To Cause to Know

"to cause to know," this definition describes my actions as an educator. I look to initiate curiosity with a group, then facilitate a process of exploration that brings understanding. To show art is to display knowledge. Knowledge on display is powerful. When I teach I look to collaborate with art spaces to host forums for knowledge to be exchanged through dialogue

Big Class No. 3 The 504

As an artist and educator, I amplify the voices of communities that lack opportunity to be heard. These images document the collaboration with the organization “Big Class” whose mission is “to cultivate and support the voices of New Orleans’ young writers through creative collaborations with schools and communities” (bigclass.org). I designed, and implemented a writing unit that allowed my student to write, document in photography, and then publish their stories of the New Orleans experiences in Big Class No. 3 The 504. The top image is the cover for the publication and then the bottom photo documents the students who participated in the project.

Teaching As Form

These images are meant to document my artistic practice as an educator in New Orleans. The top two images were the banners that students saw every single day as they entered the classroom. These banners were my vision for how my students would transform their communities. In the world of education reform, many people believe in order for students in poverty to succeed they must disconnect themselves from their communities that are trapped in cycles of violence and helplessness. However, I believe we need to empower these students with communication skills that will allow them to lead their communication to be productive, and peaceful. I did so by working relentlessly with students at school and by participating with them in the cultural expressions of their community.

Epic Arts, 2013

As an Epic Artist with RedLine Arts Denver, I connected the art center to the Five-Point Neighborhood by working with Denver Public School students at Gilpin Montessori. The students are given the opportunity to bring their voice to their Red LIne's Exhibition space to tell their stories. This flow chart shows our collaboration, we built skills to communicate the stories of how their self-declared Human Rights are be affected daily.