Near about 6 years ago my friend Kristin Shiga asked me if I would be interested in teaching. I said "Sure"!, but what I thought was "yes because I don't want to bartend much longer and I'm serious about my art and I don't think I'll be very good at it but I'll give it a go".
Well, not to toot my own horn but TOOT, I'm actually pretty good at it.
I was pretty nervous and I only had one class at first, but as I got better I got more classes and now I'm teaching almost everyday if enrollment is good. Now, I don't have a Masters Degree so I can't teach at junior college or any college for that matter and I don't think I can teach any grade actually, but I do get to teach at the Multnomah Arts Center.
And what an amazing program it is. If you read my little "about me"
blurb you may have noticed that I called it a rare gem of a place. And
it is. It's a community center that is dedicated solely to the arts.
Painting, drawing, music, dance, metal arts, ceramics, theater, wood,
fiber arts, and photography. They have classes for wee little tots up to wee little
old folks. I've found one of the most amazing places to spend part of my
life and I'm grateful for it.
It's not just that folks get to
experience classes that are high in quality. It isn't that the place is
located 10 minutes outside of downtown in charming, historic Multnomah
Village. It isn't the dedicated staff that make sure every student gets
a great experience and is respected throughout their time at MAC and
have fantastic customer service tattooed on their foreheads (not really
but they're all so nice and helpful). It isn't even the caliber of
instructor they have culled from the arts culture in Portland. What it
is, is the moment the student realizes that they are involved in a
community of people learning, talking, living, and feeling through the
creation of art. I LOVE IT!
I'm constantly impressed by my
students and the people I get to work with. There was a time when I was
pretty brash and a big know-it-all. I had a big head and little
responsibility and I thought I was the s#*! if you know what I mean.
Throughout my years at the Multnomah Arts Center I've grown and my
head's shrunk. I've learned so much about craft, making art, the world,
friendship, and myself.
I'm not bartending. Yay! I'm still
serious about my art. Also yay. And I'm good at something that benefits
someone else. Yay x 3.
Visit the Multnomah Arts Center. Check out the teachers. Come by for an opening and check out the gallery. Take a class. It's worth your time, I sware!
http://www.multnomahartscenter.org/
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