JC hires temporary art teacher
New substitute art teacher Erin Stellman offers advice to senior Nicolette Ficca about her AP Studio Art portfolio. Stellman currently teaches Introduction to Drawing and Studio classes.
After art teacher Bruno Baran left the school, students were left wondering who would replace Baran to continue to teach them art. As of Nov. 12, Erin Stellmon is the new long-term substitute for this position.
“My first day I was given a card and chocolates, and people have been poking in saying ‘Hi’ and asking me if I know where everything is. All the students are so awesome. — Erin Stellmon
While she taught drawing at University of Nevada, Las Vegas and College of Southern Nevada, this is her first time being a part of a private high school. According to Stellmon, the community has openly welcomed her. “My first day I was given a card and chocolates, and people have been poking in saying ‘Hi’ and asking me if I know where everything is. All the students are so awesome,” Stellmon said.
Art was always something that interested Stellmon, even at a young age. “I think most kids like making things with their hands, but I just kept doing it and getting more and more serious about it,” Stellmon said. As a child, without realizing what she was doing, Stellmon created art by adding different colors to various things.
One of Stellmon’s mentors in high school showed her a new way to make her drawings and paintings by pasting unusual objects onto them. She would cut copies of things and place them on the works of art to make collage-like pieces.
“I thought it was very freeing, hopefully I can do that for some of the AP students that are feeling a little stuck,” Stellmon said. Now, she likes to experiment with mixed media, collages, and installations.
Before becoming the substitute, Stellmon worked at The Neon Museum in Las Vegas, which she also helped open. She organized events such as TV commercials, reality shows, fashion shoots, and weddings to raise money to help the museum running. “It’s one of the only vintage things that’s left in Vegas,” Stellmon said.
Fine Arts Department Chair and social studies teacher Robert Schick believes that Stellmon will bring valuable experience to the department. Due to her previous experience teaching at a college, she knows what colleges look for in art portfolios and can help the students prepare their own portfolios.
“It’s like having a major league pitcher throw [to] you [at] batting practice, it’s going to make you ready,” Schick said.
Caroline Cooney is an In-Focus Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.
