Tag Archives: erika block

Midwest Artist Studios Project at the Wisconsin Art Education Association 2016 Conference

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Frank being interviewed for Artspeak Radio

Frank being interviewed for Artspeak Radio in Kansas City, KS. Photo by Fred Trease.

I am happy to announce that my Midwest Artist Studios Project proposal has been accepted to be part of the 2016 WAEA Fall Conference: Bold and Bright, in La Crosse, Wisconsin in October 2016. Also, the MAS Project is a proud sponsor of this state art education conference and will be onsite as an exhibitor. Our MAS Publication will be available for purchase. 

Get your copy today!

The mission of the Wisconsin Art Education Association is to promote excellence in visual art and design education for all students by:
•     providing professional growth opportunities for visual art and design teachers.
•     showcasing student talents and abilities supporting art and design as academic core disciplines.
•     communicating with other art and design organizations.
•     offering lifelong learning opportunities acting on vital art and design education issues. 
WAEA COver Brochure 2016
MAS Vendor WAEA Brochure 2016
MAS WAEA Brochure 2016

Ad layout: Erika L Block of Creative Studios

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Final Thoughts from Frank Juarez: Year 3 MAS Project

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Photo taken in North St. Paul, MN during our first day of road trippin’ in 2014.

My last road trip through the Midwest concluded on July 17, 2016 at approximately 6:00pm (CST). This one was one of the best road trips I’ve had with quite a few challenges during the 2,800+ mile journey. To date I have traveled to 18 cities/towns in 12 states driving 5,000+ miles in the span of a one-week increment during the month of July in 2014, 2015, and 2016.

When the idea of the Midwest Artist Studios Project came about inside my art classroom at Sheboygan North High School back in February of 2014 I never imagined where this would take me as an art educator and how it would change my personal/professional life. I knew that this journey was ambitious so I was fortunate to have worked with such an amazing and dedicated team; Erika Block (writer/editor), Pat Ryan (photographer), and Jonathan Fritsch (assistant). They were there from the beginning to the end no matter how crazy this idea was. This is an experience that I will cherish for a lifetime. I am truly blessed to have them in my life.

The MAS Project aims to connect art education with Midwest contemporary artists through studio visits, curriculum development, and opportunities for educator outreach. 

I still have a lot of work ahead of me, but I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the following artists and arts professionals I met since 2014. 

  • MAS artist, Josh Wilichowski, North St. Paul, MN
  • MAS artist, Vincenzio Donatelle, Minneapolis, MN
  • MAS artist, Jane Ryder, Oskaloosa, IA
  • MAS artist, Jamie Bates Slone, Kansas City, MO
  • MAS artist, Catie Miller, Kansas City, MO
  • MAS artist, Todd Mrozinski, Milwaukee, WI
  • MAS artist, Josie Osborne, Milwaukee, WI
  • MAS artist, Paula Schulze, Shorewood, WI
  • MAS artist, Suzanne Torres, Madison, WI
  • MAS artist, Mellissa Redman, Grand Rapids, MI
  • MAS artist, Kate Robertson, Ann Arbor, MI
  • MAS artist, Jenniffer Omaitz, Kent, OH
  • MAS artist, Ellie Honl, Bloomington, IN
  • MAS artist, Jessica Anderson, Jacksonville, IL
  • MAS artist, Jason Ackman, Rushville, IL
  • MAS artist, Krista Svalbonas, Chicago, IL
  • MAS artist, Emmy Lingscheit, Urbana, IL
  • MAS artist, Karri Dieken, Valley City, ND
  • MAS artist, Sharon Grey, Rapid City, SD
  • MAS artist, Jody Boyer, Omaha, NE
  • MAS artist, Lori Elliott-Bartle, Omaha, NE
  • MAS artist, Rachel Mindrup, Omaha, NE
  • MAS artist, Joe Bussell, Kansas City, KS
  • MAS artist, Larry Thomas, Kansas City, KS
  • Consuelo Cruz, Belger Arts Center, Kansas City, MO
  • Maria Vasquez Boyd, Artspeak Radio, Kansas City, MO
  • Marissa Starke, Kansas City Artists Coalition, Kansas City, MO
  • Beverly Ahern, H & R Block Artspace, Kansas City, MO

This project was supported by a grant from the Kohler Foundation, Inc (2014-2016).

 

This video is about MAS 2016 artists sharing their thoughts on being our featured artists. Running time: 10:55.

 

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L to R: Frank Juarez, Jonathan Fritsch, MAS artists Karri Dieken, and Ellie Honl in Omaha, NE (2016)

 

MAS 2016 Gallery

MAS founder/art educator, Frank Juarez being interviewed by Artspeak Radio host, Maria Vasquez Boyd
MAS artist, Larry Thomas (KS)
MAS artist, Lori Elliott-Bartle (NE)
MAS artist, Joe Bussell (KS)
MAS artist, Sharon Grey (SD)
MAS artist, Lori Elliott-Bartle (NE)
MAS founder/art educator Frank Juarez and MAS artist, Joe Bussell
MAS artist, Karrie Dieken (ND)
MAS artist, Jody Boyer (NE)
MAS artist, Larry Thomas (KS)
MAS artist, Karrie Dieken (ND)
MAS artist, Karrie Dieken (ND)
MAS artist, Sharon Grey (SD)
MAS artist, Jody Boyer (NE)
MAS artist, Sharon Grey (SD)
MAS artist, Rachel Mindrup (NE)
MAS artist, Joe Bussell (KS)
MAS artist, Rachel Mindrup (NE)

 

Click here to view our photos from the road. 

You can now follow us on instagram.com/midwestartiststudios or like us on facebook at facebook.com/midwestartiststudios.

Get your copy today of the 2014 & 2015 MAS Catalog/Workbook by clicking here. 

Day 4: View from the Road

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Follow the Midwest Artist Studios on Instagram

Follow the Midwest Artist Studios on Instagram

We are about half way through our last road trip to North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas. This has been such a great experience thus far. One of the things we enjoy about this project is that we have no idea what the artists’ studios look like. We sure have seen quite a range from a studio housed in garage, basement, art center, warehouse, university, attic, barn, former bookstore, house, and a one-bedroom studio apartment from the past two years. Regardless, these are magical places in which artists create their vision. 

“A studio can be anywhere” – Emma Anderson, freshman

Our first day started with a visit with MAS artist, Karri Dieken in her studio at Valley City State University to driving to Rapid City, SD where we visited MAS artist, Sharon Grey at her home studio the following day. In Rapid City we stumbled upon Art Alley, where the alley was covered in graffiti. We have never seen this in my life. It felt as if we were part of the artwork. Such a neat experience. Today we visited two studios in Omaha. In the early AM we drove to MAS artist, Jody Boyer‘s home studio and then to the studio of MAS artist, Lori Bartle Elliott at Hot Shops. 

During our 1800+ miles to our destinations we were able to take detours to see some amazing sights such as the Badlands in Interior, South Dakota to the Old Market Business District in Omaha, Nebraska. We still have three more studio visits with MAS artists, Rachel Mindrup, Joe Bussell, and Larry Thomas to do before we head back to Wisconsin. 

Listen to what MAS artist, Karri Dieken has to say about being part of the Midwest Artist Studios Project.

Here is a snapshot of what we experienced to date. 

Studio visit with MAS artist, Karri Dieken
On the road
Art Alley in Rapid City, SD
Studio visit with MAS artist, Sharon Grey.
Art Alley in Rapid City, SD
e_a_s_t_1 spray painting a mural at Art Alley
Studio visit with MAS artist, Jody Boyer
The Badlands in South Dakota
The Badlands in South Dakota
The Badlands in South Dakota
On our way to Omaha, Nebraska
Studio visit with MAS artist, Lori Bartle Elliott
Let me take a selfie with Jonathan Fritsch, Karri Dieken, Frank Juarez, and Pat Ryan
Welcome to South Dakota
The MAS krew: Jonathan, Pat, and Frank. Not pictured: Erika.
Sunset to Omaha, Nebraska
The Badlands in South Dakota
The Badlands in South Dakota

This project is supported by a grant from the Kohler Foundation, Inc. 

Get your copy today – Year 2 Midwest Artist Studios Project

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The catalog contains 66 pages with studio images and full interviews with our featured Midwest artists: Mellissa Redman (MI), Kate Robertson (MI), Jenniffer Omaitz (OH), Ellie Honl (IN), Jessica Anderson (IL), Jason Ackman (IL), Krista Svalbonas (IL), and Emmy Lingscheit (IL).

The workbook contains 96 pages with color illustrations and grades 6-12 lesson plans inspired from our studio visits with our Year 2 Midwest artists. This includes access to our Backroom on our MAS site, which gives you access to artist videos, a gallery of images, and the option of contacting the artist for a Skype session with your students. 

Published by the Midwest Artist Studios™ Project, 2015

Catalog design by Erika Block of Creative Studios

Limited Qty: 100

(Stock code: MASCATWKBK15)

Click here to purchase this catalog & workbook

This project is supported by a grant from the Kohler Foundation, Inc. and the Wisconsin Art Education Association.

Orders will be shipped within 7-10 business days of your purchase. 

MAS_WAEAad2016

 

Introducing the Midwest Artist Studios 2015 featured artists

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MAS2015_announcementThe Midwest Artist Studios Project is proud to announce its 2015 featured artists. They are Jason Ackman (IL), Jessica Anderson (IL), Ellie Honl (IN), Emmy Lingscheit (IL), Jenniffer Omaitz (OH), Mellissa Redman (MI), Kate Robertson (MI), and Krista Svalbonas. We were impressed with their perspective on art education today and the work that they are producing. The final interview took place via multiple Skype sessions. Although they were given time to make a decision whether or not they would be interested in participating in this project they all said, “Yes!”, immediately. 

The MAS Team will be traveling through the Midwest later this summer. 

We are looking forward to getting to know these artists better as the summer progresses as well as being invited into their studios. 

Some new additions to the MAS Project will be View from the Road by the MAS Team and a special studio visit with Emmy Lingscheit at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center Arts/Industry Program. 

Check out our featured artists’ work by clicking on their names listed above. 

This 2015 MAS Project is supported by a grant from the National Art Education Foundation, Kohler Foundation, Inc., and the Wisconsin Art Education Association. 

MAS at MOWA

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Frank Juarez, MAS founder, and Erika Block, MAS writer, will be sharing their Midwest Artist Studios Project journey at the Museum of Wisconsin Art today. Thank you, MOWA!

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MAS Founder and Writer presents at MOWA’s Coffee Talk on January 13, 2015

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Museum of Wisconsin Art

205 Veterans Avenue

West Bend, Wisconsin 53095

January 13, 2015

10:30am-11:30am

Click here:  http://www.wisconsinart.org/education/lifelong-learning.aspx

Coffee Talk with Frank Juarez, founder of the Midwest Artist Studios™ (MAS) Project and Erika Block, MAS writer and editor.

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Frank Juarez, founder/art educator, and Erika Block, writer/editor, will share the journey they took with photographer, Pat Ryan, and assistant, Jonathan Fritsch last summer. They visited the studios of Josh Wilichowski (MN), Vincenzio Donatelle (MN), Jane Ryder (IA), Jamie Bates Slone (MO), Catie Miller (MO), Todd Mrozinski (WI), Paula Schulze (WI), Josie Osborne (WI), and Suzanne Torres (WI). The result of these visits were two-fold; to create a catalog introducing these 9 artists and creating a curriculum workbook, which contains 9 artist-inspired lesson for grades 6-12 in public, private, or homeschool setting. This curriculum workbook is also beneficial to student teachers, first year teachers, and art education students. 

On December 23, we made a quick stop to Todd’s studio at the Nut Factory in Milwaukee to catch up with him and get a few thoughts about his participation in the MAS Project. 

Click here to view our presentation.

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