message

in this issue

A publication for Iowa Art Educators and their supporters.

June 2016Volume 7: Issue 6

Relax, Refresh, Rejuvenate

Editor’s Note

President’s Message

Fall Conference Proposals

All-State Art 2016

Embroidery Show, Fall 2016

Wanted: Artistic Leaders

the

Re-discovered Oddities

Cover Image: Creative Commons License: https://pixabay.com/en/chalk-art-street-art-competition-936193/

Relax, Refresh, Rejuvenate

As we wind down this school year and reflect back on the many wonderful things that have

happened in the 2015-16 school year, the

planning has already begun for the 2016-17

school year. This is a never ending cycle, a

continuing process to keep improving. Learn-

ing never ends, not even for the teachers!

“Stay Artistically Challenged”As I sit contemplating what to write for my final “Presi-dent’s Message” I’m enjoying a beautiful morning sitting

on my back porch. In three short days, I will begin my

summer break, my final month as AEI President and then what? I’ll take on the role of Past President providing guidance to our new leadership led by Molly Ray, Kath-

leen Sweet and so many exceptional and quality visual

arts educators and leaders like you.

As I reflect on my journey as President., there have been many frustrations as well as joys. One of my goals as

President was to provide opportunities for leadership train-

ing through the development of the AEI Summer Board Retreat. I was in awe when Deborah Reeves, NAEA Ex-

ecutive Director and Jen Dahl, president of Wisconsin Art

Educators joined us for our first Summer Board Retreat back in 2013. Who knew a simple breakfast conversation

at the 2012 Conference in Council Bluffs/ Omaha area would lead to an incredible leadership opportunity for our

board member as well as a vision for our organization.

As Deborah said, “Your vision is your mission in mo-

I’d love to hear your “leadership story”!

Contact me: president@artedia.org

EDITOR’S NOTE Susan Macumber - Editor

President’s MessageShanise Brockshus

AEI is a volunteer organization of visual arts educators working on behalf of all visual arts educa-tion for the benefit of our students and our communities.

tion.” Deborah’s words been first and foremost in my mind as I’ve engaged in my leadership role

as AEI President for the past four years. (For those new to AEI, it’s a two-year term. I was (detained) encouraged (stuck) to extend my term for an additional two-years due to a vacancy. )During those tense moments when smooth

transitions didn’t happen like they were sup-

pose too, it provided an “opportunity” to (break down) assess how to make our organization run more effectively. As I tell my students, if

you are comfortable with what you are doing,

you aren’t challenging yourself! Yes, there were many times I was not comfortable in my

leadership role (In over my head.) but, those were the times that provided the most personal

and many times professional growth. Are there

some things I would have done differently? Of

course!!! Are there people I have offended or

upset? Yes. Haven’t we all? Unfortunately life doesn’t give us an “undo” command. We have to keep moving onward, assess our failures and

hopefully learn from them.

At the top of my summer reading list is Every Leader is an Artist: How the World’s Greatest Artists Can Make You a More Creative Leader by Michaell O’Malley, PH.D and William F. Bak-

er, PH.D. ( These are the also the authors of Leading with Kindness which is another book

on my reading list.) “Artists put their work on dis-

play for everyone to judge, accepting a position

of vulnerability for want of something important

to say and in the service of contributing to the

common good. Artists bring people closer to-

gether by providing a forum for shared experi-

ences. Artists challenge, excite, comfort, and

motivate people , and the don’t learn their craft

by reading about it in a book; they practice, push

themselves and their means of expression and

execute, execute, execute. These are exactly

the same things effective business leaders do

day in and day out… Leaders are artists; they

just happen to work in a different medium.”

Through the many NAEA Leadership oppor-tunities I have been fortunate to attend, I have

learned that our member driven organization is a

business. Even though we are a volunteer board made of visual arts educators, we still need to

make every effort to be fiscally responsible with the use of our personnel, time and money. We

are first and foremost visual arts educators work-

ing on behalf of visual arts educators.

“ The mission of the Art Educators of Iowa is to promote art education through professional de-

velopment, service, advancement of knowledge,

and leadership.”

During that first Summer Retreat and in other conversations since, Barbara has emphasized the need to keep our mission first and foremost. People will come and go, faces and leaders will change but the mission of our organization will

remain. Strategic visions are intentionally built

with the mission and membership in mind. Our

vision is our mission in motion.

Being President has provided me so many op-

portunities surround myself with incredible

NAEA leaders as well as encourage art teacher from across our state to engage in the leader-

ship opportunities AEI provides. Once again, AEI leadership is asked to attend the AEI Leadership Training on Friday, June 24th. Participation in this event is through spe-

cial invitation and will include board members,

committee chairs and Team leaders of our com-

mittee area. We have extended invitations to our

partnering organizations including the, Iowa Arts

Council, IAAE, Department of Education, IN-

SEA/USSEA, Iowa School Boards and our AEA Fine Arts Consultants from across the state. The Summer Board Meeting will be held on Sat-urday, June 25th and is open to all AEI mem-

bers to attend. In addition to our normal board

meeting, we will be submitting reports from Fri-day’s works sessions to establish our 2016-2018

Strategic Plan. As always, if you are interested in getting more involved we are always looking

for AEI members at all levels of leadership. We now have a structure in which AEI members can volunteer at different levels of leadership with-

out the commitment of being a board member.

A perk of being a board member or fulfilling a leadership position within AEI is the opportunity to attend summer retreat. Please check out the article Wanted: Artistic Leaders in this issue of

“The Message”. Upon acceptance of a leader-ship position, you may be joining us on the 24th!

First and foremost, I want to encourage your to embrace the (challenges) opportunities ahead. As I tell my students, if you aren’t uncomfortable

you aren’t learning and growing! Thank you for

this opportunity to grow and for your continual

love and support. It’s truly been an honor and I

am humbled to have served as your AEI Presi-dent. The faces change but the mission remains.

( I can’t wait to take part in this next phase of AEI leadership.)Stay artistically challenged!

Shanise, AEI President

EDITOR’S NOTE Susan Macumber - Editor

June 2016 Volume 7: Issue 6

Molly Ray President Elect

: FIND YOUR HAPPY PLACE :

find

your

hap

py p

lace

My message to you this month is a simple reminder... Breathe. Now that this crazy, frantic, intense, dramatic, busy end of the school year has worked itself out; don’t forget to take time for

you. Remember the glass is neither half full nor is it half empty, it is refillable. You must make time to refill your glass, or recharge your battery, or whatever image or saying satisfies your dramatic flare. The message is still the same! We have just successfully completed another school year, and that needs to be celebrated!

HAPPY SUMMERTO EVERYONE !

find

your

hap

py p

lace

Take a class, take a walk, take

a VACATION, because you

deserve it. If this means going

gallery strolling, or staying up after

everyone else has gone to bed so

that you can paint in peace and

quiet, then do it.

I get it, I am a planner and I have

already caught myself thinking

about and planning updates and

changes to my curriculum for next

year. Not to mention my thoughts

about my future with AEI as I begin my presidency on July 1st. I will tell

you though, my SAL Leadership

Training through NAEA reminded me how important this one simple

rule is, we all know it but seldom

follow it. Take care of yourself.

Being a teacher and a mother I am always concerned with making

sure everyone else is good, I often

forget about myself. I forget that I

will be able to do my jobs better if I

have taken care of myself first. You have time for this, you must make time for this, the most

important thing right now is to

breathe, let all of those ideas

percolate for a few more weeks

and spend some time recharging

your batteries. Then start planning

and learning and preparing for next

year.

Happy Summer Everyone!

June 2016 Volume 7: Issue 6

Lynda Black-Smith 2016 Distinguished Service Within the

Profession Award

Alexandria, VA—The National Art Education Association has named Lynda Black-Smith, of Cedar Rapids, IA, to

receive the 2016 Distinguished Service Within the Profession Award. This prestigious award, determined

through a peer review of nominations, recognizes outstanding achievement and contributions in previous years

to the field of art education to an individual or a State/Province association. The award will be presented at the

NAEA National Convention in Chicago, IL, March 17-19, 2016.

NAEA President Patricia Franklin states, "This award is being given to recognize excellence in professional

accomplishment and service by a dedicated art educator. Lynda Black-Smith exemplifies the highly qualified art

educators active in education today: leaders, teachers, students, scholars, and advocates who give their best

to their students and the profession." Lynda has been involved in the development of art education standards

and curriculum, leadership on the state and national level, and an advocate for quality arts education on every

level. All of this was accomplished while teaching elementary art students, creating art herself, and

participating in the music and theatre fields as well. Congratulations to Lynda.

NAEA is the professional association for art educators. Members include elementary, secondary, middle level

and high school art teachers; university and college professors; education directors who oversee education in

our nation’s fine art museums, administrators and supervisors who oversee art education in school districts,

state departments of education, arts councils; and teaching artists throughout the United States and many

foreign countries.

For more information about the association and its awards program visit the NAEA website at www.arteducators.org

# # #

Above:Patricia Franklin, NAEA President & Lynda Black- Smith NAEA National Distin-guished Service Within the Organization National winner.

Lynda Black-Smith 2016 Distinguished Service Within the

Profession Award

Alexandria, VA—The National Art Education Association has named Lynda Black-Smith, of Cedar Rapids, IA, to

receive the 2016 Distinguished Service Within the Profession Award. This prestigious award, determined

through a peer review of nominations, recognizes outstanding achievement and contributions in previous years

to the field of art education to an individual or a State/Province association. The award will be presented at the

NAEA National Convention in Chicago, IL, March 17-19, 2016.

NAEA President Patricia Franklin states, "This award is being given to recognize excellence in professional

accomplishment and service by a dedicated art educator. Lynda Black-Smith exemplifies the highly qualified art

educators active in education today: leaders, teachers, students, scholars, and advocates who give their best

to their students and the profession." Lynda has been involved in the development of art education standards

and curriculum, leadership on the state and national level, and an advocate for quality arts education on every

level. All of this was accomplished while teaching elementary art students, creating art herself, and

participating in the music and theatre fields as well. Congratulations to Lynda.

NAEA is the professional association for art educators. Members include elementary, secondary, middle level

and high school art teachers; university and college professors; education directors who oversee education in

our nation’s fine art museums, administrators and supervisors who oversee art education in school districts,

state departments of education, arts councils; and teaching artists throughout the United States and many

foreign countries.

For more information about the association and its awards program visit the NAEA website at www.arteducators.org

# # #

June 2016 Volume 7: Issue 6

LYNDA BLACK-SMITH RECEIVES AWARDNAEA Distinguished Service Within the Profession

June 2016 Volume 7: Issue 6

Elizabeth Willet, Western Region President & Lynda Black-Smith- NAEA National Distinguished Service Within the Organization National winner.

Western Region Award Winners with Elizabeth Willet (Western Region President) - far left and Western Region Elect Cindy Todd (far right) Iowa Representatives: Lynda Black Smith- NAEA Distinguished Service Within the Organization National winner, Kathleen Sweet- Iowa Art Educator of the Year.

Maggie Parks won the 2016 United States Society for Education through Art, “Ex-cellence in PK-12 Art Educa-tion Award”. She is the first winner of this award given for “leadership in and com-mitment to multicultural and cross-cultural strategies” in

MAGGIE PARKS RECEIVES AWARDExcellence in PK-12 Art Education

June 2016 Volume 7: Issue 6

both school and community and efforts to build “respect for human dignity and diver-sity through art.” The award was presented at the InSEA USSEA Awards Luncheon at NAEA in Chicago, Friday, March 18, 2016.

Iowa Art Educator, Maggie Parks, Wins National Award!

“Leadership is an art and every leader is an artist. They just happen to work in a different medium.” -

Michael O’Malley and William F. Baker from Every Leader is an Artist.

We’re looking for a AEI members interested in being appointed

one of the following leadership

opportunities as and AEI board or council member..

Board members are required to Attend all AEi board meeting and general membership meet-

ing. Submit an annual board re-

port and budgetary needs.

Fulfills specific requirements of the position.

Communications Chair (AEI Board/Council posi-tion) Oversee the work of the Com-

munications Team members:

Editor of “The Message” Lay-

out Designer, Social Media, AEI Board, Council & Members to develop “The Message” and be their voice at AEI Board/Council Meetings. Oversee, provide and

meet the communications needs

of the organization among board

members, AEI membership and interested individuals and part-

nering organizations. Partner and Collaborate with the Com-

munications Advisor, AEI Secre-

tary to effectively communicate

with the board and volunteer

members of his/her committee. Electronically send communica-

tions to the general member-

ship and interested individuals

and organizations) through the use our online distribution pro-

gram, Constant Contact includ-

ing “The Message”, Call to Ac-

tion, and other communications

relevant to our membership.

AEI Reps: Heartland, Prairie Lakes and Mis-sissippi Bend (AEI Board/Council position) Communicate with the mem-

bership of their area regarding

issues, news, or other informa-

tion as designated by the Board as well as area events and op-

portunities. Serve as the rep-

resentative from their AEA on the AEI Board. Communicate with President Elect: Report news and activities of the AEA as well as bring forth questions

or concerns from their AEA’s membership. Assist Member-

ship Chair and Director as nec-

essary to increase area AEI membership. Assist in the de-

velopment of annual AEA pro-

fessional activities or help and

encourage others in this activ-

ity within the AEA and/or region (contacts with the and/or area art museums and colleges).Assist in identifying first year teachers for mentoring pro-

gram. Identify community re-

sources (visual arts, education-

al and private organizations) and develop relationships with

those organizations in order to

support professional develop-

ment for area art educators.

Division Reps: Middle School, High School & Co-RetireeAEI Volunteer Opportu-nities as Team members of AEI CommitteesCommunications Team: Editor of “The Message” (AEI newsletter)Partner with Communications Chair, Layout Designer, So-

cial Media, AEI Board, Council & Members to develop “The Message” Write the editorial

paragraph for each issue of

“The Message”.Solicit, collect, compile, edit,

and publish “The Message” for the total AEI membership as deemed appropriate by the

Board. Manage all matters of editorial policy, content and

costs with regard to the “The Message”

Program & Resources Team: Travelling Art Show (Elementary Posi-tion & Secondary Posi-tion) Program & Resources Team: Emerging Excellence (Team members) Emerging Excel-lence Chair: Lisa Smith. Lisa

is the newly appointed chair

of our middle school level pro-

gram Emerging Excellence. We desperately need team

members to become active

at the committee level as we

hope to pursue a statewide

launch of this program in 2017.

You do not have to be on the committee to participate but in

ARTISTIC LEADERSJune 2016 Volume 7: Issue 6

Leadership Opportunities

June 2016 Volume 7: Issue 6

order to host an event you must

have 2 experiences with the

event. You can gain these expe-

riences by: attending the event

as a volunteer participating in

the event with students & attend the training and information ses-

sion at conference.

Committee Volunteers: For the last 3 years of Pilot events ap-

proximately 30-40 students

have had the opportunity to

come together for a day of art

workshops and a personal one

on one interview experience

with an art professional to dis-

cuss one of their artworks. This

coming year Emerging Excel-lence will expand to multiple

sites around the state. There

will be information about how

to participate in the event at the

fall conference, overall informa-

tion is already posted on the AEI website under programs. Please consider attending the informa-

tional meeting at conference

so that you can be prepared to

bring your most talented 6-8

grade artists to experience this

wonderful event in the spring of

2017.

It takes approximately 10 volun-

teers to host an event success-

fully. We hope to host 3 sites

next year. You could volunteer to: greet and register schools as

they arrive, tabulate the juror’s

forms, 1-3 teachers to design

and lead artist workshop oppor-

tunities for the students while

they wait for their interview time.

3-4 runners are needed to find and bring the interviewees and

their artwork to their interview

location at the correct time.

Juror’s- 3-4 Art teachers or pro-

fessionals to serve as jurors for

the event. Please feel free to email presidentelect@artedia.

org or Lisa Smith with any ques-

tions that you may have! We

plan to include online artwork

submission in next year’s reg-

istration process in order to

streamline the process and stay

in line with AEI’s other wonder-ful student programs. Get on board as this event develops!

Advocacy Chair: Pamela BallardAdvocacy Team: IAAE Representative. Ken Esveld will be stepping off the IAAE board as he has reach the term limits of the position. If

you have an interest in the po-

litical aspects of fine arts ad-

vocacy and would love to work

with leaders from other fine arts areas (music, instrumental, strings, drama, dance and per-

formance) and the Department of Education please consider this position. Other AEI mem-

bers on the IAAE board include Maggie Parks.

Advocacy Team: STEAMAEI would love to form an active STEAM Team to address the importance of Arts education in

the STEAM process. We need a committee chair and team

members interested in develop-

ing an active advocacy team.

The purpose and vision of this

committee will be determined

by the volunteer Team lead-

er, and team members under

the guidance of the Advocacy

Chair, Pamela Ballard and the Advocacy Advisor, Past Presi-dent (Shanise Brockshus ef-fective July 1)Advocacy Team: Iowa Core 2.0

AEI would love to form an ac-

tive Iowa Core Team to address

the updating of the Iowa Core

Fine Arts to include the Nation-

al Core Arts Standards for Vi-

sual Arts and Media Design. It

is our goal to have the original

Iowa Core team led by Chair,

Maggie Parks and former team members to collaborate

with new members and pro-

vide guidance as we transition

to a new team of Iowa Core

leaders. We need a com-

mittee chair and team mem-

bers interested in developing

an active advocacy team for

the Iowa Corre.. The pur-

pose and vision of this com-

mittee will be determined by

the volunteer members under

the guidance of the Advocacy

Chair, Pamela Ballard and the Advocacy Advisor, Past Presi-dent (Shanise Brockshus ef-fective July 1) Once estab-

lished we’d like to pursue the

opportunity to bring NAEA training to our state through

the NAEA Chief Learning Of-ficer, Dennis Ihulsen (former NAEA President)

To learn more about a spe-cific board (elected) , coun-cil (appointed) or volunteer position, please contact Shanise, president@arte-dia.org or Molly, president-elect@artedia.org

AEI needs dedicated pro-fessionals like you! Please consider joining the AEI Leadership Team!

100

Year

s La

ter 100 Years Later:

New Audiences Discover Legendary

OutsiderA retired history teacher’s work to

revive W. Frank Brinton’s collection of oddities stands to connect Iowans with

a weird and wonderful past.

by Genevieve Heinrich

In 1981, then-junior high history

teacher Michael Zahs lucked into

a treasure trove of relics from a

Washington, Iowa basement. He took a chance on what might have

been so many boxes of junk, be-

cause of their source — they had

originally been owned by W. Frank Brinton, a man who had been known locally as something of a

sensationalist showman, but who

also had a reputation as a world

traveler and collector of oddities.

Brinton had died in 1919, but many of his possessions had never been

fully explored, just dumped into a

box labeled “Brinton crap” and left in limbo, waiting for the right per-

son to come into possession of

them.

Fast forward to 2013. Zahs had been touring with some of that

“crap” — rare artifacts from a little-explored period in Iowa his-

tory — using it in lectures for

several years. He’d started to gain attention for the deep im-

portance of what he had found,

and for his passion in exhibiting

it. It was at this time that the team

at Northland Films heard about Zahs, noting from the start that

there was more to this compelling

tale than the historicity of the find.

“The first time we met [Zahs],” says Northland Films’ Andrew Sher-burne, “we knew that his story was just as interesting as Frank Brin-

ton’s.” Sherburne, along with his

collaborators Tommy Haines and John Richard, working together as

Barn Owl Films, decided that this story needed to be told. “Mike has a warmth and a magnetism that in-

stantly draws you in, and we knew

he would be compelling on screen.”

This was the kernel that grew into

Northland’s upcoming documenta-

ry feature Saving Brinton, currently in production.

Billed as a project that “follows the stories of two men, separated by

100 years, and the film collection that connects them,” Saving Brin-

ton traces Zahs’ discovery and ex-

ploration of Brinton’s treasures, and the life and legacy of both subjects.

As of this winter, the film got a bit of a budget bump: a $10,000 grant

from the Iowa Arts Council that,

according to Sherburne, “provides critical support to the post-produc-

tion process, in particular editing.”

In the alluringly mysterious boxes

that drew so many to Zahs and,

through him, to Brinton, were historical programs, local memo-

rabilia, amazing photographs

and a large collection of magic

lantern slides. An early precur-

sor to moving pictures, predating

even photography, magic lanterns

were used often by magicians and

entertainers. These slides offer a

glimpse into our history that is sel-

dom possible. On their own, they

would have been an incredible his-

torical find. However, Zahs’ Brinton collection soon grew, and the real

excitement began. A few months

after he purchased the boxes, the

June 2016 Volume 7: Issue 6

executor of the Brinton estate came back to Zahs with films that had recently been returned from

the Library of Congress, where

some of them had been copied.

Specifically, they were films from the late 1800s and early 1900s —

films that represented an era in the genre that previously had, to a

large extent, been lost to time. All

told in this collection, Zahs says,

there are about 150 films.It’s no wonder people have taken

notice. There’s a film by Thomas Edison in there, and another by George Méliès (the filmmaker who rocketed back into the pub-

lic’s consciousness with Brian Selznick’s 2011 novel The Inven-

tion of Hugo Cabret).Brinton’s preservation and res-

toration project has proceeded

with help from the University of Iowa Special Collections (where the films are currently housed), MediaPreserve and the Library of Congress. Also involved, at vary-

ing levels, have been Humanities Iowa, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Washington County Riverboat Foundation and, now, the Iowa Arts Council. Zahs

speaks gratefully of Greg Prick-

man, head of UI Special Collec-

tions, pleased that he can “see the value in keeping the collec-

tion together,” because, he says,

“Keeping the collection together and geographically near has been

very important to me.”

Historian Mike Zahs stands outside the historic opera house in Ainsworth, Iowa. — photo courtesy of Andrew Sherburne

100

Year

s La

ter Again, it’s the men behind the

films whose stories spark the most interest.

W. Frank Brinton was, in all things, an entertainer. He was toy-

ing with ideas of powered flight 10 years before the Wright Brothers took off. He was a world traveler and a consummate showman,

never simply exploring life for his

own amusement, but always to

draw a crowd. Sherburne calls

Brinton “a tinkerer, and inventor, very much an eccentric.” A pas-

sage from a contemporary news-

paper, the Keota Eagle, quoted in the Washington County Historical Society’s profile of one of his early (unsuccessful) attempts at flight, beautifully distills public reaction

to him in his time:

Brinton! What magic word is that! What mighty spell it cast. Brinton! Brinton! At the name multitudes sway and are led, yea, even as

lambs unto the slaughter! ‘Neath

its powerful spell great host rise

up and gather together like onto

the crowd at a county pumpkin

show or distant fair. Brinton!! Prince of Fishermen!! He dippeth his net and lo! he hauleth in a

couple of thousand at 25c a head

and waxeth rich …

Among his other escapades and

passions, he and his wife Indi-

ana made a steady living show-

ing magic lantern slides and films in opera houses, theaters and,

when nothing else was available,

pop-up tents. As a lecturer on the

Chautauqua circuit, notes Sher-

burne, he used the “magic lantern slides in his talks and moved to

films when the technology be-

came available.” He understood the power of the medium, and its

importance in bringing the out-

side world to the small town that

he called home, and others like

it. While his eccentricities might

sometimes have tested his pub-

lic’s love, he gave them a great

gift in introducing film to the rural masses. Michael Zahs, the former

history teacher, approached the

power of film from the opposite di-rection. Where Brinton was always looking forward, careening towards

the future on the back of whatever

new technology he could find or create, Zahs saw backwards, to

the wonder inherent in the past

that was preserved by the films. He knew the value of what he had lucked into, and once the first sev-

eral had been preserved, he began

traveling and lecturing with them,

much as Brinton once had. He set up regular showings of films and magic lantern slides at the historic

Ainsworth Opera House, a venue Brinton also once used. It took time for the world to catch up to Zahs

in realizing the film’s importance. Sherburne says that what he finds most compelling about Zahs’ dedi-

cation to his project is “his cease-

less energy and dedication to

sharing that history, keeping it alive

for the rest of us and ensuring it

is properly recognized for genera-

tions to come.” He persevered for decades in bringing these films to light. In March of this year, he

took a huge step towards that goal

when he hosted a gala celebration

for the Ainsworth Opera House’s centennial. In March of this year,

he took a huge step towards that

goal when he hosted a gala cel-

ebration for the Ainsworth

June 2016 Volume 7: Issue 6

100

Year

s La

ter

Opera House’s centennial. The event consisted of two differ-

ent programs, featuring a total of

about 25 films, all only recently digitized by UI Special Collec-

tions, and thus all new to modern

audiences. They were accompa-

nied by live music — some adapt-

ed for the films, some newly com-

posed — by the Red Cedar Trio.

At this point, 34 years on from his

initial discovery, the 68-year-old

Zahs has spent half his life dedi-

cated to this project. It’s hardly,

however, all that keeps him busy:

“My family, teaching for most of my life, preserving historic build-

ings and materials, starting a

nature trail, beginning graduate

classes about Iowa, cemetery

work, etc.” When asked what this

project adds to his legacy, he

quips, “A legacy is maybe more for Presidents.” Zahs is especially excited about the next step for

the Brinton films, though — this spring, he’s looking forward to

premiering films that he just got back from the Library of Con-

gress, restored to be “as they originally were, in hand-painted

color.” He hopes this will coincide with a formal recognition of the

State Theatre in Washington, Iowa

as the longest-running movie the-

atre in the world. Brinton and Zahs may have had diverging goals, but

their shared loves are what make

this narrative so compelling. Says

Sherburne, “Brinton was a man obsessed with the future, Mike is

a man devoted to the past. Their

lives and their interests intersect

in this collection. What they both

wanted was to connect Iowans to

the world, Brinton looking outward, and Mike drawing attention inward.

Hopefully the film will take that story to an even broader audience.”

Saving Brinton is still in production; since the story is “ever-changing,” Sherburne says, they “won’t really know when it’s done filming until it’s done filming.” Still, the goal is for a 2017 festival premiere. In the

meantime, several clips from the

restored and digitized films are available to view through the UI Special Collections website. Even more than 100 years later, they

continue to evoke a sense of

wonder.

A still from the 1907 film by Segundo de Chomón. — photo courtesy of Andrew Sherburne

Genevieve Heinrich is a writer, an editor, a malcontent and a ne’er-do-well. Occasionally, she acts and sings. This article was originally published in Little Village 190.

June 2016 Volume 7: Issue 6

AEI FALL CONFERENCEAEI Fall Conference 2016 Presentation Proposals

“Bridging All the Gaps” Will be held September 30 & October 1st and 2ndArt Educators of Iowa invites you to submit proposals until June 24, 2016.

Preference will be given to these presentations:STEAM, Copy right, studio setup/ best practice, essential questions, Artisan Crafts (ex:fibers, metal, etc.), photography, animation & graphics.Primary Presenter Contact EmailPresenter/s Name/sPrimary Presenter AddressSession TitleWhat type of presentation do you plan to have?• Research Presentation• Lecture/Discussion• Hands-on Art Activity• Other:Session Division Type (please circle all that apply)Primary Secondary K-12 Pre-serviceHigher Education Museum Education RetiredGive a brief description of your session that can be used for the brochure (less than 100)Which day do you prefer to make your presentation?(Preference will be taken into consideration in planning, but not guaranteed)• Friday, September 30, 2016• Saturday, Saturday October 1st, 2016• Either day, no preferencePresentation Length• 50-60 minutes (one session)• 2 hours (double session)

Other:What are your technological and space needs?Will you need a projector, computer, internet access, tables to work at, sinks, etc.Are you willing to do a repeat session?• Yes• NoIs there a limit on the number of participants? How many?Is there a materials fee charged to participants? How much?Mark the selection that best describes your presentation’s connection to the theme“Bridging All the Gaps”• Bridging the gaps for all students• Bridging all the gaps in teaching• Bridging the gaps in the development of partnerships• Bridging all the gaps in advocacy

PLEASE EMAIL OR REGULAR MAIL PROPOSALS TOexpressionist77@gmail.comJ. GEROT23436 COUNTY ROAD G26COLUMBUS JUNCTION, IA 52738DEADLINE EXTENDED: JUNE 24, 2016

AEI RETIRED DIVISIONAEI Retired Art Educators of Iowa Division

To all of the Art Educators of Iowa Members, would you please forward your col-league names who are retiring this year. We wish to reach everyone who is eligible for the AEI Retired Art Educators of Iowa Division.We are collecting names of those of you who are moving from teaching in the class-room on to the retired roster of the Art Educators of Iowa. We want you to become one of Iowa’s emeritus art educators. The mission of the Art Educators of Iowa’s Retired Educators Division includes:To conduct program of professional activities for Iowa Events.To encourage continued personal involvement and development in art education.To inform AEI of concerns relevant to members of long- standing.To provide mentorship for pre-service and first/second year art educators.Please inform us by emailing at retired_div@artedia.org if you are graduating to the Retired Division Status, AEI wishes to celebrate this step in your professional life by gathering names for the Retirement Class of 2016 . We need to know who you are and how many experience years you have been in the classroom with your students. You will be a part of the awards celebration at the Burlington Fall Convention, and Art Educators of Iowa wish to present you to the Iowa Public at the Youth Art Month Celebration in Des Moines in March. Please have a current AEI/NAEA membership, and when you re-member to the retired membership NAEA discount your member-ship for your participation.Kathleen Almelien and Margaret Caldwell.Co Chair of AEI Retired Educators Division

Early Bird Conference/Retired art educators day - September 29, 2016 Thursday before our “ Bridging the Gaps” Burlington Conference is a day of exploration and experimen-tation.The pre conference day will offer activities: to explore the site-to study architectural history through a walking tour. inside and out of historic homes on the hill-to make art and visit the galleries of Burlington Art Center-to view history in a county museum and a house museum-to visit the studio of Cecile Houel and David Garrison-to physically challenge you on the Snake Alley-to eat lunch at the downtown IVYPlease look at the schedule & participate in this fun filled & educational Burlington experience!We will meet at the Burlington Art Center at 9:00. A schedule and phone number for the day will be posted so you can join us on the pre conference adventure when you arrive in town.

ALL-STATE ART 2016

On behalf of Art Educators of Iowa and the All-State Visual Art Awards Committee, congratulations and thank you to all nominees and nominating art educators. We appreciate the time and effort it takes to compile a portfolio and complete the submission process. Though we provide the opportunity to rec-ognize students for outstanding work, it is the time, nurture, and support that individual teachers give students with potential that is most significant. Please, continue to participate and encourage other teachers in your district, region, and conference to become participating members. The more partici-pants involved, the more students we can honor for their outstanding efforts. This year, judging was completed remotely by the following: Tim Dooley - University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls, IA)Kris Musto - Minneapolis College of Art and Design (Minneapolis, MN)Joseph Lappie - St. Ambrose University (Davenport, IA)Clar Baldus - University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA)Jan Dotzler - The Creative Center (Omaha, NE)Ben Harle - Kansas City Art Institute (Kansas City, MO)

Judging is 100% randomized and anonymous and each individual piece is evaluated. Essays are judged on a point scale of 0-5 Points, and portfolio Images are judged on a scale of 5-10. Out of 89 students who submitted, we are proud to announce 18 winners that make up the top 20% of submissions. Judge Jan Dotzler stated, “As I reviewed the portfolios, it looked like design and composition were strongly pushed by the art teachers. Kudos to them and to the student artists stepping up to the challenge. I will always give a nudge towards creative concepts – great designs will take the artist everywhere.” Judge Clar Baldus noted, “I enjoyed seeing all the work of these promising young artists. Interesting visual themes throughout.”

Looking forward to seeing next year’s submission of outstanding Iowa high school artists and their portfolios!

The All-State Visual Arts Awards Organization Committee

Devin T. Hanson - Morgan Singleton - Teri Breck - Maggie Harlow-Vogt, Elizabeth Schmelzer - Aimee Peters - Drew Pauli

Minneapolis College of Art and De-sign (MCAD) – Minneapolis, MN $1,000 awarded to accepted seniors

that have completed an MCAD applica-

tion before March 15th. This scholarship

is renewable at $1,000 per year totaling

$4,000 over 4 years at MCAD while the

student remains in good academic stand-

ing.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) – Chicago, IL$2,000/year (annually renewable) SAIC Competitive Excellence scholarships to seniors meeting minimum admissions re-

quirements. They will be awarded upon

admittance. These scholarships would

be in addition to any other merit-based

scholarship they received after being ad-

mitted to SAIC.

Kansas City Art Institute – Kansas City, MO$1,000 awarded to accepted students

who attend KCAI.

The Creative Center – Omaha, NE$1000 awarded to any winner accept-

ed to and pursuing their art career in

graphic art and design at The Cre-

ative Center.

*The above institutions will offer the

scholarships under the condition of

the student meeting the minimum re-

quirements to be accepted to the insti-

tution and would be awarded upon ad-

mittance. The institutions have been

notified of the winners in advance.

ALL-STATE SPONSORS

AEI is a volunteer organization of visual arts educators working on behalf of all visual arts educa-tion for the benefit of our students and our communities.

2016 AEI Iowa All State Art TeamFaraz Mohd

Dowling Catholic High School

Luke CareyCedar Rapids Washington

Lauren BrewerPleasant Valley High School

Alice TosiCedar Rapids Washington

Jocelyn TongDowling Catholic High School

Kennedy HillDavenport Central High School/Creative Arts Academy QC

Allie ErnsterJF Kennedy High School

Kara GrossmanDowling Catholic High School

Daniel NielsenDowling Catholic High School

Issac VasquezDavenport Central High School/Creative Arts Academy QC

Samantha KragelLinn-Mar High School

Alex BarrClarke High School

Kelsey TopeDes Moines Christian

Carrie NortonBondurant-Farrar

Amanda ErpsDowling Catholic High School

Shailah HarrisDavenport Central High School/Creative Arts Academy QC

Cristina GuntherPleasant Valley High School

Top Three Scoring Schools

Dowling Catholic High School

Pleasant Valley High School

Davenport Central High School / Creative Arts Academy QC

Intr

oduc

ingTammy Hoppe-Our New AEI Webmaster

”Would you like to accept the position of AEI webmaster?” This was the only motivation I needed to amp up my participation in AEI. Years ago I had been a more active AEI member. My entry position into the orga-nization was as the AEA 4 representative. This position really opened my eyes to the professional benefits AEI has to offer art educators at all levels throughout Iowa. Next, I was the 2005 and 2010 conference co-ordinator and the conference chairperson from 2005 - 2010. After 2010 I stepped down from my leadership roles in AEI to be a secondary and K - 12 education assistant professor at MSU, Mankato. Working in col-lege and adult education was a turning point in my professional life.

From 2010 until the 2015 fall conference in Cedar Falls, I continued to build my professional experience and portfolio through other avenues, but once the invitation came up to reintroduce myself to leadership in AEI, I just had to accept. For the last few months now I have been learn-ing how to fulfill the roles of NWAEA representative and webmaster. I give unwavering thanks to the very kind and patient guidance from Su-san, the previous webmaster, as well as several others on the AEI board. Without your collective support I may have pulled my hair out or, worse yet, given up this fulfilling opportunity. Thank you to all of you who had the confidence to give me a chance in this webmaster role. I truly en-joy it so far and will continuously strive to do anything I can to help AEI make this website the priceless asset it is to the field of art education and to all stakeholders involved in this rewarding field.

Sincerely,Tammy (Taho)

Embroidery Show and OpportunityStep out of your classroom this fall and visit “Through the Needle’s Eye” at the Marion Heri-tage Center in Marion, IA between August 6 and October 8. This is the 20th national exhibit of the Embroider-er’s Guild of America and the first time that one of their national exhibits has been displayed in Iowa. The exhibit has more than 70 embroidered works of the highest quality in design and craftsman-ship from artists across the US and Canada. This will be a great opportunity to study fiber arts with pieces ranging from traditional to contemporary. Have you ever painted with thread? Have you ever looked closely at embroidery? Please take advan-tage of this opportunity to broaden your curricu-lum. Sally Olsen is a member of Cedar Valley Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America and a retired software engineer. Three of her pieces of needle-work are included in “Through the Needle’s Eye”. Sally is interested in working with art classes who want to take a closer look at the pieces in this exhibit and learn about the materials, tools and techniques used to create them. Visit the exhibit and record your observations of how the the ele-ments and principles of art are used in the nee-dlework. See how the choice of stitches creates unity or variety. Notice the textures created by the stitches. Observe how the direction of the fibers appears to change the value or hue. If you are interested in arranging activities for your class visit, please contact Sally Olsen at sally.olsen@mchsi.com or 319-365- 7473 or Lynette Brenzel at Marion Heritage Center & Museum at 319-447- 6376 ormarionheritage@marionhistoricalsociety.org We look forward to sharing this experience with you.Admission for “Through the Needle’s Eye” is $5 for adults and $2 for children. Marion Heritage Center is offering free admission to the exhibit for stu-dents and $5 for adults for scheduled class visits. Big Yellow School Bus grants are available to cover the cost of transportation for field trips. https://iowaculture.gov/about-us/about/grants/big- yellow-school-bus-grant

“Celebrate Spring”This piece was constructed using water soluble fabrics, sheer fabrics, beads and rib-bon with machine and hand stitching. It is inspired by flowering trees in the spring.

“Recomposition”A piece of my other’s unfinished needle-point was felted using an embelisher. A network of blossoms was embroidered on the surface.

“Stars and Stripes Forever”Think of a marching band going through town. After it finishes playing John Philip Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever there is a drum roll and the band repeats the music over and over again. The notes of this music were transposed into stitches form an end-less Möbius strip.

Marion Heritage Center590 10th Street, Marion, IA319-447- 6376MarionHeritageCenter.comse the entrance on the

Please use the entrance on the north (6tAvenue) side. The building is ADA accessible. Hours: Wednesday – Sunday 1:00 p.m. – 4 p.m. or by appointment

http://www.arteducators.org/community/membership