Over 90 years later, Jean Detlefson and Angie Fischer are facilitating more documentation of the rich history of NATA and have volunteered to co-chair the history committee. Jean has begun some audio history collection from some of our long time members who were instrumental in keeping NATA alive and well. Sister Margaret Proskovec and Bob Reeker have sorted many documents sealed in rubbermaid tubs ready for digital documentation.  Email us if you are interested in volunteering some of your time to serve on this committee.

2015 NAEA National Convention
March 26-28, New Orleans, LA. Early registration ends Thursday, February 26th.

LAST CALL FOR PERSPECTIVE SUMMER ISSUE
Advocacy themed articles for the summer publication of the NATA Perspective newsletter are due Sunday, March 1, 2015 to Julie Ryan.

WHAT'S GOING ON ACROSS THE STATE?
Please keep everyone informed of all the amazing art events across the state. You can submit your information and photos about NATA events to the NATA Board:
Professional Learning Director:  DeAnn Hanisch

• ESU 1,2,3,7,8,19: Angie Fischer
  
• ESU 4,5,6,9,18: Nissa Sturgeon
  
• ESU 10,11: Jan Jones
  
• ESU 13,15,16,17: Deb Goodenberger

Community Director: Stephanie Carlson-Pruch

Scholastic Art Awards Ceremony
Saturday, February 28. Alice Buffett through Lincoln Southwest High School at 11:00am. Litchfield High through York at 1:00pm. Hosted by OPS Art Department.
Exhibition February 23-March 31, 2015
OPS Teacher Administration Center
3215 Cuming Street, Omaha, NE 68131
Hours: Monday-Friday 8am-5pm, Saturday 8am-noon. 

UPCOMING NATA BOARD MEETING
Would you like to attend the NATA Board meeting, March 21st, 9:30am-12:30pm, Ayars & Ayars 2436 N. 48th Street, Lincoln, NE 68504?  See the draft agenda and email Lynette Fast and Allison Fees Varah with your intent to attend by March 7th.

YOUR INPUT IS NEEDED ON NAEA PLATFORM AND POSITION STATEMENTS...
In about a month, Allison Varah and Lynette Fast will be traveling to New Orleans to represent Nebraska in NAEA Delegates Assembly. There are several position statements up for review this year.  You can view position statements currently under review on the NAEA website. Send an email to Lynette and Allison with your viewpoints before March 15th.

Dear Art Educator,
My name is Don Robson and I serve as a professor of art and the chairman for the Department of Art at Concordia University, Nebraska. I'm emailing to share some exciting news with you regarding this year's Jones Bank Fine Arts Series. Each year the Jones National Bank & Trust Company of Seward brings a distinguished artist or artisans to campus for several days to teach and rehearsing with students, culminating in a public performance. This year's artist is Eric Rieger.

Eric Rieger (HOTTEA) is an Emmy award winning street artist. His stunning typographical installations are both beautifully elaborate and simple. HOTTEA typically works with yarn to create installations that co-exist with a space non-destructively and brings attention to neglected and forgotten spaces. His works have been displayed by invitation throughout the United States and internationally, with recent installations in London, Berlin, New York City, Los Angeles, Montreal, Vancouver, Chicago, Denver, San Francisco, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Switzerland and Detroit.

The following is the schedule of events in which you and your students are welcome to attend:
April 8-11, 2015 (Wednesday – Saturday)
·         Wednesday – Jones Bank lawn artwork
·         Thursday - Begin Courthouse staircase work 
·         Friday - Courthouse staircase work completed
·         Saturday - 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Artwork viewing
If you have questions please contact me at don.robson@cune.edu or Debbie Brutlag at debbie.brutlag@cune.edu. If interested, please consider sharing Eric's bio and our schedule in your school newsletter and events calendar along with the following links
MN-O 
Sesame Street
Thanks and I hope to see you and your students in April.
Don
Professor Donald W. Robson
Chair, Department of Art
Concordia University, Nebraska
Brommer Art Center 107
800 North Columbia Avenue
Seward, Nebraska 68434
402-643-7498
Don.Robson@cune.edu

If we have not received your work at TAC this is the schedule for when I will be available to show you where to unpack your work and to put key stickers on your name tags. Unless you are shipping your work, PLEASE DO NOT JUST DROP YOUR WORK OFF WITHOUT UNPACKING AND ADDING SILVER AND GOLD KEYS TO NAME TAGS.  This helps make sure your work is unpacked properly and labeled correctly.  When you come to TAC, bring work to fourth floor and see Lynn C. in office 4-163, if she is not there, try the second door on the left, this is a store room for all the works as they are checked in. 
We have started installing/hanging work so it is imperative we have your work asap, so it can be curated appropriately in the exhibit.  
Feb. 17 Tuesday  Work til 5:45 p.m.
Feb 18 Wednesday is Ash Wednesday so won't work as long. 
Feb 19 Thursday work til 5:00
Feb 20 Friday Work til 5:30
Feb 21st - DeAnn Hansich will be at TAC at 9:00 a.m. to work with volunteers to complete the installation of the exhibit. 
Please arrange a trip with your students to see the entire show once it is installed!  I know many area schools come to the ceremony, but to experience it again as a class/school is an excellent opportunity to reflect and take in all the great work without the 'rush' of the ceremony.  We have several schools that travel to Omaha 1 - 3 hours to view the exhibit and go to other art venues, like Joslyn, Bemis, Hot Shops etc.  We would LOVE more Omaha, Bellevue, Lincoln, Millard students to attend the show as a field trip also.  The dates are Feb. 23 - end of March.  March is Youth Arts Month, so it a great time to plan this!

• Angie Fischer, OPS Art Supervisor, 402-557-2535, Angela.fischer@ops.org

YOUTH ART MONTH DATE CHANGE
BECAUSE OF SNOW DAY SCHOOL CLOSINGS AND NO ACCESS AVAILABLE TO THE STATE DEPT OF EDUCATION ON FEB 15 & 16: ARTWORK WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL THURSDAY FEB 19TH AT 5:00PM
Print your YAM Student Invitations NOW!

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP BRAINSTORMING RESULTS
At Fall Conference Stephanie Carlson-Pruch, NATA Community Leadership Director, asked division liaisons for specific feedback about communications and resources.

• As a division, how can we best communicate with you and you with us?
  
• How can we help you connect with other art educators around the state?
  
• How do you use/visit Social Networks and communications online, such as fb, listserv, NATA blog…..what else would you like to see?
  
• Regarding emerging techniques in teaching art, such as TAB and Choice-Based Curriculum, how can we advocate for these approaches, how do you use them, how can we provide resources (posters, webinar info, lesson plans...so you may use these practices in your teaching?

Read the full report from the September 2014 meeting.

NATA PRESERVICE TEACHER SPRING FORUM
DISCOVERY: STEM to STEAM
April 11th, 9am-4pm
Sponsored by UN-O and NATA
Get Information and Register Here By April 3rd!

We've Been Invited...to the Wyoming Art Education Association's 2015 Spring Conference
February 28-March 1, 2015
Triumph HS in Cheyenne, WY
And...you can attend for member price of $65!  Read more...

The Evening...
Upon arrival, please check in with JAMA volunteers and enjoy refreshments! We move to Abbott Lecture Hall at 5:15 pm for welcome and introductions. Then Jeremy Johnson, PhD, UNO professor of art education, will present “Comics 101.” Then you will continue to learn about graphic novels or move to American modern paintings.
PICK YOUR PATH:
[ ABOUT THE GRAPHIC NOVELS PATH ]
Gallery Experience: BAM! It’s a Picture Book: The Art Behind Graphic Novels
Join docent Beth Howard on this exploration through the special exhibition, BAM! as she shares with you some of the popular graphic novels on display and participate in a gallery activity. 
Workshop: Comic Connections Description 
This workshop, led by Jeremy Johnson, will focus on how teachers can connect comics to lessons that they are already doing. Teachers will take a current event from a local newspaper and create a comic based on the article. This is a great way to help students understand the conventions of comics but also assess their comprehension and summarization skills!
[ ABOUT THE AMERICAN MODERN PAINTINGS PATH ]
Gallery Experience: American Moderns, 1910–1960: From O’Keefe to Rockwell
Join docent Karen Whittler who will first take you to see Stuart Davis’ American Painting in our permanent collection and then onto the special exhibition, American Moderns. This is a ticketed exhibition, but Joslyn will provide you with a ticket so you may gain entrance.
Workshop: Absolutely Abstraction
Come experiment with intuitive mark making with local painter Kim (Reid Kuhn) Darling. Inspired by Joslyn’s American Painting by Stuart Davis and the American Moderns exhibit, you will explore ideas of abstraction, text in art, and personal iconography using a variety of media. 
Find out more...

AND WE'VE GOT A WINNER!
Congratulations! Jody Boyer, NATA Student and Member Displays Co-Chair, has received a national award for her teaching strategies and application into the classroom. She will be presented the NAEA Caucus on Social Theory and Art Education Theory in Practice Award in New Orleans March 27th. Jody will present two sessions in New Orleans: Craftivism, Community and Service Learning and Designing Sustainable Landscapes as School Based Public Art. We are very proud to embrace Jody in the leadership of our association.
Jody sums it up by saying, "Holy moly, humbled and proud! I have been awarded the 2015 CSTAE Art Teacher Social Theory-in-Practice Award, in support of my work utilizing social theory in my arts classroom! Only two teachers in the entire country get picked, I was sure my application was a long shot. I guess independently reading Paulo Freire and Bell Hooks AND applying that in my classroom IS good stuff! The CSTAE (Caucus on Social Theory in Art Education) is part of the National Art Education Association, and the award supports my presentations at the NAEA National Conference in New Orleans!"...Contact Jody.

LAST CHANCE BEFORE FEBRUARY 15TH
Nominate Outstanding NATA Members For Awards It's time to reflect upon NATA members you know that work so hard for art education. Please review the awards categories and place your nominations.
Youth Art Month Activity Planning Visit the NATA YAM website page for all the Nebraska Celebration information and to volunteer.

YOUR INPUT IS NEEDED ON NAEA PLATFORM AND POSITION STATEMENTS...
In about a month, Allison Varah and Lynette Fast will be traveling to New Orleans to represent Nebraska in NAEA Delegates Assembly. There are several position statements up for review this year.  You can view position statements currently under review on the NAEA website. Send an email to Lynette and Allison with your viewpoints before March 15th.

CALL FOR AGENDA ITEMS FOR MARCH NATA BOARD MEETING
The next NATA Board meeting is March 21st from 9:30am-12:30pm. at Ayars & Ayars, 2436 N. 48th Street, Lincoln, NE 68504. Please contact Lynette Fast or Allison Varah with your intent to attend or agenda items for the meeting.

THE PERSPECTIVE HAS BEEN PUBLISHED
Read the newest publication from NATA. Thank you to our Editor, Julie Ryan, for all her hard work! You may access the publication using your membership password. If you have misplaced the password, may contact Lynette Fast or Allison Varah.

SCHOLASTIC ART AWARDS ANNOUNCED
View the exhibit list and plan to attend the exhibit.

Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition 2014-15 February 23 – March 31, 2015 
OPS Teacher Administrative Center 
3215 Cuming St. Omaha, NE 68131 
Hours: Monday – Friday 8a.m.– 5p.m. Saturday 8 a.m. – Noon. 
Hosted by Omaha Public Schools Art Department

NAEA INTERACTIVE WEBINAR
Classroom-Based Teacher Research in Art Education: Using the Power of Art and Practices of Research to Impact Art Education in Your School and Community. Two approaches to teacher-led, classroom-based research will be presented as a means of addressing issues facing school-based art teachers. February 24, 2015, 7-8pm ET. FREE for NAEA Members / $49 Non-members.  Register Now!

Sheldon Artful Teacher Night
Printmaking and Historic Processes, Feb 26th, 4:30-7:30pm
Artful Teaching at the Sheldon Museum of Art brings together Lincoln Public Schools, private, and home school teachers from multiple disciplines for an evening of learning, networking and fun. Held in the spring and fall, Artful Teaching connects the museum’s collection with LPS curriculum for art, language arts and social studies.
Register on Eventbrite or contact Lisa Maurer, public programs coordinator, at lisa.maurer@unl.edu or 402-472-4524.

Red Path Gallery & Tasting Room
Upcoming Events
Friday, February 6th, 2015  4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Open House and Art Talk by Marcia Bauerle
 -“Woven Grace” – mixed media by Marcia Bauerle
Art Talk at 4:00 – Stop by and listen to Marcia and take a look at her art work.
Open House from 4:00 – 7:00
Show runs through the end of February.

KEEP TRACK OF WHAT IS ON THE NATA CALENDAR
...See the NATA Website front page for all calendar items.

• NATA Award Nominations due Feb. 15th
  
• Y.A.M. Entries due the State Dept of Education Feb 15th
  
• Scholastic Ceremony, Omaha, Feb 28th
  
• Congressional Art Competition entries due Mar 2nd
  
• Spring NATA Board Meeting, March 21, 9:30am-12:30pm, Lincoln.  Location TBA.  
  
• Y.A.M. Celebration, March 21, 2:00pm, State Capitol.
  
• NAEA National Convention, March 26-28, New Orleans

NATA Members Are Invited to Participate in a Survey from the NAEA Professional Learning through Research Working Group 
In response to member requests, the NAEA Research Commission's Professional Learning through Research (PLR) working group is looking for ways to support members in developing skills and understandings as researchers and in using research to improve professional practice. You should have received an email to complete this 15 minute survey by this Friday, Feb 6. Your responses will assist the PLR in identifying ways to support the research interests and needs of NAEA members and the ways you can contribute to a vibrant research culture across the NAEA community.

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED WRITING ABOUT ADVOCACY?
What might you have to share about advocacy with members of NATA? Have you considered sharing through the NATA Newsletter The Perspective? Please consider this opportunity and submit your article to Julie Ryan by March 1, 2015.

CALL FOR AGENDA ITEMS FOR MARCH NATA BOARD MEETING
Please contact Lynette Fast or Allison Varah with your needs for the March 2015 NATA Board meeting.

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY IN NATA
What makes membership in a professional association valuable - the members!
We are seeking a membership representative to monitor the monthly membership roster.  Your responsibilities include emailing reminders to members who's membership has expired and to advocate and seek new members.  There is potential of nearly 500 art educators in Nebraska and we range 190-200 members in our association.  If you are interested in this position, please contact Lynette Fast or Allison Varah.

REPRESENT YOUR ASSOCIATION BY SERVING AS A DELEGATE
The National Art Education Association is organizing a delegation to visit Cuba for the purpose of researching Arts Education. Due to the extensive planning and communication involved in coordinating a program of this nature, please respond with your intentions regarding this invitation as soon as possible. Please RSVP to Professionals Abroad at 1-877-298-9677 or via the web at www.professionalsabroad.org.  A $500 deposit is required to reserve your place on the team. 

CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION ENTRIES DUE MARCH 2, 2015
NATA is proud to facilitate the Congressional Art Competition for Nebraska’s 2nd and 3rd Congressional Districts. This is a competition for High School Students. 
The winner in each district has the privilege of having their art work on display in the Nation’s Capitol and receives two round trip plane tickets to Washington D.C. to participate in recognition ceremonies there. Winning artwork must be framed at the artist expense. 
Winners will also be recognized at the Nebraska Recognition Ceremony. 
CAC Entry Forms must Accompany All Entries.  CAC criteria and forms can be found athttp://www.house.gov/content/educate/art_competition/ or see below.
Secondary students may enter the CAC by filling out the paper work, writing a paragraph about why you created this work of art or what the work means to you,  and sending digital images and forms to:  CAC c/o Deborah Kippley, 1004 N. Beadle St. Papillion, NE., 68046 or planartsnetwork@icloud.com (Please put CAC in the email memo.) Please do not send a JPG larger than 6 MB, and please do not send the original art work :) 

UNL College of Architecture High School Workshops
The College offers two summer high school workshops: the Career Explorations in Architecture, Interior Design and Landscape Architecture camp AND the Discover Landscape Architecture camp. These camps offer a unique experience to investigate issues surrounding design, learn more about the design professions and what it's like to be a college student.
Career Explorations, June 7-13, 2015
Discover Landscape Architecture, June 14-19, 2015

Community Supported Art - Artist Proposals Due February 11
If you are feeling creative and would like to submit a proposal for this home-grown commission, Lincoln Arts Council would love to hear from you! Based on the same "buy fresh-buy local" model as Community Supported Agriculture, this grass-roots art commission is in its third season in Lincoln thanks to sponsorship from Union Bank and Trust.