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NYC Arts in Education Roundtable

Notes from the Field: Energized by the Teaching Artist Community at LCE’s Summer Forum

3–4 minutes

I have worked as a Teaching Artist in NYC’s public schools for more than 15 years and things have been rocky at times, with unpaid fees, unmet promises or unreasonable requests. In the Teaching Artist community I have found support when there’s been struggle. Things got better for me ten years ago when I was hired by an organization with more support and consistency. I felt set, but two years ago things changed without a warning and without complaints. I suddenly felt that I was no longer as valuable of an asset to the organization as I used to be. At my age, I’ve considered quitting. This sentiment prompted me to apply for the NY State TA Mentorship Program, hoping to re-evaluate my process and direction.

As part of my required field hour experiences for the program, I attended the Lincoln Center Education Summer Forum. There were other reasons I wanted to participate – I attended their 2014 summer workshop, which gave a lot of food for thought. Having artistically shifted from the performing arts to visual arts, especially environmental art, I was hoping that the Summer Forum would give me ideas on how to also shift my teaching practice from mostly teaching dance to teaching environmentally-minded art. And I also wanted to re-discover my community and be energized.

Each day began with lively conversation and connecting with new and old peers over breakfast. Some workshop highlights included:

I loved learning about Artist Adventures in AI and developed images and videos to advocate for climate change alertness–environmental art and advocacy being my passion. This workshop was taught by choreographer and multi-media performing artist Brandon Powers.
My first time developing images and videos using AI tools. Here’s a link to a short IG video I made about environmental doom with a hopeful twist. As I’m curious about developing a residency using some of the methods I explored, I’m also learning about the high electricity demand in AI technology. This country is not equipped to produce enough electricity for the demand, especially now when all the solar and wind energy (clean energy!) are being scrapped.
Me on the 2nd day of the Summer Forum taking a workshop with a long-time LCE Teaching Artist Barbara Ellmann and re-visiting inquiry-based teaching while also learning about shapes, architecture, sculpture and Alexander Calder’s The Ticket Window.
I really appreciated a panel in Exploring the Power of the Arts in Health: A Global Perspective. I think so much more needs to be said about this, and I can’t wait to hear more!
As we began the panel we had an opportunity to sing this in native Hawaiian.
My advocacy group in one of the sessions brainstormed on these topics.

The passion for the arts and arts education was palpable, and my sphere of community expanded after this experience. I am still in touch with many of the Teaching Artists I met. We continue to brainstorm advocacy measures, exchange experiences in teaching in correctional facilities, discuss environmental education which is my passion, and just look forward to staying in touch. The sense of belonging to a larger group of Teaching Artists, even internationally, was tremendous. I noticed that in many of the classes when the LCE teachers tried to teach us, the volume was so loud that they could barely be heard (reminding me of teaching in public schools…). This was not because we were disrespectful, rather, we were just so energized by the conversation and by the amazing TAs in the room, and with the new teaching tools in our belts.

During the Summer Forum and in the aftermath, I’ve felt inclusion again. I have community, very energetic community. I am feeling energized once again and hoping to expand my teaching to include new tools related to contemporary issues to enhance the creativity and critical thinking of the next generation.

AUTHOR Sari Nordman

Sari Nordman, a Finnish interdisciplinary artist and educator, creates public art projects, video works and dance performances. Many of her projects have been informed by climate change and respond to environmental social justice issues. To amplify diverse voices from around the world her projects often involve social engagement. She engages people through interviews and fiber-art processes. She has exhibited her works for Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, King Manor Museum, South Street Seaport, and with Shared Dialogue, Shared Space, and NYC Summer Streets, New York. She is a recipient of awards from Brooklyn Arts Council, Foundation for Contemporary Art, and New York State Council on the Arts. She has discussed her projects, and the environmentalism and social engagement in her process in panels at South Street Seaport, New York, and at The Kennedy Center and Hirshhorn Museum, Washington DC. She holds a M.F.A. from NYU/Tisch School of the Arts.