Umpqua Valley Arts Association

Arts in Education

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Susan Applegate (Nature Journaling, Murals, Drawing & Painting, Local History and Culture)

About the Artist

Susan Applegate is a visual artist who has focused on drawing and painting, but has experience in mask making, pottery, printmaking, pen and ink illustration, and large format murals. Susan continues to work in her studio throughout the year as her schedule allows. She graduated from the UO with a degree in Art Education and with a teaching credential in k-12 art.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo by John Waller; Imaging by Fox

 

Residencies

Susan's residencies range from building student's skills in drawing and media techniques in painting, to designing a residency that integrates art into the curriculum. Among her offerings:

Nature Journaling

Murals

Drawing and Painting

Local History and Culture

 

SUSAN APPLEGATE AND ESTHER STUTZMAN

 

Both Susan and Esther are artists who have worked with Umpqua Valley Arts and Education programs for many years. In the course of their work, they have created a unique residency program that encompasses the history and culture of both the pioneers and Indians of the local area.

Susan is a descendant of the pioneer Applegate family that came to Oregon and settled primarily in the northern Douglas County area. The family history lives on in the historic Applegate House in Yoncalla, the oldest pioneer home in Oregon still owned by the same family. Drawing from her roots, Susan fashions art experiences for children that reflect her family history and bring those experiences to the present in the form of drawings, paintings, nature journaling and other hands-on art projects.

Esther Stutzman is a descendant of the Komemma/Kalapuya tribe that welcomed the Applegate family into the valleys of the Umpqua over one hundred-fifty years ago. As a traditional storyteller, Esther works with children to learn an appreciation of oral literature and in the process, shares the local Native history with them. In her presentations, she infuses music to bring about an authentic experience.

Typical residency content includes Esther’s presentation in the classroom, with students learning of the first inhabitants of Oregon. Susan, in a follow-up residency, works with children to capture the images of Esther’s stories in drawings, paintings and mask-making.

In tandem, Susan and Esther use their collective knowledge to present a fun and balanced view of both pioneers and Indians of this area of Oregon. At the same time, both artists address the need for teachers to fulfill statewide educational standards content.

Both Susan and Esther offer collaborative pre-planning with the teachers and follow-up classroom resource suggestions as needed.

 

Grade Levels

K through Middle School

 

Teaching Objectives

When I am working with students in any of the visual arts, my main goal is to inspire students to solve problems that arise through the process of creating. Grasping the problem and searching for means to solve it, lies at the crux of learning. My art educational goals are to provide opportunities for creative thinking to occur and to assist students to search for ways to manifest their "idea".

Using the basic principles and elements of art as well as the historic and cultural aspects, I try to allow for a show and tell period in which to interpret and expand student's understanding of art. Students receive creative nurturance through showing their art to others.

I am also interested in applying facts as a springboard for creating art. For example, applying what a student has learned in biology, to a creative project, requires students to utilize their understanding and knowledge of the specific content while they apply that information into a new creative form — an art form where imagination combines with rote learning.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT

             

Susan is available for staff development projects that help teachers design curriculum that extend the skills learned and practiced in her residency. She is also available for staff development sessions that aid teachers in talking about art and how to tie that discussion into the Content Standards in Art.

 

Supplies

Supplies vary depending on residencies.

 

 

 

 

 

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