VAAE Arts Education 2000 Conference Releasing the Artist Within

This Year's Conference . . .

Dear Friends,
It has been a mere week since our annual pilgrimage to Bread Loaf for the VAAE Arts Education Conference.  The energy, inspiration, clear sky, quests into new medium, and exchanges with old friends have all wonderfully lingered to assure the promise of  "Releasing the Artist Within."

What a delight to hear our keynote speaker, Nnenna Freelon.  She mesmerized us with her sweet singing voice and stirred us to reaffirm our passion for making arts ourselves, teaching arts to our children, and celebrating arts in defining us as a civilized culture.  Her stories were passionate and humble that touched the human spirit.  She made us weep and cheer.  She encouraged us to keep expressing through the heart and through the body as well as the mind. She shared her endearing stories of empowering children with music, providing laughter and hope in areas stricken with decay and violence.  Her personal style was accessible, helping us discover the "essence" of who we are as artists and educators.

I, like many of you, wanted to clone myself to attend multiple workshops that were held concurrently. Whether with painting brush, old sneakers, found objects converted to musical instruments, or common gestures turned into stories, all of us journeyed on adventures to rediscover the excitement, dedication, improvisation, discipline, inquiry, and connection that comprises the creative process. I offer a special thanks to the insight and organizational savvy of planning committee members Liza Myers, Sally Timmons, Cindy Hudson-Knapp, and Dawn Ellis and of course our Executive Director Anne Taylor who runs a smooth show!

I trust that we will sustain this spirit throughout the year. I hope that our replenishing as artists fortify our commitment as arts advocates, remind-ing our principals and superintendents how learning begins with a mind that is imaginative and a soul that knows how to express compassion. Our task this year is to not only enlightening our colleagues, but to invite them to join us next year.

The VAAE is at a thrilling time in its evolution as an organization. Never have we been so strong through our membership, our programs and involvement in Vermont, and our participation at the national level. As we know, the Woodstock school system was selected as one of five model arts education programs in the country by the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network.  Washington D.C. is noticing what we are doing here in Vermont!

Professional development opportunities are expanding; in addition to our annual two-day conference we will be initiating an arts institute this summer with a focus on multicultural arts.  Awards and recognition have expanded to not only include teachers, administrators, and community members, but students as well.  This year we actively participated in the programs surrounding the National Symphony Orchestra's visit to Vermont.  We have updated a database of Vermont art educators and have a fancy web site for your resource needs.

My time as your chair has come to an end. I have valued the opportunity to serve the organization and work with so many dedicated artists, educators, administrators, and community members. We do all wear so many hats! I encourage you to become involved and help sustain and enhance the vibrancy of the VAAE.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Silverman
VAAE Board Chair, 1998-2000