HANNAH ROBARDS Art399 Portfolio

I am primarily a ceramicist that creates sculptural work with terracotta clay. Additionally, fibers play a role in my art and I have been working towards combining these two in an interesting way. Ceramics as a whole interests me because it is a very tactile and malleable art form that has endless opportunities of what can be created with it. I am a person that thoroughly enjoys working with my hands and manipulating the material being used, so clay is an art medium that allows me to explore and experiment with my ideas. In terms of my artistic ideas, I enjoy exploring how imagination affects reality and the possibilities of what would be brought forth if the bridge between the two was blurred. Anatomical human features and environmental elements and textures are very influential to me, in addition to the natural world and our relationship with it. I try to connect my art pieces by incorporating similar textures and imagery, such as human lips, eyes, and patterns. Other than the natural world, fiber practices such as crochet and needle felt are other heavy influences that inspire artworks I create. Ceramic glazes can be very experimental, which is something I have begun to explore in order to observe how different glazes react when put on different ceramic surfaces, whether sculptural or smooth. There are several artists whose works are very influential to my own, a couple of which are Cynthia Consentino and Mark Ryden. Cynthia is primarily a ceramicist that focuses on manipulating familiar objects in life and molds them into a completely new idea. Her work is inspired by mythology, religious imagery, and fairy tales along with similar ideals to these; she essentially makes collages of various forms in order to create her artwork. Mark works with a variety of mediums ranging from ceramics, sculpture, digital art, and traditional mark-making. His works consist of kitschy and mysterious figures that have a deeper psychic underlying meaning to them. The figures and imagery he creates are both realistic and unrealistic simultaneously, creating an interesting juxtaposition to his art. Both of these artists are very influential to me because they are both creating imagery that causes a strong, almost uncomfortable reaction from the viewers; this is something that I try to achieve when creating work of my own. In addition to this, both artists are influenced by ideas and themes similar to ones that I am drawn to, which causes their works to be beneficial inspiration for me in my artistic creations. They demonstrate the extent of how one could manipulate the medium being used to their advantage and discover new ways to do so.https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/art399/1144/thumbnail.jp

Repetition, revision, appropriation and the Western

The aim of this research paper is to demonstrate the innate dialogue that exists between the Western genre and Contemporary Art practice. Initially, the fundamental qualities of a ‘Classic’ Western are defined, before moving on to a broader examination of the genre’s key developments and evolutions post World War II. Using George Steven’s Shane as a case study, the paper traces the prominent position of appropriation inside the meta-cinematic form, whilst also tying various filmic examples to the practice’s of visual artists who employ congruous strategies when developing their own work. The paper concludes with a detailed exploration of my own creative practice, highlighting how my theoretical research has informed a body of work that employs prominent connections and appropriations from both cinematic and artistic forms of expression. The exhibited component of my studio research is a three part installation and accompanying online database of film stills. Each piece in the body of work explores the position of the Western genre in the cinematic and contemporary art contexts, representing a refined culmination of my various work and its development through a sustained process of visual and theoretical investigation. All four parts of the project employ the well established revisionist imperatives that characterise the Western and Contemporary Art spheres. Through the combination of these shared practices my work seeks to hybridise the two traditionally separate, but increasingly homogeneous creative mediums

Reflective Field Experiences For Success In Teaching Elementary Mathematics

In this paper the author will discuss the major components of a junior level pedagogy course for elementary education majors learning to teach mathematics.  The course reviews content and knowledge of the teacher candidates and introduces methods and materials for teaching elementary mathematics

Teaching As A Profession

The image of the schools and the teaching profession according to the media is usually negative.  The negative picture is one reflecting the social problems of society and the failure of schools to educate, that is, drop-outs, teenage pregnancies, substance abuse, guns, knives, and attacks on students and teachers.  Occasionally, the positive picture is communicated illustrating the success of the school and its professionals.  For example, on channel 5 in New York City on May 24, 1990, the evening news featured Seward Park High School as described in Small Victories by Samuel Freedman.   The short interview by the news staff included a successful student, Carlos, who had graduated from Seward Park High School and had gone to college.  Also in the interview was Jessica Siegal, a former English and journalism teacher at the school.  Success in school, according to Carlos, can co-exist with failures and drop-outs.  The teacher was the key to making dreams come true.  Teachers help students to realize that their dreams can become realities.  These professionals teach students to not only acquire basic skills, such as writing, but also help students acquire an identity of caring for self and others as well as succeeding in life.  Great professionals make great schools, but as the teacher goes so goes the school

Perspectives On The Dynamic Human-Walrus Relationship

Thesis (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2008Changes in sea ice conditions have direct bearing on ice-associated species such as Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens), which are an important component of subsistence for Alaska Native communities in the Bering Sea. I explore the relationship between walrus, sea ice, and Alaska Native subsistence at Diomede, Gambell, and Savoonga between 1952 and 2004 to better understand walrus ecology and subsistence under different climatic regimes. I then consider how the inability to reliably and regularly count walrus and other ice-associated pinnipeds in this dynamic environment challenges effective management of walrus and subsistence under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). However, the primary management goals of the MMPA, which are intended to be ecosystem-based, have been bypassed in favor of a numerical population assessment approach. Governance approaches such as adaptive co-management, using a suite of ecological and population indicators have theoretical promise for making management responsive to both observed ecosystem and population changes. Nevertheless, understanding outcomes of co-management has proven difficult. To address this, I argue that such an understanding requires not only a review of a statute's ecosystem-oriented goals, but also a critical consideration of the specific goals of each co-management partner. To sustain natural resources, mismatches between the scale of ecological processes regulating resources, and the social or political processes governing resource use should logically be reduced, thus improving what is termed "fit." I argue that failures to foster fit of these processes might better reflect underlying co-management partner goals, rather than a focus on the statutory goals of policy. I examine this claim by assessing the spatial and temporal "fit" of boundaries defining the political context of walrus co-management under the MMPA. I find that the ability to address the uncertainty of walrus population status in a manner benefiting adaptation of both walrus and Alaska Natives to a dynamic environment is compromised by a focus on values, rather than better matching policy with ecological and social conditions. My interdisciplinary findings are broadly applicable to community-based conservation partners seeking to foster resilience and adaptation of both natural resources and of the indigenous or rural communities dependent on them

Closing The Achievement Gap: Challenges And Opportunities

Closing the achievement gap between low-and high-achieving public school students is an important goal of public education (p. 42, Lowell Rose and Alec Gallup, Phi Delta Kappan, 2007).  The paper will explore background information and research as well as discuss examples of best practices to close the achievement gap.  Several plans have been proposed as ways to enhance the achievement of under-represented students, according to the Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll (Phi Delta Kappan, September 2007, p. 42), including additional instructional time, student assistance and increased assistance outside of the school day.   &nbsp

Influences on Spelling Ability: Written vs. Oral Performance

The purpose of this study was to determine if spelling ability was affected by speaking or writing the spellings of the words. We further tested to see if vocabulary ability had any effect on spelling ability as well. Participants spelled two lists of ten words one list, was orally spelled and one list was written spelling. Upon completion of the spelling tasks, participants were asked to complete a vocabulary task. Participants’ results were analyzed and conclusions were drawn based on written and oral performance and vocabulary ability. Our research revealed that participants spelled more accurately when writing the spellings versus speaking the spellings. Vocabulary was also slightly correlated to spelling ability