Louise Halsey

My childhood was spent in Charleston SC where both my parents were self-supporting artists and for many years ran their own art school.  I created lots and lots of potholders as my earliest weaving experience.  On the local scene Gullah basket makers were the only textile artists I recall.  I learned to weave on a floor loom when I was in my 20's while taking a course at Arrowmont Craft School in Tennessee.  Weaving has been my primary medium since that time, although I love other art forms and enjoy doing a wide variety of media with children.  Color and shape are my main interest and abstract art engages me far more than representational.  I came to Owensboro 14 years ago from the Ozarks of Arkansas where my husband and I lived with our two children on property surrounded by woods and water. Teaching in the schools around the state has been a rewarding experience.  I have a love for sharing what I do as an artist that makes doing residencies a great way for me to work.  I am currently exploring the comedic side of my personality as humor is very important to me.

In an educational setting I introduce myself by showing my work and talking about the pieces that I bring.  I have a wide variety of work from over my many years of being a weaver and discuss the techniques and purposes of each.  I ask questions of the students and answer any that they have.  Once I have introduced myself, I discuss the project we will be doing and if it is related to a particular culture or area of the curriculum, I give background information on that.  I expect the teachers involved to be available to add to what I have said, ask questions and when we actually start working, to work alongside so that she/he can become proficient along with the students.
 
One focus I have is to teach the basics of weaving though for grades 3 and up the focus is often on tapestry weaving.  With tapestry the students learn how to design a piece before it can be woven.  As we work I introduce the correct terminology for different kinds of weaving and different tools and emphasize the skills needed to produce a well-crafted piece.  In most instances I am linking what I do in my residency to content that is being taught in other subjects (geography, social studies, math, etc) and that influences the decisions I make in terms of the overall focus.  In each culture the choices of what materials to use, what to make and for what purpose tie in quite readily with Core Content in the Visual Arts.  I have a lot of support materials on Folk/Appalachian, West African and Native American art that help to create a broad understanding of these cultures.

In a week long residency we can get a piece of weaving done that is a good example of weaving techniques suitable to the skill level of the students with whom I am working.  Although we are covering a lot of the same techniques, each weaving is unique as each student makes choices to reflect her own developing aesthetic sense.
   
I am by nature interested in children and easily reinforce the value of what they are doing.  Weaving tends to engage most students in a very rewarding process that creates a wonderful working atmosphere for all involved.