"The Surveillance Camera at Plymouth Rock" featured in the 2024 MAEA Art Educators Exhibit

Delighted that my image makes its public debut at the Massachusetts Art Education Association Art Educators Exhibit that runs March 14 - April 16, 2024 at The Gallery at Villageworks, 525 Massachusetts Ave, West Acton, MA 01720

A couple of weeks ago I helped hang the show and my colleagues' artworks are seriously inspiring! 

Opening reception 7-8 pm on April 11th.  

The Surveillance Camera at Plymouth Rock, 2023

I have been making a series of digital in-camera multiple exposures called Reality-Based Abstractions since 2008. This image was made technically possible by using a Nikon Mirrorless Z6 II DSLR camera. I had programmed the camera to layer three consecutive shots into a single image file (see below). However, unlike earlier digital Nikons I have used, the Z6, along with combining the three images, also keeps each individual image file. Thus, instead of the flag image used above being solely embedded in an unalterable layered file, it was available to combine in Photoshop with a close-up shot of the surveillance camera.

Mayflower, Columns and Flag

Rock and Camera

The monument in Plymouth, Mass., which purportedly marks the spot where the Pilgrims arrived, was vandalized twice in 2020, 400 years after the landing.

Hence, the surveillance camera.

Legendary History

An in-camera multiple exposure of the edifice:

Time's Grid

So many legends and falsehoods swirl around the Pilgrims arrival. Perhaps abstraction constitutes a more accurate portrayal.

Landing of the Pilgrims, 1825, by Samuel Bartoli

I recently came across this powerful juxtaposition of paintings at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Mass.  The label clarifies some of the myths.

History Through Art

Pilgrim Point, 1947, by Karl Knaths

Near Plymouth Rock, a replica of the Mayflower, one of crafts that conveyed the Pilgrims, bobs in the harbor waters.

The multiple exposure below might look like reality unless you understand how the ship's rigging for the sails actually works.

Life Lines

I layered three views of a raptor that soared above The Mayflower into a single image. 

Soaring Towards Clarity

Accurate history is elusive.  I am intrigued by the power of belief; that you can believe in an idea that my not be true, yet it can give you purpose, direction and meaning.

What's your Plymouth Rock?

Professor John Nordell teaches courses in the Arts, Media, and Design Program at American International College in Springfield, Mass. He blogs about the creative process at CreateLookEnjoy.com. Instagram: create.look.enjoy

Tweet

Teaching Art to Art Teachers

Personal practice: What you create when no one is looking. That is, art you make by choice.

I love attending conferences for art educators.  The air is filled with excitement, creativity, deep reflection, nurturing and possibility.

It was a double bonus for me at the 2019 Massachusetts Art Education Association conference as I had a chance to present my workshop: Art Lessons: Personal Practice, Healing and Joy 

Photo by Amanda Correia of Mr and Mrs Drew Photography

My jitters quickly calmed as my peers responded positively to the material.  The necessity of covering more ground led me to sometimes cut off robust pair shares.  And, in the end, I probably covered just a quarter of my prepared material.

Photo by Amanda Correia of Mr and Mrs Drew Photography

However, taking a risk to vulnerably share my personal art practices that lead to healing and joy resulted in a meaningful experience that was, well, filled with healing and joy!

After the workshop, one participant wrote, "It was helpful to take time to reflect on one's personal practice within a community of art educators who understand the challenges of fitting it into daily life. Presenter's examples and suggestions were useful." Another wrote, "So interesting."

Creative Process - Planning a Protest Sign

I related some of my creative endeavors relating to social justice issues, whether climate change or race and stereotype.

The Oxygen Cycle at a Student Climate Strike

I explained the importance of just taking time to make art, even if it is not perfect. (see above)

I talked about the importance of filling one's creative well by visiting museums for inspiration:

After presenting these explorations, I prompted the attendees, who were paired up: Please discuss with your partner any social issues or political causes that interest you, along the possibilities for related creative expression.  Practical solutions were shared out to the whole group.

Blind Contour Drawing at the Movies

As a way to squeeze creative expression into a busy life, I noted that I sometimes bring my sketchbook to the movie theater.  See: Drawing in the Dark - Capturing Captain America with Pen and Pencil

I packed my visual presentation with images and videos.  However, the resulting large file size precluded uploading.  Here is an abbreviated version that includes definitions and prompts.

Art Lessons: Personal Practice, Healing and Joy from ProfessorNordell

How do you jump start the creative process in your life?  I invite you to comment below.  Thank you.

John Nordell teaches courses in the Visual and Digital Arts Program at American International College in Springfield, Mass. He blogs about the creative process at CreateLookEnjoy.com   

Tweet

On The Joy of Community - Mass Art Educators Hang a Show

The Merry Band - Photo by Casey Westerlind

I spent a recent Saturday with this group of art educators hanging a juried show at the State Transportation Building in downtown Boston.

Much to Do

The exhibit was organized by the Massachusetts Art Education Association (MAEA).  Art teachers from across the state submitted images for consideration.  Unwrapping the carefully packaged selected works I felt like a kid excitedly and gratefully opening gifts.

Epiphany

We hang an art show each semester where I teach: American International College in Springfield, Mass.  Over the years, my students and I have refined the process.  However, learning how to create a jig (or template), as shown above, by affixing a hook on a table (far right) to precisely calculate the desired length of the hanging string, was a time-saving revelation.

Teamwork - Photo by Casey Westerlind

Much of the time we worked in pairs.  Here, I collaborate with Carolann Tebbetts.  She was patient, kind and gave precise instructions.  Sounds like a quality art teacher, right?

Almost Done

As the hours passed, we became a little punchy.  However, due to steady progress, beautiful art and deepening group camaraderie, it felt like only a handful of minutes to complete the work.

Happy Camper - Photo by Laura Marotta

The exhibit runs through 9/13/19. We hope you will join us at the closing reception: 9/15/19 at 4:00 pm.  The State Transportation Building is located at 10 Park Plaza, Boston MA, and is open 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday and is closed holidays and weekends.

Below are my images in the show.  Both are double exposures, taken with inexpensive plastic film cameras.  Please click here for the backstory.

Gettysburg

East and West

Professor John Nordell teaches courses in the Visual and Digital Arts Program at American International College in Springfield, Mass. He blogs about the creative process at CreateLookEnjoy.com

Tweet

Tinkering & Hacking :: Transforming an Arts Education Convention Bag to Render it Both More and Less Functional

Researching the educational process at the 2019 National Art Education Association convention in Boston.  How might experimental and democratic experimental educational experiences lead to deeper creativity and meaning-making compared with structured learning based on a fixed intent, process, and final product to be assessed?



Thanks to presenters Tyson Lewis, James Thurman, and Peter Hyland.  Thanks also to volunteer videographers Jamie Andrade and Laura Reeder.

Professor John Nordell teaches courses in the Visual and Digital Arts Program at American International College in Springfield, Mass. He blogs about the creative process at CreateLookEnjoy.com

Tweet

Museum-Based Participation Strategies Nurture Innovation and Change Perspectives

I presented the following workshop at the Massachusetts Art Education Association 2017 Conference:  By creating museum labels for objects not labeled as artworks, students become co-creators of museum experiences.  Explore projects like this that generate effective student art encounters. Make your own label.



Below is my visual presentation from the workshop:

Museum-Based Participation Strategies Nurture Innovation and Change Perspectives from ProfessorNordell

The idea for the faux museum label project originated during my graduate studies:



Here are my students from American International College on a field trip to the Springfield Museums in Springfield, MA



My goal for student art encounters at museums is that they come to see the whole world as a museum, that art can be found everywhere!

Professor John Nordell teaches courses in the Visual and Digital Arts Program at American International College in Springfield, Mass. He blogs about the creative process at CreateLookEnjoy.com  

Tweet