3rd-8th Grade Art Teacher
Steve has taught students from the ages of three to 83. His devotion to teaching began over a decade ago while serving as a residential advisor and art instructor for emotionally disturbed teens at a boarding school near the Pecos Wilderness Area in northern New Mexico. There he learned that art is a powerful tool for helping students resolve emotional struggles and learn about the merits of other disciplines.
Steve has been blessed with the opportunity to teach art courses for the Colorado College's Summer Institute, the University of Montana, the Missoula Art Museum, Willard School of Missoula, Camp Mak-A-Dream, programs for developmentally disabled adults, and children in therapeutic substance abuse programs.
Steve developed his own art through study at the Colorado College (BA 1996), the University of Montana (MFA 2006), the SALT Institute for Documentary Field Studies in Portland, Maine, Pacific Northwest College of Art, and study with photographers Stuart Klipper and Dan Burkholder.
Steve is now enthusiastically teaching art at Sussex and drawing and photography at the University of Montana and promoting his photography-based artwork nationwide. In the spring of 2006, as a graduate student, he was one of five selected internationally to present work at the Society for Photographic Education's 43rd national conference in Chicago.
When he isn't teaching or creating and promoting his own work, Steve is spending invaluable time with his family.
What is your teaching philosophy? As a dedicated art instructor, I strive to accomplish an explicit set of goals by employing a direct hands-on approach with the students. First, I personally demonstrate all the techniques I am presenting to the students. This demonstration is offered to the entire class and then to individual students as necessary. Next, I pay close attention to creating assignments that are meaningful to the students as people, not just as necessary exercises and static assignments. For example, I have had my photography students at the Missoula Art Museum photograph a “fictitious” persona replete with costumes and props, conveying at least three characteristics they would, in fact, assign to themselves. Then I encourage and inspire artistic efforts though joint discussion of “successful” and “less successful” attempts at concepts introduced to all my students. Surveying images of student, historical, and contemporary artists fuel this encouragement and inspiration. At every stage, I emphasize he understanding and practice of foundational techniques. Before students move on to explore more advanced techniques and concepts, or more personal endeavors, I ensure that they have the skill-level and confidence to do so. Lastly and most importantly, I seek to develop talent that is latent and improve that which is evident, revealing the benefits of artistic appreciation and endeavor to students of all levels of competency and capability.
Is there anyone in particular who has inspired you as a teacher? My biggest inspirations in the realm of teaching have been my high school art instructor, Peg Cullen; my graduate school advisor, Elizabeth Dove; and my wife, Kinza.
What was your most rewarding experience as a teacher? My most rewarding experience thus far, was coordinating a teen mural project in Missoula that attracted a wide variety of high school students from the community. Some of the students were required by their probation officers to help paint the mural while others voluntarily signed up at their schools. In the end, both groups of students learned to cope with their ethical, economic, and racial differences to create a 9’ X 36’ mural that enlivened a drab parking lot wall at the low-income housing project. The mural, that focused on historical events in the Missoula Valley, drew the attention of the housing project’s residents as well and the local newspaper. The attention demonstrated to countless Missoula residents the rich history of the valley as well as the powerful presence and skill of Missoula teenagers. Most importantly, the adolescents strengthened their self-worth by providing such a service to the community.
What do you love most about teaching? The thing I love most about teaching is learning.
What do you like to do when you are not teaching? When I am not teaching, I am pursuing my own artistic interests and spending time with my wife, Kinza and my children, Finn, Rowan and Maeve.
“The thing I love most about teaching is learning.” - Steve Krutek, Art Teacher for Grades 4-8