Voice of the People: Infusing the Visual Arts and Literacy Through Writing

led by: Dr. Alarie Gibbs

During this workshop, participants will learn about the Voice of the People – a program designed to have students from 4th grade to first year college, engage with MOCA Jacksonville: A cultural institute of the University of North Florida. Participants will be guided through a curriculum that infuses the visual arts and literacy through writing to create unique audio guides for select artwork in the MOCA galleries.  Participants will be guided through the development of curriculum based on the Feldman Method of Art Criticism and then encouraged to practice their own reflective writing about a chosen artwork. The major takeaways for the audience are examples of manuscripts develop by students and recorded for the MOCA galleries, a step-by-step introduction to the process of framing curriculum and working with schools and educators, providing pre and post assessments of the student work, and sharing best practices for how these manuscripts and audio guides are celebrated within MOCA the community.  At the conclusion of this workshop, participants will have the necessary tools to create their own literacy-based arts initiative that develops an understanding of contemporary art though multi-disciplinary techniques to increase cognitive growth and enhance expository writing skills for students and adults that fall within a wide range of ages and ability levels.


PRESENTER BIO:

Weaver Assistant Director of Education, MOCA Jacksonville

Dr. Alarie Gibbs is currently serving as the Weaver Assistant Director Education with MOCA Jacksonville: A Cultural Institution of UNF.  Dr. Gibbs is an experienced higher ed. and nonprofit administrator as well as a professional educator in the visual arts and special education. Her specialties include arts, culture, & heritage programming for children and families, collaborative teaching and learning, community-based learning, curriculum & instruction, professional development, and qualitative/mixed methods research.

Among her professional experience in education and the local nonprofit sector, Dr. Gibbs is also a fine artists with over 20 years of experience in the areas of drawing, painting, printmaking, and photography. Dr. Gibbs has experience in graphic design for nonprofits using Photoshop and InDesign to create custom print and media advertisements, webpages, graphic organizers, & social media content.

Dr. Gibbs earned her Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, with an area of research in nonprofit arts and culture education and leadership. Dr. Gibbs also holds a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management and she has additional research and community interests which include: the arts, multicultural and humane education.