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| directory of teaching artists: LIZETTE FIFE |
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Describe a transformative process
that has occurred in your own practice as an artist or in a past residency as
a teaching artist. As I have worked with groups of people in teaching them how to paint pottery I have realized that the skills I have learned over the last twenty years are really valuable. The experience that I have gained through trial and error is critical to the success of a pottery piece. I have written out and organized my process into a series of steps that will highly encourage success and share it with participants. I have found that the artistic eye that I have developed is not something that can be transferred as easily and something that I have previously taken for granted. As a result, I have found that my presence as an artistic director has been very helpful. When have you been able to recognize learning taking place? I think it is the “ah ha” moment when participants discover for themselves why I have asked them to paint over something three times to get opacity and they can clearly see the results. We always seem to learn the most from our mistakes as well as our successes. I also enjoy seeing the dull matte piece turn shiny and reflective which is something they don’t truly understand until they see it. I also see learning when children have mastered getting their pile height correct when creating hooked rug samplers and their satisfaction in having finished their pieces and seeing how each one if different yet wonderful. What excites your imagination and in turn how does your work excite imagination for your audience? The natural beauty of the world continues to inspire me each day. I have been making hooked rugs for the members of my family. It has been fun for me to create each rug as they are a story of our lives. These snapshots from our life are documented in a wool picture that people really seem to enjoy and relate to. My family watches me hook the piece, adds each of their own constructive criticisms and participates in the process and the ownership. What characteristics mark a successful collaboration for you? A successful collaboration is when everyone is able to participate and make whatever we are doing that day. I find it wonderful to see their joy and enthusiasm. I have enjoyed their gratitude for the time I spend with them and that gratitude has become another of my rewards. How do you foster creativity, both in your own work and as a teaching artist? I think that creativity comes naturally to people; it seems to be mainly adults that try to deny that they are creative beings. If people are having trouble coming up with an idea, I show them some pictures of flowers in catalogs, or my idea book. I find that looking at a few pictures helps to give them a resource. Really good photos are great to work from such as those found in National Geographic and other sources. Three key understandings of this discipline are:
Three Idaho Humanities Content Standards that correlate
with each of the core concepts identified above:
Color, line, balance, symmetry, asymmetry, texture, shape, brushstrokes, value, hue, concept, folk art, ceramic tradition, majolica, recycling fabrics, primitive, regional Subject areas outside of the fine arts that relate to potential residency work include: History – how rugs were originally made and the original materials that were used Math – how the concept of using square dots, like pixels, helps to create an image to the eye English & Literature – how an artwork can be a story in itself and tell about the place of its creation and the values of the people at that time Science – how recycling fabric is good for our environment and also makes beautiful art Science – how chemistry and glaze making are inseparable in taking silica and turning it into glass References
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 Discipline: Mixed Media Artist w/ Emphasis on Clay and Rug Hooking Phone: (208) 882-8579 Email: lizettefife@verizon.net Website: http://lizettefife.org Special Populations I work with: Adults and Children 
ICA Artists by Discipline Music Ken Harris Dance Wendy de la Harpe Jo Miller Norma Pintar Theater/Storytelling Geoffrey Bennett Teresa Clark Language Arts Judy Sobeloff Visual Arts Deana Attebery Tom Bennick Judith Brand Sue Rooke Lizette Fife Helen Grainger Wilson Terrie Kralik Jeanne Leffingwell Cathy Sher Linda Wolfe Video/Media Arts Peppershock Media |
 Phone: 208/334-2119 or 800/278-3863 Fax: 208/334-2488 Mailing address: P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0008 Street address: 2410 North Old Penitentiary Rd., Boise, ID 83712 |