Northwoods Fine Arts Academy Shines in their Love for Blue Dog
Before I became a local real estate associate, I was an art teacher for almost 30 years. During that time I have been honored to meet some wonderful artists. George Rodrigue was one of them. The article below is about those experiences and my students. I believe that arts in a community are very valuable. They bring in local and tourist dollars but even more important they allow all of us to see the world through the eyes of another.
As an educator of almost 30 years and a Sandite Jennifer
Barretto strives to follow the path set out by so many before her. Always engaged in learning herself, she
enthusiastically shares her knowledge of and love for art with her
students.
She was part of the Oklahoma Arts Council’s Leadership
Classes last year, she has been Northwoods Teacher of the Year & runner up
for Sandite Teacher of the Year.
She’s been awarded many grants including ones from the Sand Springs
Education Foundation, The Betty Broadstreet Foundation, and Donors Choose. She exhibits her student art every year
at Gilcrease Museum, Artsonia.com, Mayfest, & Herbal Affair. She was honored
to be nominated for a DaVinci Award. She was chosen to attend the Sensational Science coursework
and integrates STEM daily into her art classes. She is an A+ Schools and Harwelden trained teacher. She is on the Board at the Sand Springs
Cultural and Historical Museum and is the Education Chair & recently helped
form and is on the board of the Sand Springs Small Business Coalition. If you ask her why she does all this
her answer is because it is the right thing to do.
She fell in love with George Rodrigue’s Blue Dog while teaching in Houston; often passing the colorful billboards where Blue Dog advertised Xerox. She was lucky enough to get to meet George & watch him paint a Blue Dog and it was only natural to share this Pop Art icon with her students. Often writing lessons that not only incorporate Blue Dog; but that integrate STEM into her class; she has been able to teach students about Pop Art and George Rodrigue. Subjects like the Space Race and the Solar System were featured in this fall’s lessons. Another student favorite combines the art of Paul Gauguin and Rodrigue. Her kindergarten students enjoy a lesson that includes Blue Dog & music. Her students have even written a book that focused on Blue Dog and what her favorite art would be if she went along with them to the museum.
Please view the videos on the site below and donate if you can. Then please share so others can learn about this wonderful opportunity to help bring a world class artist's work to Sand Springs, OK.
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