Skitch by Evernote

I've never used Skitch but after looking at the website and the video it looks pretty cool! A really easy way to make Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop-like edits to photos and documents, and you can do it all from your smartphone / tablet / computer!

RANDOM

For all the times you will need randomness: choosing kickball teams deciding what to eat for dinner dividing up groups of kids picking a thesis topic ....kidding! RANDOM.ORG

Pollock!

Hopefully you all are out enjoying the wonderful weather today, but if you do in fact find yourself in front of a screen, needing a homework break.....remember the jacksonpollock.org site as a bit of stress relief :)

City of Culture

The city has released a draft of their first Cultural Plan in about 30 years, a comprehensive look at the arts and cultural scene and how the city can focus on culture as an economic driver. They held 40+ community engagements and took the community feedback into consideration when developing the draft. The final version is to be released during Chicago Ideas Week. Check it out here and share your thoughts: http://www.chicagoculturalplan2012.com/

drawing on the walls

I was poking around the Art Teacher's Guide to the Internet and found a post about an illustrator who makes huge drawings in outline, and asks kids to come color them in! It is called the Flying Color Wall by Studio Buro. I think this would be great to have in an elementary classroom as an activity for kids to do throughout the year when they finish projects early...would definitely be some colorful wallpaper!

Another favorite TED talk. Johnny Lee demonstrates how technology in the classroom doesn't have to come with a back breaking cost. Just some creativity and some open source software. :)

iPad App for the Met

On Thursday at the Art Institute, we heard about the upcoming iPad launch for one of their exhibits. I was poking around the Metropolitan Museum of Art's website and found an app they offer for Korean Buncheong Ceramics.

"This month, the Museum launched its first iPad app interactive e-publication for the exhibition Poetry in Clay: Korean Buncheong Ceramics from Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art. The Met Buncheong app complements the exhibition catalogue and includes highlights from each chapter in the book, a video introduction from Soyoung Lee, co-curator of the exhibition and co-author of the catalogue, 360-degree object views, multiple image views, panoramas of the gallery, and links to publications and related sections of the Museum's website. The interactive e-publication serves as a wonderful introduction to the exhibition and an enticing preview of the exhibition catalogue." (source)

The app is free and has pretty good reviews on iTunes. What do you think about having an exhibition on your iPad? How would this connect you with art pieces differently that in a museum? Do you think the Art Institute could incorporate an app for at home use in an effective way? If so, how?

The strike makes my head hurt, and I honestly can't really think about it anymore. Instead I turn to something that inspires and reminds me of why education, education reform, and our teachers, are so important. If you haven't seen this, watch it now. And share your thoughts.

Ready, Set, Strike...

It is Monday aaanndd now the first official day of the Chicago Teachers Union strike. I have mixed feelings about this, as both sides seem to angrily polarize the other and dig in their heels. On the one hand, I want to be a teacher, and might one day legally support the union, but on the other hand, I realize that fair negotiations having anything to do with Chicago politics is a often tall order to ask for :). The press will likely slam the teachers and the teachers will slam the press. The kids, on the other hand? Will have no formal class today...Best of luck today, Ray, dealing with this craziness! Here is the showdown: Karen Lewis (CTU) vs. Mayor Rahm Emmanuel (CPS)

Noticing the Details

For my Fieldwork class this week, we spent some time in the new exhibit at the Art Institute called Rarely Seen Contemporary Works on Paper (it is past the grand staircase, through the doors, and to the left!) It is a wonderful collection, and we went for lesson ideas we will be teaching to high school students. I think it is important to use contemporary and lesser-known artists in the classroom. We found conceptually rich themes as well as standard principles and techniques. One artist I had never seen before was Julia Fish. Her delicately painted floor tiles might at first seem mundane but up close are full of color variation and detail. She also makes work about floor plans. Below are some of my favorites of her work! -Kimmy

Floor 1993 oil on canvas 29 x 27 inches

Entry [Fragment Three] Missing 1999 oil on canvas 20.5 x 10.25 inches

Entry [Fragment One] 1998 oil on canvas 11.5 x 20.5 inches

Virtual Choir

A really incredible project from TED talks (which if you haven't taken a look at them, please do. there are some amazing pieces!) that shows the power of the internet, technology, and community. Enjoy.