Community Arts Partner

Participant Details

Community Arts Partner Name
Mylen Huggins
Partner Type
Individual
Profile Photo
Individual Bio or
Organizational Statement
I am an independent teaching artist, artist mentor, arts advocate and a parent volunteer passionate about bringing more art into public schools.  I helped develop and implement a successful visual arts and music program called Arts Friday at West Woodland Elementary School, which has been thriving since 2009.  After spending the first year managing the program, I was then hired as the visual arts teacher for 3rd-5th grades.  My work as a Teaching Artist for ArtsCorps, partnered me with an afterschool program at Madrona K-8 Elementary School and at Southern Heights Elementary in Burien, WA.   I taught a semi-private after school art class called Drawing Lab  for a small group of third and fourth graders.  In the spring of 2014, I joined Arts Impact, a professional learning organization for teachers, as one of their Artists Mentors.  Through Arts Impact, I'll be a resident artist mentor at Sand Point Elementary school facilitating one of their programs called Arts FUNdamentals. My commitment to teaching art requires ongoing development, research and practice.  I am certified through Washington State Teaching Artist Training Lab and other professional development practicums such as Visual Thinking Strategies, Arts Impact, Educator programs at the Frye Art Museum, Henry Art Gallery, , Seattle Art Museum, Junior League of Seattle, Smithsonian Institute's Center for Museum Studies and many others.

Contact Information

First Name
Mylen
Last Name
Huggins
Address
722 n 70th Street
Address 2
City
Seattle
State
WA
Zip
98103
Phone
206-781-9617
Website, Blog or Social Media Link
Link Text
Other

Grade Levels Preferred

Grade Levels Preferred
K-2, 3rd - 5th

Artistic Disciplines

Discipline
5
Type
Drawing, Painting, Drafting, clay sculpture, mixed media, printmaking, etc.

Experience

Previous School Partnerships
Other Trainings or Certifications
Sample Lesson Description: Student / Classroom Residencies
Sample Workshop Description: Teacher Professional Development

Areas of Experience and Expertise

Approved Professional Development Provider
1
Approved Classroom Residency Provider
Yes

Lesson Plan

Integrated Art
Cultural Art

Teaching Approach

Teaching Philosophy + Approach
I believe that art is an essential part of becoming an educated person. As a teaching artist, I engage students in a safe environment that fosters 21st century skills and habits that help them develop into courageous, confident artists and citizens. Together, we build a collaborative art room community, we work hard, have fun and take risks; we develop art skills and techniques, explore various media and materials and make time to reflect on our experiences. Teaching artistry found me: While my formal college education was in graphic design and illustration at the College for Creative Studies-Center for Art and Design from 1987-1990, it was 1996 while working in the Visitor and Education Programs department at The Children's Museum when I realized that I am naturally skilled at teaching art to young people. Teaching felt intuitive and natural. I've been privileged to interact with children from diverse economic and cultural backgrounds from preschool aged to elementary aged students. I've taught in diverse settings such as the Children's Museum and their partnering cultural organizations, Arts Corps, Seattle Public Schools, Highline School District, summer camps, and cooperative preschool. Since becoming a teaching artist, I am drawn to teaching in a K-5 classroom environment. I would love to work more with teenagers (as I have one of my own) and hope to have an opportunity to work with Middle and High Schoolers in the future.
Curriculum Integration Possibilities
Arts Infusion in Math, Literacy, Language Arts/Social Studies.
Special Skills and Areas of Expertise
Artist Mentor with ARTS IMPACT.  Have taught a diverse student population from North Seattle to Burien; have worked with a variety of teachers and adult volunteers.
Testimonials from Schools
Teachers: Sara Williams, Colby Dresbeck, Cheri Guthrie, Maritess Batista-Michelson, Rae Rosenblatt-Hood, Alyssa Dahl, Anne Pfeil, Denise Dela Pella, Josephine Brombaugh and several others. Principals: Marilyn Loveness, Tami Beach, Kristen Percy-Calaff, Arts Administrators: Beverly Harding-Beuhler, Eduardo Mendonca, Tina LaPadula

Fees

Fees

Images

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A collaborative sculpture lesson on geometry & structure with rolled paper and tape. 5th grade.
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Collage: A fundamental lesson on art elements of color and shape: expressing a representation of ones personal world. 2nd/3rd grade
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Guided Owl drawings: Lesson on line and pattern; balance and repetition. 1st grade.
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Still-Life observation drawings: multiple perspectives, depicting space (foreground/background/shadow), overlapping shapes, proportion and shadow; using color to depict value without using white or black. 1st to 4th grade
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Image Description
African Inspired trading Bands: a collage lesson on symbolism (shield), identity, pattern, fractions, warm/cool/neutral colors. 1st-3rd grade.

Video

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