Scholastic Art Magazine Artist Talk: Storytelling Through Art with Bisa Butler
Scholastic Art Magazine is a staple in the Art studio. Each issue comes with a teacher's guide for elementary and high school, standards covered and an online digital issue for teachers and students. On the Scholastic Art website is the current issue as well as archives of past magazines, art videos, art skills sheets, hands-on projects, art jobs, art posters, and art news. The digital issue augments the Scholastic Art magazines you get in a bundle every couple of months with your subscription.
In the Art studio, 7th graders were working diligently on their clay hamsa project. Students are tasked with selecting an artist from this list of “144 Artists You Should Know” created by Art of The Ed. The names in red I personally changed to reflect Black, Brown, and Indigenous artists that are currently shaking up the Art world. I added Bisa Butler to the list and two students picked her work to make their hamsa about.
Bisa Butler went from being a High School Art teacher to an in demand quilter. The New Jersey based artist creates intricate quilted portraits of Black folks found in old black and white photographs and even some famous faces. When I discovered Butler’s work via Instagram, I was learning how to sew tablecloths for my wedding. I am by no means comparing talents. I literally have zero talent in sewing. I never saw work like Butler’s, demonstrating what is possible with fabric arts, especially with gifts like Butler’s.
New York Times: “From 2 Artists, 2 Ways to Tell Stories of Black America”
How does Scholastic Magazine, my student’s clay hamsa project, and Bisa Butler’s work? Like a typical millenial school teacher on their prep, I was scrolling through Instagram and stumbled upon a post from Scholastic Art Magazine Editor, Katie Brickner, announcing scholastic Art Magazine was going to interview Butler. Katie Brickner is a PDS alum and we became friendly through IG DMs. I squealed that two of my kiddos were inspired by Butler’s work and hope she could show Butler if possible. Katie being the awesome human she is, invited us to the talk on Zoom.
Wanna watch?
Scholastic Art Magazine Artist Talk: Storytelling Through Art with Bisa Butler here.
Hark was very excited when they learned about the Artist talk. Unfortunately, Mason was absent and watched from home. Hark came prepared with questions and we cheered Katie on in the chat section. Other 7th graders joined the classroom, finishing their own hamsa projects. What I loved seeing is how we all worked and listened together. Black and brown students felt affirmed that day; Blackness being the center of joy, instead of only being rooted in oppression. I particularly loved listening to Dr. Gholdy Muhammad speak about asking different questions and focusing her framework in storytelling/ multiple perspectives.
Mason and Hark’s hamsas inspired by Bisa Butler’s work.
It was a really good day in the Art studio. Thank you Scholastic Art Magazine for this opportunity!
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