TEACHING RESOURCES AND STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES...

From other sources...

CHRIS ANDERSON YOUNG ILLUSTRATOR AWARD
Wizard's Castle Publishing in Lincoln sponsors an annual competition for Nebraska Middle School students interested in an opportunity to illustrate a book. This year's story to be illustrated, Pony Express, was written by a Lincoln 6th grader. To enter, students must complete two illustrations of the Pony Express text provided by Wizard's Castle Publishing. The winner will create the remaining illustrations of the book and receive a professional contract of $300. Entries are due March 2, 2015.  Direct any questions about the contest to Ron Coniglio, President and CEO of Wizard's Castle Publishing. Please promote this opportunity to your middle school students.  You may duplicate and share the ENTRY GUIDELINES, TEXT EXCERPTS, AND SUBMISSION FORMS and video provided here.

7-12 Students MUST Submit Scholastic Art Entries NOW!  January 12th deadline!
A SPECIAL NOTE TO HELP ANGIE FISCHER FOR THE STATE JUDGING:  Teachers, please review your entries and delete any students that did not complete the submission process. You can view and delete students by logging into artandwriting.org and click the "works" button on the left column.
Submissions for the 2015 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are now open through January 12, 2015. To get started, visit the SIGN UP PAGE. Teachers must register each year before students can sign up. Be sure that you have your school zip code handy so that you can get the guidelines and deadline for Nebraska's Program.   Did you know that students on free or reduced lunch receive a fee waiver?  
You can also use images from past award winners as teaching tools in class.  Check out the audio artist statements and use them in the classroom.

THE MIDWEST ARTIST STUDIOS PROJECT : FRANK JUAREZ
This project aims to connect Contemporary Art with Art Education in the Midwest. My team traveled to MN, IA, MO, and WI to visit the studios of 9 artists to document them, their work, their studio via photographs, video, and interview. This would result in a catalog spotlighting each featured artists as well as designing artist-inspired lesson plans after the works of each artist. In addition, creating videos from our visit as well as creating a platform for educators to have access to these artists via Skype for student critiques. 
Now, we are in the process of making these catalogs and curriculum workbook available for purchase as of January 15, 2015. 
As a past -president of the Wisconsin Art Education Association I always try to introduce our members to new ideas, resources, opportunities, and innovative projects. It  just turns out that I am now on the providing side of this resources as the founder of the MAS Project. 
If you time allows please take a look at our site, the video, and check out our shop area to see if this is something that may be of interest. As a veteran art teacher I know how important it is to provide art students with updated and relevant resources designed to stimulate their curiosity, love of art, increase literacy, and have the opportunity to talk to artists. Read on...
You can follow us on facebook at facebook.com/midwestartiststudios
To get a full flavor of the project visit us at midwestartiststudios.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER SPINS YARN INTO TEXTURED STREET ART
Here's a great resource to share with your students to learn more about RESPONDING and CONNECTING with street art.