DKG Art Gallery Spotlight: Kelly McGuire

Alpha Mu Chapter, Colorado

As a middle school English Language Development (ELD) instructional coach, and having experience as a high school educator, Kelly McGuire’s “educator superpower” is helping kids to understand why they are learning what they are learning. Creative Kelly has various endeavors, including writing food stories for a local magazine, sewing and quilting, and canning food. She starts each morning (before school) with bursts of songs to get ready for the day. Kelly also enjoys hiking as well as photography.

With her recent photo submissions to the DKG Arts and Humanities, “Don’t Miss the Curve”, and “Don’t Breathe too Loud,” Kelly is excited to share her photos, and recognizes she is not an expert in photography, but enjoys it very much. She says: “Don’t Miss the Curve” is less perfect because you must take it through a window at the exact right time to see the train on the curve in the mountains.” Kelly is inspired by others who enjoy her photos and she values art, “in my day-to-day life as it is a source for many people.” As a first-time submitter to the Bi-annual Arts and Humanities Gallery, members can not only check out Kelly’s art, but also view arts and humanities submissions from members around the globe.

Some of the best advice that Kelly has been given is: “Make art even if you don’t think it will be good. Anything worth doing is worth doing badly — because those things have inherent value to the person doing them. Taking a 5-minute walk is better than no walk. Brushing teeth for 30 seconds is better than not at all. Taking bad pictures is better than no pictures at all because if you keep doing it, you will get better.”  To Kelly, creative arts are important because people can express themselves and how they see the world around them, “which is fundamental to what it means to be a human.” 

As a member of Colorado’s Delta Kappa Gamma Alpha Mu Chapter, Kelly shares that she is a member because, “I value advocating for education and other teachers. It is critical that we come together at this time in history to continue to advocate for educators, their working conditions, and education for every child.”

Well said Kelly! Congratulations on your photographs!

*To enter your submission into the Fall Arts and Humanities Gallery, submission is August 15-September 15 at https://www.dkg.org/

 

‘Don't Miss the Curve’: Photograph taken from the train's observation car in remote Colorado. 

 

‘Don't Breathe too Hard’: Serendipitous photo of Pear Cactus bloom taken while hiking in Western Colorado