When we think of legacy artistry, we're often reminded of the generations and traditions that contribute to an enduring design, style or art-making practice, or perhaps we think of the dedication and refinement that a single artist contributes to a discipline, what they pass down and leave behind historically. How would one teach legacy as a teaching artist? Together with Remi Majekodunmi, Solomon Mason and Shelly Svonavec we'll dive into what this might look like in their Teaching Arts practice with students, how they hope to see their legacy deepen or change, and how their work with students evolves their work as artists.

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Teaching Artist Bios:

The Artist Journey w/Sketchbook was created for students to work towards a life-size self-portrait. The students use their sketchbooks not only to develop a sketchbook practice, but the art activities are used as a way to explore their emotional selves through the seven elements of visual arts; line, shapes, patterns, texture space, color mood etc.

As a Nigerian herself, Remi Majekodunmi - names and ancestor acknowledgement are a fundamental part of her individual and collective identity. Remi brings these key elements into her personal practice and intentionally shares these points of view with her young artists as a way to be in community. As a way to explore who we are, where we come from and to whom we belong.

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Born June 12th 1995, Solomon “Solo” Israel Mason is a culture bearer, performing artist, multi-instrumentalist, stilt walker, educator and New Orleans native. Teaching over a decade of teaching experience specializing in Youth Development, Music Composition & Arrangement, Performing Arts, Art Integrated Workshops and Social-Emotional Learning.

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Growing up on the east side of Cleveland with a challenging upbringing, Shelly Svonavec developed a sense of grit and resilience that helped shape who she is today. While committed to athletics and academics throughout school, she always found herself back to creating art as an expressive outlet.

After receiving her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Art Education & Painting, Shelly pursued her desire for connection by teaching High School Visual Arts & Ceramics in Charlotte, NC. These few years spent in the classroom played a key role in the development of my pedagogy. She left the formal education setting in search of creating art full time and finding more effective ways to connect to the youth.

For the past 7 years, she has worked with Center for Arts Inspired Learning teaching integrated arts programming, training new Teaching Artists, and consulting on new curriculum initiatives. Her work in paint and clay is inspired by the dynamic journeys of those who she meets, the grand power of nature, and my inquisitive nature to experiment with materiality. As she ventures forward, she hopes to scale her art to include the lives of those in her community.

www.svonastudio.com

IG: svonastudio