Tuesday, February 9, 2021

KAEA Mail Art Exchange



One of the workshops at the 2020 KAEA Virtual Fall Conference was an introduction to mail art- art sent through the mail! After the conference I designed a mail art challenge for my graphic design students and started looking for another class to swap with. My students at Jackson Heights High School in rural Holton traded mail art with students of Molly Williams from Truesdell Middle School in Wichita and we each included a postcard for the other teacher. The students were excited to get to choose a postcard and I loved getting art in return! Those of us who have participated in KAEA’s recent artist trading card swaps have had a blast so I thought “why not do a postcard swap?” 

KAEA as a professional organization values the commitment art teachers have to keep themselves active and growing as artists. We know that students benefit from learning from a teacher that is still actively engaged in the creative process themselves. Many of us have also been reminded through the pandemic that making art is good for your mental health! If you would like to make a postcard to send to another teacher, and receive one in return, you should participate in our first ever mail art swap!


This is how it will work!

  1. Look through the slides presentation with full details and video demo: https://cutt.ly/gj8WMXF

  2. Sign up using the google form! https://forms.gle/m2LPu9ACAqJJ2SAp6 The deadline to sign up is February 28th. If you need to withdraw, please do so before the signup deadline. We need to make sure that everyone who sends a postcard gets one in return!

  3. Start making your postcard art! 

    1. 4x6 or 5x7 are good standard sizes that can also be framed when received. Virtually any 2D medium is allowed, just make sure anything attached is attached securely so it stays intact through the mail.

    2. There is no set theme for this exchange, but if you need a starting point, consider something that will be positive or encouraging to another art educator.

  4. During the first week of March after registration for the swap has closed, you will receive an email with the name and address of the person to whom you should mail your postcard. Please mail your postcard by March 12th.

  5. Connect with us and share your experience! We would love to see anything you’d like to share from the exchange- the process, the finished postcard you mail, and the one you receive in return! You can use #ksarted and #kaeamailart on social media.


If you have any questions please contact Katie Morris- webmaster@kaea.com. I hope you’ll join us!




Thursday, February 4, 2021

Now Accepting Submissions for Youth Art Month!

The 2021 Kansas YOUTH ART MONTH Exhibit and Celebration is going VIRTUAL this year!!

 And, it is super easy to submit your student artwork!! Guidelines EVERY art teacher (members and non-members) in the state may be represented by ONE piece of student artwork from every school they teach at. For example: if you have two elementary schools, you may enter one piece of artwork from each school. Or if you are a K-12 teacher, you can enter one piece of artwork from each level that you teach (one elementary, one middle, and one high school piece). 

 Artwork must be completed by students enrolled in grades K-12 in the 2020-21 school year. All artwork must be original. Artwork can be either 2-Dimensional or 3-Dimensional. (3-Dimensional works can be represented in up to 3 images to show different views, if necessary) Entries will be accepted from February 1st through February 28th.
 
You will need THREE documents for submission--Send all as attachments: 
  1. Good quality image of student artwork 
  2. Excel Information Document https://drive.google.com/file/d/1utGsBa6HEaTzEvQK__Gobu2OIXaoeYTb/view?usp=sharing (Open with Google Sheets and go to file, make a copy to make editable)
  3. Image of Student Artist Statement. https://drive.google.com/file/d/199TriuHj_5uyGzmxqDLMnQAySI4DOZyz/view?usp=sharing (Open with Google Sheets and go to file, make a copy to make editable)
All submissions must be sent to nelsonbova@yahoo.com If you do not receive a confirmation e-mail, assume that your submission has not been received and you should follow up to confirm.

 Parent Permission Form--This is needed, but keep this documents for your records! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ViBEZOB_8CADYc6XxKIzEQZXwWtqhTpb/view?usp=sharing 

BLICK Youth Art Month Art Competition 
If you are an Active KAEA/NAEA member; your student’s YAM exhibit piece will be automatically entered into the BLICK YAM Art Competition! Make sure to note on the excel submission document that you are a current member. If you join or renew in February, you will be considered an active member!! Mark "yes" on your excel form and your membership will be verified. 
The Art Competition will be entered and judged DIGITALLY. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 3 Honorable Mentions at all 3 levels. BLICK Art Materials, KAEA and other sponsors generously will provide prizes to the 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place students and their art instructors AND will provide a $1000 check to the “Best of Show” student. 
Artwork will be judged on the following criteria: Creativity, Craftsmanship, Artistic Merit, Presentation, and Artist’s Statement 
Teachers will be notified if the judges have designated their student’s artwork for recognition. This will give the teacher time to personally invite the student and their family to attend the Virtual YAM Celebration where their student will be recognized for their accomplishments and the specific awards will be announced at that time. 
The Celebration will be held Saturday, March 27th from 1-2:30 and links will be provided closer to the event. 

Documents that you may want to use: 
We look forward to your submissions to this year’s YAM Exhibit and Competition! Look for upcoming blasts and social media posts for information about our Virtual YAM Celebration which will be held on Saturday, March 27th from 1-2:30! We have great things planned!!!! 

Questions? Linda Nelson-Bova nelsonbova@yahoo.com

KAEA Mission Statement

KAEA is dedicated to the advancement of the human and cultural understanding through the study of art by providing opportunities for professional growth and development, exchange of knowledge and ideas, and service and leadership for the advancement of quality art education.