Wanted: Your Leadership Ideas & Resources!

Do you have an opinion to share about women’s leadership in education or in society? The Leadership Discovery Centre wants your thoughts in its Viewpoints: Around the World section. We especially are encouraging DKG members who can submit in English and another language.

Do you have ideas about how you are sustaining leadership in your state or province? Share your ideas in our Viewpoints: Around the World section. If you include your email address, other members may share their ideas as well!

Have you recently read an inspiring, informative book on leadership? Submit an annotated bibliography entry in the Centre’s format*, and we will consider including it in the Centre under our Outside Resources.

Make the Leadership Discovery Centre your “go-to” spot to get new ideas and to share your ideas!

DKG Art Gallery Spotlight

Margaret Chambers - District of Columbia State Organization - Beta Chapter

Master educator, artist and motivator, Margaret Chambers, allows us a glimpse into her journey combining her passion for education with her creative vision. “Keep Art in Your Heart” is the saying for the DCSO artists!

Tell us about yourself as an educator and an artist.

As a high school English teacher in Ohio, I introduced an interdisciplinary lesson to captivate student interest. My paintings and sculptures were writing inspirations. Fast forward as an itinerant elementary art educator in Washington D.C. I redesigned my art curriculum. My in-depth knowledge and research gleaned from my Masters in Education degree propelled me to devise an interdisciplinary art curriculum guide, entitled: “Art Education: A Vehicle for Learning.”  The Art Around the Corner program with the National Gallery of Art (NGA) was an interdisciplinary community partnership in D.C. It’s one of the most enriching experiences in my career. Students and I traveled to London and Paris incorporating interdisciplinary learning at the Louvre and Buckingham Palace. Their attire read SWART an acronym: Special, Working Artists Readiness Team. SWART was highlighted in the New York Times, Washington Post and on several local television stations. My rewarding career includes presentations in States for D.C. Schools and NGA. My most notable awards include D.C. Superintendents monetary Outstanding Teacher Award, Scottish Rite Education Award, National Art Educators Award, NGA award, Kennedy Center ART WALL recognition (written by former students) and Whos’ Who Teachers Honor. My art includes acrylic and oil painting in abstract and realistic style. Using heated organic shaped plexiglass, I create sculptures and tables. My Artventure Biophilic Design brings nature into interiors promoting an aura of peaceful existence. It comprises time in a natural environment affecting our productivity, lowers stress, enhances learning, etc.  

Tell us what inspired you and how you developed the art you entered in the gallery.

Current events, nature, life experiences, international travel, are the catalysts that have inspired my art and so much more. My artistic development of these experiences were expressed via painting, essays, poetry, photography, and crafts.  

Tell us about your most recent photographs: Cascading Aquascape Garden & Tranquil Newport Harbor:

Cascading Aquascape Garden: Outside my friend’s abode was her oasis. We listened to the soothing sounds of trickling water as we enjoyed the enchanting sights of nature and paradise!

Tranquil Newport Harbor: In Newport, Rhode Island I was captivated by the picturesque view illuminating Newport Harbor. The quaint and vivid vessels in the harbor capture the peaceful moment of tranquility!  

What is the best artist advice you have been given?

Visiting David Driskel at his Maine studio, his advice was to “evolve in my own original perspective of creativity. Gain critical knowledge of art and continue to evolve.”  

What does the value of Creative Arts in Education mean to you?

Activities that engage students in organic movement such as dance, allow them to feel free in a natural way. This demonstrates a specific creative art component that spans cognitive, language social, emotional, and physical parameters. This benefits the development of children and adults, imagination through the arts.  Music movement, song, drama, and storytelling activities encourage students to learn and support critical thinking skills independently for themselves. Using art in a pleasurable manner results in supporting children’s development without pressure! An important value for children with disabilities is it has creative engagement to improve motor skills.  Open-ended opportunities such as coloring, painting and clay help children enhance their vocabulary and more. In conclusion Creative Arts benefits students’ social and emotional capability, dual language communication and cognitive developmental skills which in turn, affects the quality of children’s lives.

Tell us about your role as the arts liaison for DCSO.

 As Arts liaison I connected directly with the DKG International Arts chair, disseminating information for art entries via DCSO Chapter representatives.

What activities do the DCSO artists do to keep motivated?

The DCSO ladies engage in varied activities, such as recognition certificates, art exhibitions, news articles and spotlighting exceptional art entries.

Do you have any advice for other states who would like to start a committee?

Develop a master plan and organize this plan according to the needs, and interest of your chapter membership. Next develop a committee with the idea of shared responsibility for the members. Secure the support from the state president as well as the chapter presidents.

Just one more thing....do you have anything else you want to add?

Continue Humanities and Arts (universal language of communication) as a vehicle to expand Membership!!

DKG Art Gallery Spotlight

Barbara Kennison - Phi Chapter - Michigan

 

Dr. Kennison is a retired psychiatric certified clinical nurse specialist. Barbara’s teaching experience began in 1973 as an assistant professor of psychiatric mental health nursing, at Nazareth College, Nazareth, Michigan.  She worked as a teaching assistant at the School of Nursing at the University of Michigan and was an assistant professor of psychiatric community health nursing at Loyola University of Chicago, Illinois. She worked with undergraduate and graduate students. In 1988, she began private practice. Barbara worked with children, adults, and graduate students. She utilized art with traumatized children who had difficulty expressing their fears and concerns.

Barbara loves nature, music, and the performing arts. She uses acrylics or watercolors in nature scenes.  When using acrylics, she applies paint to canvas versus board or paper. After creating a mock-up of work using watercolors, she uses cold-pressed watercolor paper. It allows her to use watercolors, ink, and acrylic and dries quickly. The paper allows for creating textures and absorbs paint more easily which enables the artist to achieve a softer quality versus a hard or defined attribute to the work. This paper is expensive so one must be careful in how it is used.

 

Tell us about “My Sunny Day.”  Where did the inspiration come from?  

 

The inspiration for “My Sunny Day”, came from observations of a meadow beyond the backyard of Barbara’s home. It was a sunny afternoon with a clear sky and moderate winds. She made a sketch on a piece of scrap paper, took it to her studio, and painted what she thought she saw. The scene evoked memories of Andrew Wyeth’s work in what seemed to her, to convey a sense of simplicity in its detail and subtle use of color that were muted and transparent.  She views him as a master of light and subtle shading.  His application of paint to achieve earth tones and movement is outstanding. One thing that she feels her work may have in common with Wyeth’s work is the emotion evoked by the composition. She said, “I think that is why I laughed to myself, once my work was finished and remarked, “Andrew Wyeth, this is, “My Sunny Day.”  Unlike Wyeth, my medium is acrylic which allowed me to achieve the effect I wanted.”     

In “The Wolf Moon”, what inspired the title? “The Wolf Moon,” is a collage oncanvas. It was inspired by observations of the mid-January full moon, shimmering through the trees onto the crystal-cold snow covering the ground.  Barbara could see the view from the kitchen window.  It was a special moment to witness this phenomenon in the stillness of the night while others were sleeping. In some Native traditions, the title, “Wolf Moon” was derived from hearing wolves howling beyond their villages during the January full moon.  Wolves are pack animals and howling may be a signal for such activities as calling a mate, alerting there is danger, or signaling a need to gather for a hunt.   It may be a myth, but Barbara felt it was a good topic to convey in her art. The juxtaposition of the cut paper on canvas achieves the result of the bright slivery moon casting its shadow among the clouds.  The title for this work was fitting, given the time of year the moon was visible to her.     

What advice would you offer someone interested in learning about painting and mixed media artwork?  

Barbara responded, “I think sketching is vital, as it permits the person to look closely at the object being sketched, noting structure in all its detail.”  Sketching helps to develop a sense of proportion, perspective, light, and shadow. For adults, she recommends they consider art as a way of relaxing and discovering what one likes or dislikes, and then understanding why. Kennison suggested taking art classes to learn the basics of each type of media and equipment. Reading books about art and artists, and visiting local art shows and art centers are all other ways to learn more about art.

 

How does the value of the arts, impact education? 

Barbara thinks that all art forms have a tremendous impact on education. Participation in the visual arts, all have a positive influence on academic life and relationships. Research has demonstrated the impact art has on academic performance. Art allows for the exploration of emotions, encourages empathy, and makes a significant contribution to culture.  

 

Are there other things you wish to share about yourself or your DKG journey?  Barbara explained, “Responding to the questions posed has evoked memories, special and happy memories as well as painful ones.  This has been a good exercise for me, and I am grateful to you, Linda for posing the questions.  In closing, I treasure my connections with the DKG organization. The support from this organization has been tremendous. I am awed by DKG members’ commitment, dedication, and action to promote and support its members, educators, and students locally, statewide, and nationally.  

 

How is your chapter communicating?

Hola!  Gutag Tag! Hallo!  Konnichiwa!  Hej!  Teve!  Hei!  God dag!  Hello! 

No matter how you say it, greeting members is an important ritual in our chapters worldwide.  We all love to get together and share our great programs, projects and conduct the business of the Society.  The question is, how do you communicate with members prior to and after your face-to-face meetings?  How do you let members know that a meeting is coming up?  How do you follow up with details and highlights or celebrations from those meetings? 

Years ago, the common method of communicating was through mail sent via the postal service.  With the advance of technology, “regular” mail has been replaced. The use of the internet for sending and receiving emails to personal accounts has become the most popular way to communicate.  An email is received as soon as the send button is pushed.  A response to that email can be sent back just as quickly.  In addition, attachments or links can be included in emails which add to their usefulness.  Multiple members can be informed quickly and efficiently with one email and attachment or link. 

Some chapters have entered the realm of social media and use a variety of platforms to communicate with members.  Facebook is a popular social networking service that is used worldwide.  Other chapters have found the use of WhatsApp or Instagram to be helpful in communicating. 

The rise of online invitation services has made sending event and meeting information convenient and efficient. Each of these online invitation services has its own unique features.  Check out their pros and cons.  Consider whether there is free usage or a cost involved.  Our chapter used one of these services this past biennium.  It was easy to see who had replied and how many to plan on for meetings or a meal.  This also can serve to inform chapter officers of who might need a follow-up with an additional form of communication – an email, a text, a phone call. 

Cell phones and even smart watches immediately alert members to communications that come from chapter officers.  The use of text messages to tell members when a new email or online invitation has been sent can add another quick way to informing members. 

Our chapters include members across the generations, so it will be important to find out how members prefer to receive their communications.  Some members may be all in on using social media, while others are not familiar with those platforms.  Education and mentoring for members may be a chapter program so that all may be comfortable with receiving and sending emails, using social media, or online invitation services. 

What can be communicated?

Depends on the content and the situation, but here are some ideas:

-         Meeting information – date, time, location

-         Program information

-         Project information

-         Communication from chapter and state officers

-         Photos from meetings, programs, and projects

-         Messages of encouragement, especially for active educators

-         Holiday greetings

-         Notice of when publications from DKG debut (state organization and international)

-         Celebrations of members

Consider using a variety of communication tools to keep your chapter members informed.  Regular communication can help to form relationships and keep members engaged. 

Your Participation is Relevant and Vital to a Sustainable Society

Relevance, Vitality, and Sustainability has been the theme for Dr. Debbie LeBlanc’s biennium.  Workshops at International Convention are all geared towards this theme.  Are you interested in workshops on relevance? Then check out some of these: Telling Our Story – How to Get the Word Out, National Teachers Hall of Fame & National Memorial to Fallen Educators: What You Should Know, or Teaching for Equity and Justice Across Content Areas.  Are you wanting to learn more about vitality?  Here are a few offerings: Journal Writing for Healing, Connection and Rejuvenation; Inspiring Our Personal, Chapter and DKG Hearts To Sing, or Resilience: Adapting for Personal Growth and Meaningful Education.  And let’s not forget sustainability. You might want to attend Our Story: Growing DKG One Chapter at a Time, How Artificial Intelligence is Changing Education, or Inclusive Education: Is Everyone In?

Remember that ultimately, it’s your participation in International Convention that makes our organization relevant, creates vitality and enthusiasm, that will result in the growth of Delta Kappa Gamma and serving educators in years to come.

Register now!