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Scribble Artist Interview with Pedro Mena!

Scribble Town (ST): Pedro Mena, a person of multiple trades and interests, is here with us in Scribble Town!  Pedro is an artist, teacher and a first time dad. He likes NY Pizza, Spanish Soccer, and the History of Rock and Roll!  Pedro, where are you and what are you up to these days?

Squeegees of Spain by Pedro Mena

Squeegees of Spain by Pedro Mena

Pedro Mena (PM): San Francisco Bay Area. Off on Paternity Leave! Returning to teaching visual art shortly. Donated a piece for the upcoming annual HAPS (Haight Ashbury Psychological Services) Art Auction Benefit.

ST: Congratulations on your new baby! Having a new family member will put a special spin on things :) How has your art practice changed over time and does being an art teacher (and for the future- being a father) have an effect on your own art practice?  Please let us know what ages and where you teach.

PM: It has become more specific in addressing necessity. Yes! It has allowed for more patience and flexibility – and a new outlook on seeking and bridging ideas. Middle School, Burke’s, SF.

A peek into Pedro Mena's classroom

A peek into Pedro Mena's classroom

ST: From the looks of your classroom you definitely encourage all kinds of artistic practice- from visual to musical!  What do you hope to communicate with your art and with your teaching?  Are there any other artistic mediums you work with to help push your idea along?

PM: Excitement and Engagement. Anything and everything! Music, technology, storytelling…

ST: How old were you when you first started making art and who encouraged you to create?

PM: I remember the first time getting recognized for my drawing – it was in 1st grade. A classmate asked for a drawing of Spider-Man after seeing mine. I won 3rd place in a community coloring contest later that year. I bought a toy robot of Twiki from the Buck Rogers series with the $10 toy store gift certificate prize. My family encouraged me. I was surrounded with the paintings, drawings, and prints of my grandfather growing up. He encouraged me as well. 

ST: Who are some of your favorite artists and/or authors?

PM: My grandfather, Bolivar Mena Franco, El Greco, Andrea del Castagno, Velasquez, Max Ernst, Rothko, Forrest Bess, Philip Guston,Jack Kirby, Wes Wilson, ’80s Ashley Bickerton, Jonathan Lasker, Steve Dibenedetto (college professor), Lady Pink, Nate 1…too many to name! They’ve all brought static works to life. As for writers, Peter Guralnick can sure bring a biography to life.

Pedro Mena's Rock Benefit Merchandise

Pedro Mena's Rock Benefit Merchandise

ST: I can see how your favorite artists have inspired you.  Your students are very lucky to have such an enthusiastic and caring teacher.  Thank you for sharing with Scribble Town and keep us posted on your upcoming auction and other benefit programs!

To read more about Pedro Meno’s tips on how to make Sticker Art please go to:
http://www.scribbleshop.com/content/sticker-art-pedro-mena 

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Posted by , on February 10th, 2013 at 7:05 am. No Comments

Category: adults,Arts & Crafts,,classroom,Design,Featured,Scribble Artist Interviews,Scribble Press,Uncategorized Labels: , , , , , , , , ,


Developing Skills of Imagination, Creativity and Innovation

by Pedro Mena
Last week, I attended the International Educator Workshop at Lincoln Center Institute in NYC. It is a unique and an intense introduction to teaching and learning through the arts for the classroom and community. As an artist and teacher, I am always looking for new challenges and ways to enhance my experience with the art-making process for my students. This workshop exceeded my expectations on how to engage people through art and I look forward to sharing some of the ideas and skills with my students this fall. It also taught us to stop and look. How many times have you seen a public sculpture or visited a museum and really spent some time to try and understand what it is you’re really seeing?
 
Aware Participation in Works of Art… is a key idea by Lincoln Center Institute’s philosopher, Dr. Maxine Greene. It is a bridge to learning, creating, and growing in the classroom. It is a tool that every child needs to use to further their creative thinking skills. It is also an idea that everyone should think about while experiencing a work of art. The teaching artists at LCI show you how to harness the imagination in your students and help them develop dynamic brainstorming, questioning, art-making, and research skills through works of art. Whether your sketching a sculpture, viewing a digital video or listening to a flamenco performance, LCI’s participatory approach to learning through the arts is essential for today’s thinkers and tomorrow’s leaders to fully experience. One practice we looked at was creating an artwork with the contextual information given to us after the fact. We approached a work of art through an active and participatory manner, resulting in a deeper understanding of its relationship to the world around us.With today’s economic climate, Art programs are being cut from schools. Stepping into the work that Lincoln Center Institute has been championing for over 25 years is testament that the arts role in education will continue to thrive. If a visual arts or music class is cut from a program, a child can still experience the essential role the arts play in learning via a history, science, or math lesson – that is something LCI emphasizes, that the arts fit in across any discipline and learning environment. The LCI workshop attracted creative people from all corners of the globe such as a 1st grade teacher in the Bronx, a dance instructor from Korea, a high school educator based in Ireland and a college professor from Missouri. By the end of the week long workshop, we all walked away with a better understanding of how to utilize arts in our teaching.

 

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Posted by , on July 19th, 2011 at 10:17 pm. No Comments

Category: ,Uncategorized Labels: , Guest Blogger, LCI, Lincoln Center Institute,


Today’s Guest Blogger

Later today, we will have our first Guest Scribble Blogger, Pedro Mena. He is going to tell us some exciting stuff about a recent seminar he went to at Lincoln Center- but before we hear from Pedro, lets learn more about him!

About Pedro Mena

Pedro Mena is a San Francisco based artist and he is the Visual Arts teacher at Burke’s Middle School. Pedro’s artwork and classroom projects reference his love for the history of rock and roll. Pedro is a guest presenter and teacher at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum where he leads breakout sessions on integrating music effectively in the classroom. His students’ work has been displayed at the GRAMMY Museum and the Fillmore, San Francisco. Pedro received his BFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York City.

Check back soon to see what Pedro has to say!

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Posted by , on July 19th, 2011 at 6:42 pm. No Comments

Category: Labels: Guest Blogger,