Welcome to Art with Ms. Meyers!

Hello, and welcome to my blog. My name is Erin McCrea Meyers, and I have been teaching at High Point for 13 years. I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to blend my love of art with my passion for teaching. Working with high school students is inspiring and rewarding. Prior to High Point, I taught Art for two years in Vermont, where I attended Bennington College for Fine Arts, and Vermont College for Art Education. I received my Master's degree in Education from The College of New Jersey in 2006.

Allow me to share my professional accomplishments at High Point:

I-

*Taught evening adult school courses throughout my career in Drawing, Stained Glass, and Precious Metal Clay Jewelry.

*Was an original Baldridge committee member and instituted the Baldridge model in my classroom during the pilot program.

*Received 2005 Principal's Technology Grant and received funds to integrate a cutting edge technology in silversmithing in my level II Crafts class.

*Was recipient of 2010 Principal's Grant and led over 50 students in the creation of the stained glass mural in the main office.

*Was a member of The World Peace Day Planning Committee for our school's two World Peace Day Festivals in 2009 & 2010.

*Completed Mr. Costello's Rigor, Relevance, Relationships course, and published a gold star lesson plan on Vincent VanGogh.

*Led students in the creation of the following gallery school installations:

• The cafeteria annex clay tile murals
• World Peace Day courtyard statues "Peace Holders"
• World Peace Day Mandala in 200 wing
• Stained Glass Mural in Main Office
• Ms. Mills-Little's English room mural
• Ms. Toedtmann's German room mural
• Principal's Courtyard mosaic sculpture garden
• Packing Tape Figure Sculptures around campus
• The Gallery Hallway in the Art wing

*Led students in The Empty Bowls Project and donated proceeds to food pantries.

*Accompanied students on field trips to:

• Storm King Sculpture Park
• Grounds for Sculpture Park
• The Vanderbilt Mansion
• Princeton University Art Museum
• Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Luna Parc, home of world-renowned sculptor Ricky Boscarino
• The Whitney Museum of Art
• The Guggenheim Museum
• Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival
• Philadelphia Museum of Art
• Dia Beacon Art Museum
• The Cloisters
• State Teen Arts Festival

*Invited local artists to speak to and collaborate with classes:

• Jean Kawecki
• Curtis Engesser

*Completed a professional development course in raku pottery in Lodi, NJ
*Exhibited student work in:

• Teen Arts Festival
• Vernon, Mount Olive, & Wallkill Valley National Art Honor Society Shows
• Youth Art Month/Sussex County Arts & Heritage Council Shows
• Peter's Valley Crafts Center Sally D. Francisco Show
• Gallery 23

*Created new course and wrote curriculum for Fine Art Sculpture
*Received Principal's Grant this school year 2012 to fund students' 9/11 stained glass memorial
*Served as HPEA union executive for two years
*Created our school's first online gallery
*Assisted in the creation of numerous student portfolios for acceptance into art school
*Served as co-advisor for our school literary magazine, Calliope, for 10 years.
*Serve as a member of and attend conferences held by The National Art Educator's Association and Art Educators of NJ
*Was named to Who's Who in Education
*Was selected as most influential teacher by National Honor Society student Raechel Eddy
*Was featured in local newspaper articles and local television for various projects
*Serve as co-op member and exhibit my own artwork at Gallery 23 in Blairstown, NJ
*Coordinated a student art show featuring HP artists at Gallery 23

*Led students in participation of Main St. Newton Windows Project

~Sine labore nihil~

I currently teach Crafts 1, Crafts 2, and Fine Art 3 & 4 Portfolio (click the links below for more info). The purpose of this blog is to serve as a forum to share all the fascinating work my students create. You will also be able to read about our news on class trips, festivals, and our ever-growing creation of a Gallery School. I hope you enjoy your glimpse of the Fine Art department here at High Point!

http://artwithmeyers.blogspot.com/p/crafts-1.html

http://artwithmeyers.blogspot.com/p/crafts-2.html

http://artwithmeyers.blogspot.com/p/fine-arts-3-4.html

2012 Principal's Grant Project Complete! WOW!

The new stained glass window above the entrance doors to the Art wing was a three-month labor of love by senior art students Kevin Pettenger, Steven Martinelli, Michael Scalise, and Carson Lappert. This independent project was the brainchild of these four young gentlemen, and when they presented their idea to me I told them they had no idea what they were getting into, having to hand-cut all those tiny buildings in the New York skyline! But they worked tirelessly until it was complete and WOW! It is magnificent! This permanent addition to our school is a memorial piece that was created with the intention to honor the firefighters, policemen, rescue workers, medical personel, and all the common people who helped others during the tragedy of September 11, 2001.May this compelling work of art serve as a significant historic document of an overwhelmingly heroic display of human sacrifice, as well as a constant reminder of what an honor it is to be an American.
A special thank you to:
Mr. Tom Costello, for granting the students the funds to make this project a reality. You gave them the opportunity to 'sell' their idea and meet a deadline, just as professional artists must do.
Mr. Dan Muller, for volunteering your time to laser etch the emblems into the corners.
Mr. Steve Peltier and Mr. Ben Kappler, for the use of your excellent printer so that the students could create an accurate pattern. Congratulations, Kevin, Steven, Mike, and Carson. Words cannot express how proud I am to be your teacher!

Art Educator Scholarship Award

I am very excited to have been selected as a 2012 recipient of an Art Educator's Peter's Valley Craft Center Scholarship. I have the honor of taking a summer workshop in any fine art/craft area of my choice! Offered is everything from glass bead making to fine furniture making to fiber arts to photography to ceramics - oh the choices! Peter's Valley Craft Center is a world-renowned Craft Center in picturesque Layton. NJ, and courses are offered to the public. Please view their beautiful website.

Recent French and Art Trip to the MOMA and French Restaurant

On April 4th, Ms. Karen Kozlowski and I took a superb group of French and Art students to NYC to visit the Museum of Modern Art and La Mediterranee, an exquisite French restaurant. We had a wonderful tour at the museum and capped off our day with a meal that was manifique!

Teen Arts Festival 2012

Congratulations to all the Fine and Performing Arts students who were selected to attend the Teen Arts Festival at SCCC on March 15th. The day was filled with inspiration and creativity! A special congratulations to Billy VanWingerden, who was selected as a recipient for a Peter's Valley Craft Center Scholarship - only four were awarded among over 600 students! Billy was recognized for his aluminum tooling mid-term exam, and he plans to take a blacksmithing workshop over the summer.

Ms. Mezier Gets Down in the Trenches

Check this out - how much do we love Ms. Mezier?! During my classroom observation, she became one of my students! What better way is there to attain the true experience of being in Crafts II class?

Liz Trudgen Places 1st at Mt. Olive

Congratulations to Contemporary Crafts 2 student Liz Trudgen for placing 1st place in the Mt. Olive High School National Art Honor Society Invitational on February 27th, 2012. Liz handcrafted this enameled metal jewelry set entitled "Raven" by using her chosen artwork as a springboard for the design of her 3-D design. She then cut her copper using a jeweler's saw, filed, punched, enameled, and created links, one by one, to assemble it - feathers and all. Great job, Liz! Also representing High Point were Peter Granville, Kaitlyn Texel, Gideon Feo, Paul Derin, Alyse Delaney, Erica Williams, and Cara Hubbell.

Peter Granville Takes 3rd at Wallkill Valley

Congratulations to Peter for placing Third in the Photography division at the Wallkill Valley High School Art Invitational on January 26, 2012. Peter is an independent digital photographer who often represents High Point in art shows. Also representing High Point were Liz Trudgen, Kaitlyn Texel, Gideon Feo, Paul Derin, Alsye Delaney, Erica Williams, and Cara Hubbell.

P.J.'s New Tattoo in Honor of his Father

Fine Art 4 student P.J. Mindo designed his new tattoo in celebration of his late father, Perry T. Mindo, Sr. If you look closely, you will see the word DAD hidden in the feathers. Your dad would be so proud of all the wonderful things you do, Peej!

Field Trip to The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Ms. Hodgins, Ms. Strout and I recently spent a fabulous day at the Met in NYC with a phenomenal group of Fine Art students. This fun and educational trip was a first-time experience for some of our student artists. What better way to inspire their creative minds than to turn them loose in a museum the size of a whole city block? Although there is always a permanent collection that represents art throughout the ages, there was an especially interesting exhibit on the life and work of Alfred Steiglitz, a highly esteemed photographer/gallery owner who was married to Georgia O'Keeffe. We also saw the museum Christmas tree adorned in all its splendor and glory - always a treat!

High Point Success at Vernon Invitational National Art Honor Society Show

The opening reception for the Ninth Annual National Art Honor Society Invitational Exhibit at Vernon High School was held December 7. Ten other high schools competed with High Point in this advanced level show. Please congratulate the following fine art students who shined:




1st Place in the 'Open' Category - Erica Williams
2nd Place in the Drawing/Illustration Category - Alyse Delaney
Participants:
Justin Burse
Gideon Feo
Alyse Delaney
Peter Granville
Cara Hubbell
Reed Mattos
Billy VanWingerden
Erica Williams

High Point Art Gallery is now ONLINE!

I am very pleased to announce that our students' fine art can now be viewed from the High Point home page. Just click on this link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/47450408@N06/collections/

Crafts 2 Students Learn To Monoprint

Paul and Taylor have been very prolific artists! They enjoy using the bright, colored inks necessary to create monoprints. They used the band Phish as their inspiration to produce large-scale prints. Great job, Paulie and Taylor!

Art 3 Brings Drawing to New Levels

A lesson that I instill in my Art 3 & 4 students is to practice with a still and focused mind. This takes self-discipline, especially while working in classroom with others and having the temptation of technology at one's fingertips. Self-discipline is like a muscle that must be exercised, and I strive to set up conditions that afford my students the opportunities to train themselves.

Field Trip to Princeton University Art Museum and Grounds for Sculpture

Our trip to the Princeton University Art Museum was taken in Spring of 2011 (just look at that show of tulips!), was one of our greatest trips ever taken. We already have a date set to return this May.

The Grounds For Sculpture, in Hamilton, NJ is beautifully landscaped with a large focus on sculpture and art. What a place to picnic or simply meander through the breathtaking gardens.

Stained Glass Project is Complete!

I am very pleased to announce that our large scale stained glass window project is complete, and is now installed in the main office. Please make the trip up to see it - pictures simply do not do it justice. Over sixty students had a hand in this awesome installation.

Principal's Grant Stained Glass Window Project Update

Our annual community project is well under way, and turning out beautifully. Our Tiffany-inspired stained glass window is 2.5 X 3 feet in size, and will grace the wall of the main office with a wood-framed, electrically lit shadowbox. This particular window is made up of roughly 400 pieces of glass, which our students have meticulously cut by hand, ground on a glass grinder to ensure the pieces fit together like a puzzle, and copper foiled. The next step will be to solder them together and line the edges with zinc strips. This has been a huge undertaking, but many hands make light work. Headed by Independent Study Crafts goddess Laura Moser, the project attracted many willing participants. I am overwhelmed by how many students have asked to help with it and learn the fine craft of creating stained glass. It is so great to see students feeling so invested in a process such as this one, and exhibiting such focus and tenacity. It will be a breathtaking addition to our Gallery School initiative.

High Point Installation 2011 in the Works

It has become tradition for me to take on a yearly art installation to help beautify our school, which goes hand-in-hand with our Gallery School initiative. This year, I have decided to oversee the creation of a massive stained glass window installation in a back-lit shadowbox along the wall of the main office. The scene will be of the lovely, panoramic landscape that is across from our school, with the monument off in the distance. My senior independent study Crafts students Mackenzie Forbeck, Laura Mozer, and Sam Sliker are at the helm of this project, although with over 350 pieces of glass that must be cut, I will enlist my 32 Crafts 2 students, who will be learning how to create in stained glass this Spring. The pattern has been finished, and the landscape scene has been drawn in the exquiste style of Louis Comfort Tiffany, the greatest stained glass artist ever. Below are some examples of Tiffany's work. Soon we will have our own Tiffany-inspired work to unveil to the High Point community.

Cross-Curricular Collaboration

It is always really exciting when cross-curricular projects come about, and this one is no exception. Senior Laura Moser created this gorgeous stained glass tabletop using the traditional Tiffany method. Senior woodshop students Matt DiPiano, Mike Laforgia, and Shawn Snyder created the table base for Laura's glass panel, designing it to her specifications. I was amazed by how well the students communicated with one another to finish with such a professional result. And a special thanks to Mr. Dan Muller, who is an exceptional woodshop teacher (and he is always really good about lending me his tools!)

Art 3 & 4 News

My Fine Art 3 & 4 Portfolio Class is an extremely talented bunch! We have been heavily focusing on direct observation drawings and drawing from live models. It is so exciting to be helping to compile and photograph my students' strongest works in preparation for college admission. We have had some great discussions on college criteria and art career options. We had a rep come and visit from Delaware College of Art, and we attended Portfolio Night at Vernon High School on December 9th. Among the schools critiquing work were Pratt, Kutztown University, William Paterson, Savannah College of Art and Design, and Full Sail University. It was a great opportunity for our students to receive valuable feedback on their artwork.

The German Room Mural!

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This beautiful mural was created by Megan VanGlahn, Rebecca Marie Nelson, Devyn Harrell, Deena Spaner, Tom Brennan, Kyle Rutledge, Ed Fortuin, Katherine McCole, Jeremy Meyers, Gabriela Niejadlik, Chelsea Farischon, and Candice Corby. This took a lot of time and hard work (reaching up to paint above a blackboard is no easy task!) but together the kids pulled it off beautifully. A special thanks to Jeremy and Katherine who spent a few days of their summer finishing it.

2009-2010 World Peace Day Art Installation

It is my tradition to head up a permanent art installation of honor of World Peace Day. This year I presented the idea to Ms. Hodgins and Ms. Stanek to have all our Crafts 1 students collaborate on creating a huge ceramic tile mandala to be installed in the main hallway of our school. Of course they were enthusiastic and on board immediately, and we set to work designing it and teaching the kids how to roll out and hand-cut and -carve the slabs. The Fine Art Sculpture students jumped in and offered up their help too! A huge thank you to Katherine McCole who tirelessly grouted and sponged the tiles till 6:30 in the evening! The entire process took about 3 months - just in time to unveil it for World Peace Day. Just look at how gorgeous it is!