Dedication to the Professors Who Trained and Inspired Me & Some of My Former Students

Why I Teach (a video clip from “Wally” by Andy Galloway)

 

Dedicated to Dr. Ann McGee-Cooper

of Ann McGee-Cooper and Associates

http://amca.com/ http://amca.com/about/meet-our-team/ann-mcgee-cooper/)

  

 

 

Dearest Ann,

I loved you so much… but you knew that, didn’t you?  I cannot imagine what my life would have been like if I had never known you.  I yearned for someone like you to direct me in my path of following my dreams.  You were like an angel to me, as well as the greatest teacher I have ever known.  You me offered a world of honesty, beauty and imagination.

I dedicate my career of teaching to you.  You were the one who taught me how to help students discover their God-given talents within them.  You are the fairy godmother to all of these students who have been blessed through the channeling of a very special gift of teaching which you bestowed upon me many years ago.

You have blessed me beyond my wildest dreams.  I am forever grateful for sharing so many amazing moments with you and your team of ordinary people who became extraordinary through the Experimental Arts Program.

Ann was the Head of Art Education and Director of the Experimental Arts Program at Southern Methodist University.  She was my teacher at S.M.U. for 5 years.  She passed away this past year – 2016 – from a long fight with breast cancer. 

Ann’s obituary and personal life history published in The Dallas Morning News

The Experimental Arts Program, Southern Methodist University (a history and description)

An assortment of some of Ann’s books.  I helped her with the one on the right:  “Time Management for Unmanageable People”

 

 

Dedicated to Sam (Karen Crocombe Guerin).  If Ann was the Master Teacher, then Karen was the Shepherd – my most significant mentor.

“Karen, you saw someone in me who I could never imagine.”   Wally

 

“We do not believe in ourselves until someone reveals that deep inside us something is valuable, worth listening to, worthy of our trust, sacred to our touch. Once we believe in ourselves we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight or any experience that reveals the human spirit.”

– e.e. cummings

The Experimental Arts Program was based at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas from 1968-1975.  Ann McGee was the director as well as the Head of Art Education.  She was the reason I decided to take an Art Ed class after hearing her speak in one of my studio art classes. 

Karen (Sam, a nickname I still don’t remember where it came from) was the one who actually trained me, mentored me and helped me to become the successful teacher I was.  She taught me the nitty-gritty of being a motivational, exciting and the best teacher I could be.

Sherry Bailey Owens was a graduate student when I was a junior.  She was my guide through the years as both an art educator and an influential visual artist in Dallas.

As part of the requirement for passing the class, “Art Education for Elementary Teachers,” we had to work with a team of other students led by a “master teacher” who was in charge of helping us learn the details of being a good teacher.  Basically, we were doing student teaching as a total novice but as a team.  

My first team taught arts experiences for the kids who showed up every Saturday morning at the West Dallas Community Center.  The hardest part was getting up at 6:30 a.m. every Saturday after partying until 2 a.m. earlier that morning.  There were times I was totally hung over when we piled into Karen’s car, but I stayed committed to showing up every Saturday because of Karen.  Somehow she inspired me even when my mind and body said “no way.”  

There were so many more times after that when Karen and I worked together.  She even inspired me to become a permanent fixture in the art education department as her official right-hand man.  If she asked me to do anything I would comply, not because I had to and surely not because I wanted to, but because I believed that she would only ask me to help if she knew it was important for me to learn to do.  Many years later as I would be working in my classroom or office at any one of the schools I taught, I would look at my watch and see that it was 2 a.m. in the morning.  Then I would remember those early days years ago when Karen and I would still be arranging tables to be used in the next E.A.P. Saturday morning class.  It was her fault, too, that I fell in love with making my classroom the most organized, well functioning and most creative learning environment in the world. It was her fault that everyone in my family knew exactly why I was so late coming home at night – it was her fault that I LOVE TEACHING.

Photos of me when I was teaching with the Experimental Arts Program, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, 1971-75.

Sam/Karen took all of these photos.  She took all the photos over the years, so there are no photographs of her.  That is just like her – always inspiring others rather than being the center of attention.  That is who she is.  She is the main reason that I was trained to be an excellent on day one of a professional educator.  She is my greatest mentor.

For Judy’s “Mad Hatter Tea Party”

There’s more to the story of my dear Sam.  When I was teaching at The Stony Brook School, a college prep private boarding school on Long Island, New York.  Most of the boarding students were from all over the world.  We had quite a few coming from A.R.A.M.C.O. in Saudi Arabia.  Guess who left S.M.U. to teach in Saudi Arabia?  Yes, Sam.  That was in 1988-89 school year.  I last saw her at S.M.U. in 1975.  13 years later we were still “team” teaching, but this time from across the Globe.  It was the cherry on top of the already fabulous experience with Karen.

I hope there will be another serendipitous moment in the future.  She will always be one of the brightest lights in my life.

Here are some photos of Karen working with her students throughout the years and the world:

 

                   

 

     

 

 

The following are just some of my former students who continued on the path of creativity and the human spirit.  All of them follow in the legacy of Ann, Karen and Sherry.

 

Stevie Ray Vaughan / Musician

I taught Steve drawing in the Experimental Arts Program located at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, in 1973.

That Special Student (a video clip from “Wally” by Andy Galloway

 

 

“Riviera Paradise” by Stevie Ray Vaughan

 

 

This is a photo of Steve (that’s what I called him) during the time I taught him in the high school drawing class of the EAP.  He used to stay after class and help me clean up.  Once he asked me if he could bring his guitar.  “Of course.  I play the guitar, too.”  I wasn’t prepared for what I heard when he first played for me while we sat in the hallway outside the art ed classroom at SMU.  Needless to say I had no desire to play anything on my guitar for him.  He blew me away from the very first time I heard him play. 

The rest of the story… I never knew that the Steve Vaughan I used to teach in high school was the world renowned blues singer-guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan until I received a call from “Texas Monthly Magazine” who told me that when they interviewed him he had told them about me and our conversation in the SMU hallway after he played for me that day in 1971.  It was the reason he was inspired to pursue his life in music.  I was just talking to him the way any good teacher would talk to a wild, crazy talented child – “Follow your dreams because obviously God has given you a gift that is so special that if you do, you will bless your family and be so very, very successful.” 

So he did.  

And he was.

 

 

 

James (J.B.) Neal / James Neal Films

I taught JB (James) at Walden Preparatory School, Addison, Texas, from 1976 to 1978.

http://jamesnealfilms.com/

BezFilm Studiio on YouTube

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a music video which JB wrote, filmed and directed with another former Walden Preparatory student, Cliff Price, son of the late Ray Price:   Cliff Price “Makalittleluv”‬

   

“Jimi Hendrix ’67”

 

Sam Brown/Visual Artist

I taught Sam at the Walden Preparatory School, Addison, Texas, from 1976 to 1978.

• https://www.ceruleansam.com/about-samm.com
• http://www.thewhole9.com/profile/cerulea…
• http://www.bluecanvas.com/sambrown/
• http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sam-Brown-…
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandkosmo/

 

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Sam drawing with chalk on the sidewalks in Denton, Texas.  Right after this photo was taken he was arrested for vandalism.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Jon Price / Filmmaker

I taught Jon and his wife Susie (Rufus) at the Walden Preparatory School from 1976-78.

 

 

 

Jon (bottom right) with me… he was one of my very first students in a 8mm filmmaking class.

Jon was the editor of “Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius” (the movie) as well as “The Ant Bully”

Jon is now the Director of Post Production at Disney TV Animation Studios.

 

 

 

Logan Stollenwerck III / Sculptor

I taught Logan at Trinity Christian Academy, Addison, Texas from 1979-1980.

http://www.wildflower.org/galacatalog/

Logan acting crazy with his wife Cheryl just laughing it off.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chip Hagen/Commercial Photographer

I taught Chip at Trinity Christian Academy, Addison, Texas, 1979-1982.

Chip Hagen Studio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GeorgeAnn Shafer / Shafer Studio

I taught GeorgeAnn at Trinity Christian Academy from 1979-1983.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/PaintBlankCanvas?sk=info

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Jon Millet / Head of Visual Arts, TCA / Artist

I taught Jon at Trinity Christian Academy from 1979-1983.

http://www.jonathanmillet.com/

 

 

 

Jon Millet, Caroline Crockett Kneese and Robert McGraw at Cerulean Gallery-Dallas – all 3 former students from Trinity Christian Academy and Ursuline Academy.

 

 

Don Relyea / Artist, Futurist, Technologist

Art, Video Art, Interactive Projects & Music

I taught Don at Trinity Christian Academy from 1979-1985.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thor Johnson / Multi-media & Performance Artist

I taught Thor at Trinity Christian Academy from 1980 to 1985.

Comic Book Illustration by Dwayne Carter

Biography     Thoriffic!     Top 5 Most Twisted Artists in Dallas    100 Dallas Creatives       “Machine Gun Nose”      The Post-Apocalyptic Art of Thor Johnson     Artsy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christen Crews Christie / Art Educator

I taught Christen at Trinity Christian Academy – Addison from 1980 to 1985.  She also taught art at Trinity after graduation from college.

http://www.facebook.com/businesscouncilforthearts?sk=info#!/media/set/?set=a.2618087214442.146876.1322995576&type=1

 

 

  

 

Don Relyea, Christen (Crews) Christie, and Chip Wagoner – all former students at Trinity Christian Academy.

 

Jonathan Ingram/Ingram Design

I taught Jonathan at Trinity Christian Academy Class, Addison, Texas from 1982-1988.

http://www.ingramdesign.com/

 

 Andy Galloway/Filmmaker

I taught Andy at Trinity Christian Academy, Addison, Texas, 1979-1988

AndyDocs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jason Benjamin/Painter

I taught Jason at The Stony Brook School, Stony Brook, New York, 1988-89.

http://www.jasonbenjamin.com.au/ http://www.etchinghouse.com.au/pages/jason_benjamin.php http://www.corporateart.com.au/artists/benjamin_jason.htm

Considered by many to be the greatest Australian artist of all time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tiffanie Phillips/Art Educator

I taught Tiffanie at Trinity Christian Academy from 1984-1990.  She is presently teaching art at Trinity.

 

 Kellie CA (Weaver)/Artist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lori Pearson Brennan/Photographer & Graphic Designer

I taught Lori at Trinity Christian Academy from 1986-1990.

http://www.alliebethallman.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David Connolly/Art Educator-Artist

http://davidconnolly.weebly.com/

I taught David at Trinity Christian Academy, Addison, Texas, 1988-90.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matthew Akers/Mud Puppy Films

http://marinafilm.com/filmmakershttp://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmudpuppyfilms.com%2F&h=oAQGbGpsj http://marinafilm.com/ http://www.pbs.org/opb/circus/ http://www.pbs.org/weta/carrier/

I taught Matthew at Trinity Christian Academy, Addison, Texas, 1980-1990.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gretta Eberhart Arzate/Art Educator

I taught Gretta at Trinity Christian Academy from 1990-1991.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arthur James aka Artman / Artist

I taught Arthur at Trinity Christian Academy from 1979-1987.

Artman

Artman Arthur James

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adria (Johnson) Warner/Art Educator / Ceramicist

I taught Adria at Trinity Christian Academy from 1987-1991.

http://www.trinitychristian.org/podium/default.aspx?t=154657 http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/media/set/?set=a.1922184577636.2113975.1332739941&type=3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bryan Embry/Ross Akard Gallery

I taught Bryan at Trinity Christian Academy from 1988-1990.

http://rossakard.com/

http://thepinshow.typepad.com/

 http://www.ntbca.org/index.cfm?FuseAction=Page&PageID=1000000

Trinity Christian Academy Class of 1995

 

 

 

Pin Show directors Bryan Embry, Julie McCullough, and Mike Thompson

 

Gina (Sibrizzi) Dunn / Utopia Parkway Arts / Painter

I taught Gina at Ursuline Academy from 1993-1997.

http://utopiapkwyarts.blogspot.com/

 Gina Marie Dunn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SONY DSC

 

 

 

Caroline Crockett Kneese/Owner of Cerulean Gallery, Dallas & Amarillo, Texas

I taught Caroline at Ursuline Academy of Dallas, Texas from 1995-1997.

http://www.theceruleangallery.com

/

 

 

Jon Millet (TCA), Caroline Crockett Kneese (Ursuline Academy) and Robert McGraw (TCA) – all three former students.

 

 

 

Kris Norvett/Musical & Cultural Events Producer

I taught Kris at Ursuline Academy of Dallas, Texas, 1995-97.

Ursuline Academy Class of 1999