workshop, participants will be introduced to a variety of puppet possibilities and be given the time and supplies to bring some of their own characters to life!