Comics, as research shows, are helpful in literacy, are engaging for young students, and naturally cross language barriers, teaching language through the same modality of the tried and true picture book. In the case of comics, students can also gain visual literacy that helps them embody language learning in a meaningful and lasting way while improving drawing, design and storytelling skills.
There are countless languages that we are encountering in NYC schools and beyond, but our resurrection of glyphs (emojis) and constant use of visual narratives cross the language barrier. How can we use this knowledge to help us in the classroom? Learn trauma-informed check-ins and multilingual vocabulary-builders in this fun and interactive PD!
About the Presenter
Anu Annam, is an acclaimed artist, educator, curator, and administrator. In their 30-year artistic practice, they explore psychology through watercolor, acrylic, oil, and collage by weaving realistic and abstract images of figures and faces to create a final impact of honest emotion. Their passion for comics, sci-fi, satire, and Indian mythology drives their digital and ink work and informs the engaging tone and content of their classes and social justice practice. They collaborate with and are faculty at numerous institutions such as the Long Island Museum, Teatro Yerbabruja, and Community-Word Project and have won multiple arts, teaching, and community grants from New York State Council on the Arts, New York Foundation of the Arts, and Suffolk County. They have received Proclamations from the Town of Huntington and Town of Patchogue for their tireless dedication to supporting the arts. Anu Annam has recently been named the 2023 recipient of the NYSCA Interdisciplinary Artist Award.
Annam has curated one-day to season-long exhibitions at institutions such as the Queens Museum of Art, Cinema Arts Centre, Islip Art Museum, Farmingdale State College, and Museum of Contemporary Arts of Long Island. They exhibit their paintings globally: (select solos) Le Salon d’ Art, NYC, Shrishti Art Gallery, India, Islip Art Museum, NY. Their events, exhibitions, and classes are featured in Newsday, Fios 1, Canvas Magazine, The Hindu, and The Week Magazine. Annam earned their BA from Tufts University and Boston Museum School. Annam is on multiple arts, arts education, and advocacy advisory boards and committees such as for New York City Arts in Education Roundtable, New York State Brain Injury Association on New York State, the Patchogue Arts Council/MOCA of LI, the PEACE Project, and most recently, Teaching Artist’s Guild’s National Advisory Committee.
Annam is the founder/director of the arts-based support and advocacy organization, SEA of Visibility, which provides robust, multi-disciplinary arts events and education programs that center queer/BIPOC folx with invisible disabilities aiding in the integration of the disabled community into the cultural landscape of New York. They believe that through kindness, community, arts programs, and advocacy, individuals can thrive as Annam has, through multiple marginalized experiences, to lead a meaningful life full of contribution and joy.
Accessibility
The NYC Arts in Education Roundtable is committed to providing opportunities for everyone to participate in our programming. This workshop will include access to closed captioning via Zoom’s Live Transcript feature. Please let us know how we can meet your access needs or reach out if you have any questions by contacting Roundtable Programs Director Kinsey Keck at kkeck@nycaieroundtable.org.
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