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Meredith Matthews
I am an Atlantic Beach native, and a double Gator with a BFA in Painting and an MA in Art Education from University of Florida. I have had a career in magazine design and arts writing/editing that parallels my art education career; I was the assistant publisher of the local arts magazine, Arbus, for eleven years. I have taught art in many different places, including the Cummer Museum and various Duval County Schools during a fellowship with the Cathedral Arts Project. I paint on commission, and one piece I’ ... read morem especially proud of was commissioned by the development team at Jacksonville University to hang in University President Tim Cost’s office. It shows an aerial view of JU and downtown on either side of the St. Johns River.
Why I love teaching art: Art is a universal language and we are each born with an artistic voice. I relish the opportunity to help young people find different ways to express their artistic voice through different art materials and methods. I also highly value looking at and interpreting art. I’ve always said, “Art teaches art,” so we look at artworks a lot in art class, at all grade levels. My two questions when looking at art are: “What do you notice?” and “What does it remind you of?” These questions help students tap into their unique perspective and develop empathy for one another's different ideas. In this way, art is personal and empowering, at the same time as being communal and welcoming. An art room is a joyful place!
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