This Isn't Your Typical Art Class

Teacher Spotlight: Ms. Gwen's Art Workshop 

Ms. Gwen Verner, a Teaching Artist at the Institute, believes the best way to learn art is by exploring. She encourages her students to try different materials and techniques, giving them the freedom to experiment, take risks, and create art that is truly their own.

Her approach was clear at the end-of-semester showcase. In her Art Workshop class, students explored the theme of The Foundation of Civilization by thinking about the importance of family. They used both two- and three-dimensional techniques to create portraits of family members, then turned those ideas into sculptures showing their families as connected groups. Even though everyone worked with the same theme, each project showed a unique point of view.

During the semester, Ms. Gwen gave students the chance to try many different materials and techniques, such as ink, paint, stamps, and wood. For many, it was a rare opportunity to use supplies they might not have at home. With help from the Institute's Youth Leaders, students also learned how to care for their materials and build good studio habits.

Parent Gary Smith, whose daughter Thea was enrolled in Ms. Gwen’s Art Workshop last semester, testified to her wealth of knowledge regarding specific subjects that she teaches, such as printmaking. "Ms. Gwen plans each class carefully and does her best to communicate with her Youth Leaders,” said Jannette Castillo, one of her Youth Leaders. “That teamwork is what makes a class run well."

Ms. Gwen discovered her passion for printmaking in high school while studying with the well-known artist Robert Blackburn. She enjoys the hands-on aspect of printmaking. "You don't have to have a machine," she said. "These are all manual processes."

While teaching at Newark Public schools, she decided to take a break to embark on a Fulbright scholarship to The Gambia in West Africa to pursue her own independent research. She focused primarily on textiles and relief prints.

Today, Ms. Gwen’s printmaking and artwork has been shown in a number of exhibits in the area, like the 1978 Maplewood Arts Center and the Arlington Arts Gallery. She was featured in the “Black and White Imprint” exhibit at Studio Montclair Gallery, which honored Black History Month and focused on African-American history and printmaking.

At the Institute, Ms. Gwen enjoys sharing her passion for art with her students. She values working with administrators "who really understand the value of the arts" and likes that Teaching Artists are free to bring their own artistic styles into the classroom.

That spirit of exploration goes beyond the school year. On the first day of her summer camp class, Ms. Gwen encouraged students to make prints in any way they liked. This led to colorful and creative designs that showed each student's individuality. Whether they use wood, paint, ink, or stamps, her students learn that creativity is not about making the same thing as everyone else. It is about finding new ways to express their ideas.