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NYCATA/UFT conference

‘Making something amazing’
New York Teacher
NYCATAUFT conference
Erica Berger

On K. Lok (left), a teacher at PS 17 in Queens, learns how to teach drawing skills using the large, simple forms of inflatable pool toys in a workshop titled “What Floats Your Boat? Teaching Line Drawing with Inflatables,” presented by Caitlin Bludgus, a New Jersey educator.

“There’s something so rewarding and magical about starting with nothing and making something amazing,” said teacher Mary Agramonte of Origins HS in Brooklyn, a presenter at the 38th annual conference of the New York City Art Teachers Association/UFT. Her workshop was among 29 offered on Oct. 26 at Manhattan’s Beacon HS. “It’s an opportunity to give back to the UFT, to my colleagues, to the profession and to the field,” Agramonte said. Artist of the Year Jean Shin of Pratt Institute, who designed the mosaics at the Second Avenue subway’s 63rd Street station, gave the keynote address. Honorees were Joan L. Davidson, NYCATA’s president emeritus and the event coordinator, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award; Erin-Marie Elman of IS 96 and Jessica Holske of PS 222, both in Brooklyn; Erica Yonks of the HS for Law, Advocacy and Community Justice in Manhattan; and state Sen. Jose M. Serrano. Teacher Angie Lee exhibited work done at her Manhattan Pre-K Center. “Pre-K students’ ability to grasp artistic concepts sometimes gets overlooked,” said Lee. “This gave my awesome students a venue to show their creativity.”

NYCATA/UFT Art Education Conference 2019

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NYCATAUFT Art Education

On K. Lok (left), a teacher at PS 17 in Queens, learns how to teach drawing skills using the large, simple forms of inflatable pool toys in a workshop titled “What Floats Your Boat? Teaching Line Drawing with Inflatables,” presented by Caitlin Bludgus, a New Jersey educator and a student at the DaVinci Initiative in Port Reading, N.J.

Erica Berger
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NYCATAUFT Art Education

Some of the 150 participants arrive at the NYCATA/UFT Artworks 2019 conference, where the theme was “How Art Education Shapes Lives.”

Erica Berger
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NYCATAUFT Art Education

Joan Davidson, NYCATA’s president for 38 years, receives a Lifetime Achievement Award. She was conference coordinator for the 35th time. “Who does that? That’s crazy,” said Davidson, who was overjoyed by participants’ positive feedback. “They were so inspired and so happy to be there,” she said. “Many are the only art teacher in their school and they were so excited to meet new colleagues and be with other people who spoke their language.”

Erica Berger
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NYCATAUFT Art Education

Teachers honored included Erin-Marie Elman (left) of IS 96 and Jessica Holske of PS 222, both in Brooklyn.

Erica Berger
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NYCATAUFT Art Education

Joan Davidson (second from left), the president emeritus of NYCATA, and Artist of the Year Jean Chin (right) help congratulate state Sen. Jose M. Serrano, who was joined by his wife, Brunie, and children, Sofia and Carlos, as he was recognized by the group for his art advocacy.

Erica Berger
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NYCATAUFT Art Education

The artwork at Beacon HS is larger than life as Noa Bogatch, a teacher at IS 313 in the Bronx, makes her way to the auditorium for the program.

Erica Berger
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NYCATAUFT Art Education

NYCATA President Mario Asaro (right), an art teacher at MS 158 in Queens, introduces John Cloud Kaiser, the education director at Materials for the Arts, a creative reuse center of the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs, who was the conference Artist of the Year in 2018.

Erica Berger
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NYCATAUFT Art Education

Artist of the Year Jean Chin gives the keynote address. Chin, a tenured adjunct professor of fine art at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, has exhibited work in 150 museums, including MOMA, and is best known for monumental installations created from donated everyday objects, such as lottery tickets and empty medicine bottles.

Erica Berger
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NYCATAUFT Art Education

On K. Lok (left), a teacher at PS 17 in Queens, learns how to teach drawing skills using the large, simple forms of inflatable pool toys in a workshop titled “What Floats Your Boat? Teaching Line Drawing with Inflatables,” presented by Caitlin Bludgus, a New Jersey educator and a student at the DaVinci Initiative in Port Reading, N.J.

Erica Berger
Image
NYCATAUFT Art Education

Some of the 150 participants arrive at the NYCATA/UFT Artworks 2019 conference, where the theme was “How Art Education Shapes Lives.”

Erica Berger
Image
NYCATAUFT Art Education

Joan Davidson, NYCATA’s president for 38 years, receives a Lifetime Achievement Award. She was conference coordinator for the 35th time. “Who does that? That’s crazy,” said Davidson, who was overjoyed by participants’ positive feedback. “They were so inspired and so happy to be there,” she said. “Many are the only art teacher in their school and they were so excited to meet new colleagues and be with other people who spoke their language.”

Erica Berger
Image
NYCATAUFT Art Education

Teachers honored included Erin-Marie Elman (left) of IS 96 and Jessica Holske of PS 222, both in Brooklyn.

Erica Berger
Image
NYCATAUFT Art Education

Joan Davidson (second from left), the president emeritus of NYCATA, and Artist of the Year Jean Chin (right) help congratulate state Sen. Jose M. Serrano, who was joined by his wife, Brunie, and children, Sofia and Carlos, as he was recognized by the group for his art advocacy.

Erica Berger
Image
NYCATAUFT Art Education

The artwork at Beacon HS is larger than life as Noa Bogatch, a teacher at IS 313 in the Bronx, makes her way to the auditorium for the program.

Erica Berger
Image
NYCATAUFT Art Education

NYCATA President Mario Asaro (right), an art teacher at MS 158 in Queens, introduces John Cloud Kaiser, the education director at Materials for the Arts, a creative reuse center of the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs, who was the conference Artist of the Year in 2018.

Erica Berger
Image
NYCATAUFT Art Education

Artist of the Year Jean Chin gives the keynote address. Chin, a tenured adjunct professor of fine art at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, has exhibited work in 150 museums, including MOMA, and is best known for monumental installations created from donated everyday objects, such as lottery tickets and empty medicine bottles.

Erica Berger