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BACKGROUND During my first year serving as an art specialist for the Bryan Academy for Visual and Performing Arts (BAVPA) in Bryan, Texas, I had a fifth grade student whose brother was stabbed to death at the ninth grade campus. While walking down the hall behind the principal and a father of one of my third graders, I heard the dad say, "I told my son, if one of the other kids bothers you, hit him with a pipe!" Both of these incidences were disturbing. Obviously, there was a "violence is the solution" mentally in which numerous students in the community were raised. I was compelled to do something, but what? Art effects people, it communicates, it leads. Kids have social concerns other than just violence in schools. I tried to find something kids could relate to, be a venue for positive social changes, and at the same time, teach about the Elements and Principles of art while trying to more effectively communicate their ideas. Consequenty, I created the Star Poster Program toward those ends. Star made his first appearance at the Bryan Academy for Visual and Performing Arts (BAVPA) in Bryan, Texas, in August of 1993. There he was a noticeable influence on students where he appeared on bulletin boards, banners, walls, and t-shirts. Originally, the Star Poster Program was a simple after school art enrichment created by Robert Bear and it was literally "run by the seat of the pants". There was no structured course outline, objectives, or instructional documents. Because of the initial success and interest by other students and faculty, a formalized poster program was written.
STAR POSTER PROGRAM CREATOR
Robert Bear brought to this project a long list of related experiences. He has taught in public schools for over eighteen years, grades K-12. Five and a half of these years included working in Special Education. He has also taught a course in photography for three years. As an educator, not only has he been called upon to act as a judge for several art competitions, he has also served as a district, regional, and state judge for Odyssey of the Mind. For over two years he was employed full-time as an Exhibit Specialist for the John E. Conner Museum in Kingsville, Texas (Here he designed and built exhibits, labored as a photographer, and did freeze-dry taxidermy.) Robert has also acted as a Supervisor of a Graphic Art Department for the U.S. Air Force in Grand Forks, North Dakota, an Art Director of a print shop in Lubbock, Texas, and as an Education Services Specialist for the 123rd Army Reserve Command in Indianapolis, Indiana. From 1991-1993, Robert was the president of the Bravos Valley Art Educator's Association and has been a member of the National and Texas Art Education Associations. The summer of 1992 saw Robert participate in the Improving Visual Art Education conference in Cininnati, Ohio which was sponsored by the Getty Center for Education in the Arts and the Cincinnati Art Museum. In 1993, he was a presenter at the Texas Art Education state conference in Houston. Robert has also given workshops on elementary art education for various organizations and been a guest lecturer for university art students. Additionally, he has been a visiting artist for several galleries. As a practicing artist, Robert Bear has been active in a myriad of group and one-man shows, receiving numerous accolades and awards, including Best-of-Show and People's Choice selections in national juried competitions. In 1986, the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum extended to him a scholarship to study with world-renowned artist/naturalist Robert Bateman. Bear's paintings and drawings are part of private collections in Germany, Japan, Alaska, and across the United States. Robert is available for workshops and may be contacted at rbear100@yahoo.com. He can also be reached at 512-556-2152 ext. 199.
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Copyright 2005 Robert E. Bear |
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The Star Poster Program
and the Cool-ality Kid characters were created by
Robert Bear while he was an Art Specialist at the
Bryan Academy for Visual Performing Arts (BAVPA)
in the Bryan Independent School District of Bryan,
Texas. At the same time, Mr. Bear was also a doctoral
student in the department of Curriculum and Instruction
at Texas A&M University. He holds a Master of
Science degree in Studio Art from Texas A&I
University and received a Bachelor of Science degree
in Art Education from Bemidji State University.
Before receiving these degrees, Robert graduated
from Art Instruction Schools of Minneapolis, having
studied Commercial Art and Illustration. Mr. Bear
has been recognized in both Who's Who in America
and Who's Who in American Education.