New art teachers hope to inspire future generations

By Joe Robertson

The Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore is hosting a series of galleries presenting the work of more than 150 graduate students’ thesis projects through May 1.

The Fox Building on 1303 W. Mount Royal Ave. hosted the opening reception Friday for MICA’s students receiving a master’s degree in teaching. The third floor gallery is exclusively used by MICA’s graduate programs and displays work year round.

“If you have an opportunity for something, never turn it down,” said Sharon Kusiak, 25, who will receive her Master’s in teaching from MICA in 2016. “Always try to expand your mind and your thinking. Just by viewing others’ art it can enhance that, it can change perspectives and relate to people.”

Kusiak, who showcased her thesis at the exhibit, wishes to teach at a high school in the Baltimore City school system after she finishes her degree while working part time. Upper grade students have more possibilities with exploring concepts like identity or poverty, Kusiak said.

“I fell very opposed to very scripted art projects and instead I want to foster whatever they have going on within them, whatever is personally or socially significant to them,” Kusiak said.

By approaching material sensitively and learning responsibly, students will be able to work through issues like homosexuality or drug addiction and assist in spreading awareness to students through proper teaching, Kusiak said.

Kusiak argues that a reduction of censorship in higher-level grades would create new opportunities for students to properly learn about issues in the art room instead of on their own with no guidance.

Many teachers have trouble keeping students engaged because technology has taken away people’s sense of wonder and curiosity, said Megan Liggett,

22, a graduate student earning a Master of Art in teaching and is currently a teaching aid at Stoneleigh Elementary in Towson.

“If you’re actually animated and there with the kids mentally, and actually there and not just spitting out verbatim what you need to, you build relationships,” Liggett said.

Liggett said teaching is a different experience compared to being a student. She said it’s like growing outside of oneself and entering a new mindset and exploring how one can make kids learn.

“I’ll have kids that are actually excited to do new things and not just do it just for the sake of a grade,” Liggett said.

Art can be a vehicle to become part of the community and create messages, said Britt Salem, 27, who is receiving her Masters of Arts in teaching from MICA this spring. She said art can be personal or collaborative, which is important for the future of young people if they are going to learn team-building skills.

“Art is important because I see it as a means of expressing, as means of going out and meeting others, as I did with my project, and being a part of the community,” Salem said.

Becoming an artist involves a progression of finding a craft and being able to hone that craft after being provided the time, opportunities and financial aid to figure out a niche, Liggett said.

“All my little projects, it’s kind of like spending time and making a new friend,” Liggett said. “You have to make time and effort into making that relationship so that the piece comes out beautiful in the end.”

Art is the fundamental drive to create a social dialog and is the human practice of relating to other people, Kusiak said.

“Art is integral to life. I feel, personally, that it gets underrated,” Kusiak said. “It is sometimes dismissed as frivolous and it’s a luxury item only available to those with socio-economical status and privilege.”

Salem said that art is so ubiquitous that most people don’t realize it’s in front of them take it for granted. People wonder what graphic design is when in reality everything they see is graphic design, Salem said.

“When you see pictures and text, that’s art,” Salem said. “I think it does go unrecognized, but it’s really valuable. If it were missing, obviously, we would notice it.”

Salem is originally from Vermont and majored in art at the University of New Hampshire before attending MICA. After graduation she wishes to stay in Baltimore and teach middle or high school.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen [middle or high school], but I want to be in Baltimore City,” Salem said. “It gives you an idea of hope or future. Especially in education, which I’ve seen in the field, I just want to be a part of it.”