Published On: November 23rd, 2015By Leticia Fehling

AISD Schools Take Part in Annual EveryArtist Live! Event

The national event raises awareness about the importance of art in child development. Art increases academic performance and develops creative thinking.

Students create their EveryArtist Live! Event artwork.

[dropcap color=”#888″ type=”square”]A[/dropcap]ldine ISD students across the district recently took part in EveryArtist Live! More than 40 AISD K-12 campuses had students showcase their creativity.

The one-day event celebrates each child’s artistic abilities. The event ignites young artists’ imagination. It sparks original works around a common theme. The 2015 theme, “What Sparks Your Creativity?” had students creating a wide variety of artworks. Each piece represented something personal to students. There are images of family, music, pets and identity.

According to Dr. Michaelann Kelley, more than 50 art teachers took part. Each student received a square piece of paper to create a project. The students’ artworks created many mosaic displays in classrooms, buildings and campuses. Several artworks are on display in the Gallery at the Aldine Staff Development Center (2330 S. Victory Street; next door to Carver High School). [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Kelley is the program director of fine arts.

Brendan O’Connell

More than 7,000 Aldine ISD students produced artwork for EveryArtist Live!

Brendan O’Connell started the initiative. O’Connell is internationally known as an artist who explores the consumer experience. He has appeared on “CBS News” and “The Colbert Report.” The New Yorker profiled him in 2013. His Wal-mart paintings have been on exhibit in New York, Shanghai, Toronto, and Boston. Art in America and The Boston Globe have both reviewed his works. O’Connell’s work can range between $1,000-$1,200 and as high as $40,000.

His paintings may be out of reach for most average Wal-mart shoppers. But O’Connell believes everyone is an artist. With that belief, O’Connell along with like-minded partners, created [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]EVERYARTIST.ME. The nonprofit project is a movement to support artistic expression in every child. O’Connell and EVERYARTIST.ME started the EveryArtist Live! Event as a way to spark creativity. But also to raise awareness about the importance of art in child development.

O’Connell visited [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Aldine ISD campuses in 2013. That was the year the event went national. This year, more than 46 states took part. In Texas, H-E-B sponsored the event.

View video by art teacher Alexandra Rizk at Marcella Intermediate School.

[vimeo url=”https://vimeo.com/145810680″ width=”560″ height=”315″]

Nothing encourages young minds to blossom and grow like the creation of art.

Kelley has been active about the importance of art in education. She works to encourage art in cross-curricular education.

“EveryArtist Live! is a fantastic event,” said Kelley. “Art fuels our creativity. This is another great way to make everyone aware in the community how important art is to learning.“

The research backs the importance of art. According to many nationally recognized studies, participation in the arts improves problem-solving abilities. It also correlates to higher test scores. Studies show that low-income children who take part in arts education had higher grades. They also had higher attendance records than their peers who did not take part. Researchers have also found that children that take part develop improved attention and focus. This leads to expanded cognitive ability.

“Art has the capacity to motivate students,” said Kelley. “Educators are aware of the benefits of art education. They are advocating for expanding art programs and cross-curricular teaching.“

[icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Businesses are catching on. In 2010, IBM’s Institute of Business Value surveyed 1,500 chief executives. The CEOs identified “creativity” as the most important leadership competency. Creativity is vital for the future success of an enterprise.

Children need opportunities to develop their creativity. [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Dr. Bonnie Cramond agrees. She states motivation in childhood is a better predictor of adult talent than ability. She is a professor of gifted and creative education at the University of Georgia. Cramond also served as director of the [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Torrance Center for Creativity and Talent Development.

The Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking noted long-term effects. Since the 1960s, it has been the standard-bearer in assessing creativity in children. There is a strong connection between childhood creativity and creative output as an adult. Fostering creativity at a young age is vital. In fact, the results of the Torrance Tests are also better indicators of lifetime creative accomplishment than childhood IQ.

“As our world becomes more complex and problems become more challenging,” Cramond said. “The need for creative individuals to address these situations in innovative ways increases. If creativity goes unrecognized, both the creative individual and society lose. Discovery and development of creativity should be primary goals of families and schools.“

Participating Schools and Teachers

Aldine Ninth Grade School – Laryssa Adame & Leanne Dry
Aldine HS – Karen Cruise, Michelle Dalke & Lisa GoBoncan
Bethune Academy – Wauna Johnson
Bussey ES – Margie Ellis
Calvert ES – Alyssa Wagner
Caraway Intermediate – Lindsay Burns
Carmichael ES – Kathryn Baker
Carroll Academy – Sarah Kersh
Carter Academy – Leah Bell
Carver HS – Matthew Kirkpatrick, Laura Luna & Zach Walters
COMPASS – Nancy Murphy
Davis Ninth Grade School – Christopher Peel
Davis HS – Deborah Conn, Marilynn Venne & Juan Vera
Drew Academy — Allison Hamacher
Dunn ES – Betsy Huete
Eckert Intermediate – Timothy Garcia
Eisenhower Ninth Grade School – Danielle Harding
Eisenhower HS – Jaclyn McClure & Kaileigh Rosplohowski
Gray ES – Amanda Peterson
Hill Intermediate – John Bagby
Hoffman MS – Brian Thompson
Houston Academy – Cathy Cooper
Johnson ES – Yvette Montoya
Jones ES – Sara Rimboch
Kujawa ES – Kelly Patterson
Lewis MS – Deanna Calderon & Ashley Atherton
MacArthur HS – Tracy Harris & Vino Underwood
Marcella Intermediate – Alexandra Rizk
Nimitz HS – Lynne Kunert & Leslie Rowney
Odom ES – Jessica Gann
Oleson ES – Kirstie Reese
Orange Grove ES – Candice Lefevre
Plummer MS – Megan Alderink & Tiffany Moroney
Reece PreK/K Center – Kimmie Gillespie
Reed Academy – Jae Nam
Spence ES – Tricia Ballast
Stehlik Intermediate – William Close
Stephens ES – Peter George
Stovall MS – Monica Thayer
Teague MS – Birgit Langhammer
Worsham ES – Maria Cisneros
Victory Early College HS – Jasleen Sarai