Dr. Elizabeth Garber’s Seminar
// February 21st, 2010 // my Blog
Writen by: Virgil
Dr. Elizabeth Garber holds a Ph.D. in Art Education. She has received many awards during her professional career and also has written and contributed articles from different publications. She is currently a professor at University of Arizona. As a guest speaker in our Senior Seminar class, it is a privilege to listen to her experiences and career development.
In the beginning of her lecture, she talked about how she got started as an artist. According to her, while she was working on her MFA, she made a living as a ceramicist. Most of her ceramics are fired in raku, something she mentioned she loves to do; she also made ceramic sculptures and pots painted with words. So, for 12 years she made ceramics not just as a functional material but as an art, during these years, she also taught young children how to make pottery. There was also a time when they have had glass studio trailer with her friends.
During her lecture, she talks about “Art Education,” who is the art educator, and what do they do? She mentioned that they teach in k12, some teach in community college, they work in museums that are setup to educate, they work in community program, and they work with people who need job skills.
At the end of her lecture, she gave advice based on her experience as an artist and as educator. She mentioned that as an artist, we should be a good advocate of our own work and our own field. She also talked about that passion, openness, and curiosity is necessity to be successful in your career field as an artist.
Although her lecture is more geared for an Art Education student and she may not have covered my field as an artist, I have learned some pointers that I could apply in my own career path. In conclusion, I have found her as a great and passionate speaker who is honest about her own professional career.
