Art Education Spotlight: Meet Christina Moloon

With art education funding in peril in some school districts nationwide, we wanted to raise awareness about its importance and impact on today’s youth. In a series of interviews, we’ll be highlighting those currently working in the art education field, learning how art can lead to more enriched and engaged students.

First in our series is Christina Moloon, a Visual Art K-5 teacher at PS 13Q, The Clement C. Moore School in Elmhurst, NY.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO BECOME AN ART TEACHER?

I was an art major in college and moved to New York for an art fellowship. When I decided to stay after the fellowship I went back to school for teaching. Being an art teacher is what gets me out of bed! 

Some days are harder than others, of course, but ultimately seeing the kids light up when they draw, paint, collage, and create is such a satisfying feeling. I've seen nonverbal kids express themselves through their artwork in the most amazing ways. Shy kids come out of their shells. Anxieties melt away when we do art. No one is expecting anything from us. We're just having fun, experimenting, experiencing, and turning anything we might consider a mistake into something beautiful.

WHY IS ART IMPORTANT IN A STUDENT’S OVERALL EDUCATION?

The Arts (dance, music, theater, and visual art) are pivotal in a student's education! Art seeps into all facets of life, making connections with all subjects, from history to philosophy to science to politics. 

In a video by TateShots titled "Why Study Art?", several prominent people advocate for art education in such an eloquent way, much better than I could, so I'll share some of their thoughts. In the video, Artist Cornelia Parker says- ‘It doesn't matter if you're going to study history or geography or science, you still need to be creative because the people who are the most outliers in those fields are the most creative people. To have art in schools be eroded, which is happening at the moment, is disastrous because our best industry is the creative industry.’

Artist Catherine Opie shares that- ‘Creativity is critical thinking and without it, how are you going to really open up and ask harder questions? Art opens all those passages and possibilities to think beyond what we already know.’

Actress Cate Blanchett shares that- ‘In a child's education, doors need to be opened to other universes, other modes of thinking, and art is a non-pre-described world full of possibility, and it's a vital space for children to have in the formative years of their education.’

Finally, artist Michael Craig-Martin, says- ‘You can't teach art in the same way you can teach French. French exists whether you do it or not, but when you're doing art, the center of doing art is in yourself. Most of the literate subjects do not as that of (students), so this develops an entirely different realm of skill.’ 

I couldn't agree with these statements more. Art is so much more than pretty pictures, and to see children engage with themselves, their work, their peers, and life, is so enriching.

WHAT MEDIUM IS THE FAVORITE FOR YOUR STUDENTS TO WORK WITH?

Ooh, that's a tough one since we like to use everything! They always want to paint (watercolors, paint cakes, tempera, acrylics) but I have to introduce colors in phases (primary, secondary, warm, cool, neutral, etc) and proper use of brushes (watercolor, flat, round) otherwise it gets messy real fast. 

Oil pastels are my go-to for sprucing things up. They're so versatile and bright, they liven the scene. So I would say mixed media- starting with a sketch, painting, and layering with oil crayons or colored pencils for fill-ins, or collage for texture.

WHAT MEDIUM IS THE LEAST FAVORITE FOR YOUR STUDENTS TO WORK WITH?

Chalk pastels are still a toughie because they're super dusty and kids tend to be heavy-handed with them. I use them for guided drawing, usually of flowers or landscapes, and they follow my steps slowly and carefully.

HOW CAN ART CHANGE A STUDENT’S PERSPECTIVE ABOUT LEARNING?

Art has the ability to make connections with all aspects of life. When students come to art and start identifying themselves in their work it gives them ownership, and that feeling is so empowering.

I always ask them if they feel proud of their work because oftentimes they want to know if I like what they did. But I always turn that question back to them. Do you like what you did? Why or why not? I don't have to like it (although I do because my students are amazing) and that's the beauty of art. 

We don't all have to like the same artists, techniques, genres, styles, movements. It's important as a teacher to encourage them in their journey and remind them to be present in the moments of creating, rather than focusing on the end result. I think that's when their perspectives start to shift and they learn things about the process rather than the product. 

DO YOU INCORPORATE OTHER SUBJECTS INTO YOUR LESSONS? IF SO, HOW AND HOW IS IT BENEFICIAL FOR YOUR STUDENTS?

Opportunities for cross-curricular connections are always available. Before starting the polar bear paintings, we read the book "Leaf" by Sandra Dieckmann. It is a beautifully illustrated story about a polar bear who drifts away from home because of the melting ice caps and ends up in a forest. The animals of the forest have never seen a creature like him and are afraid. They name him Leaf because he's fascinated with leaves and they also want him to leave. The story opens up opportunities for discussion around social-emotional topics as well as the scientific and environmental repercussions of climate change. 

We often find creative ways to repurpose recycled materials. We also do a unit on Self-Portrait and highlight artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, who depicted challenging themes of identity, representation, and oppression. Students learn they also have a voice and their voices are important, especially when they create positive change.

IF YOU COULD PICK ONE ERA OF ART HISTORY TO STUDY, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

I guess I would say Modern Art because it's the most relevant to me. Modern art challenged traditional forms of art and brought some of the most innovative and inspiring works of art. It has a long span and within it, many movements, but the essence of it was experimenting with new ways of seeing the materials and functions of art. I think it's the most versatile one to borrow ideas from because of the constant thrust for new techniques and non-traditional materials. 

Dada Art, for me, is just the best. It's like the comedy of art. I like to laugh and joke around a lot so the nonsensical and satirical nature of it suits me well. I mean, they put a toilet in a gallery, what more can I say? What I would give to have been a fly on the wall of that first exhibit!

IF YOU WEREN’T AN ART TEACHER, WHAT WOULD YOU BE? 

Oh gosh, you got me there... I've been teaching for 17 years, and an art teacher for only 3, so I can't think of a life before that. I would probably be some kind of community worker, like a librarian, interpreter, or social worker perhaps. 

People are my vocation, even when they annoy and frustrate me- haha! When I'm alone for too long I start to lose my mind a bit, even though I often complain I need a break, some quiet space, blah blah blah.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO BECOME AN ART TEACHER?

Do it! Do it! Do it! The joys of working with children in a creative space outweigh the challenges.

Be organized. Every aspect of setting up, creating, and wrapping up is routine and requires near-surgical procedures. Jot down every step of an activity when planning, down to how they are going to clean their hands, or how many paper towels they are allowed to take. Sounds super silly but it gets hairy with 30+ kids fast! This will alleviate so many unpredicted events. 

Also, start simple. In my first year as an art teacher, I wanted to do everything, everywhere, all at once. There just weren't enough hours in a day to get through the material I wanted to cover. That inevitably created stress and exhaustion. I realized I couldn't cover everything, especially when I see each group of students twice a week for 45 minutes. So begin with what is seemingly an easy activity and break it down into steps, you'll be surprised at how many items you jot down and how much exposure to art it covers. 

A quick lesson on primary colors can open up the doors to so many more rich discussions and opportunities. Charts for routines are very helpful. And little catchphrases like ‘cap until you hear a snap’ (for markers, glue, paint sticks) or ‘dot, dot not a lot’ (for glue). 

Follow other art teachers, especially the ones who've been doing it for a while. Their advice is invaluable. I've learned how to make watercolors with dried-up markers, glue cups instead of glue bottles, messy mats, the magic of daubers, printmaking with styrofoam and tin foil, weaving techniques, pinch pots, art centers, you name it! My Instagram algorithm is pretty much all art ed reels.

OUTSIDE OF TEACHING, HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR TIME?

I spend it with friends and family. I have the three most vibrant, loving, and joyful children, ages 9, 8, and 6. My husband's pretty cool, too! We like to travel abroad or stateside to visit family and friends with any vacation time we get. 

We love camping, cycling, soccer, swimming, crafting, knitting, and painting of course! We also love eating good food so we cook a ton at home and treat ourselves to nice restaurants once in a while.