They 'practice what they teach'

By Toni Jane Pallatto - St. Theresa School (Little Flower)

Photographer: JONATHAN MARTINEZ | FC

Yunier Oliver Cervino's "Black Madonna" is on display at Curley Notre Dame's Gallery of Art.

MIAMI — They say, “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.” But a new exhibit at Archbishop Curley Notre Dame’s Gallery of Art demonstrates that many of the archdiocese’s teachers both “teach and do” in the field of art.

“Teaching Artists — A Catholic Tradition” kicked off the school year with a focus on culture. The exhibit showcases the works of six artists from around the archdiocese to demonstrate the importance of art within the Catholic school tradition and its power as a teaching tool.

The opening reception for the exhibit, which runs through Oct. 29, featured a lecture by art critic and writer Anne Tschida.

“This is an event that has been put together to promote Catholic school education in the archdiocese and directly involves five of our institutions,” said Christian Brother Patrick Sean Moffett, Curley Notre Dame’s principal. “It is a story at the heart of the Catholic school curriculum. What our teachers do as artists has a definite influence on the way they teach.”

The six artists/teachers whose works are exhibited are: Kerry Ware, St. Patrick School, Miami Beach; Vivian Macia and Wilma DeVoe, St. Agnes School, Key Biscayne; Catherine Wichmann, St. Anthony School, Fort Lauderdale; Don Clerveaux, St. Mary Cathedral School, Miami; and Yunier Cervino Oliver, Archbishop Curley Notre Dame 6 to 12 Prep, which includes its middle school, the Brother Rice Honors Academy.

Each one of the artists/teachers uses a different technique and a different language of expression, but they have one thing in common: their capacity to communicate, learned through many years of teaching. They express their thoughts, their feelings and their world through their artistic techniques to impress the everyday viewer of their works.

“Each year we have had a middle school art festival,” said Lisa Morales, public relations specialist for Curley Notre Dame. “Late last school year, we decided to invite the teachers of the Archdiocese of Miami schools if they would like to feature their works in an exhibit that would focus on their creativity. We felt this would continue to inspire students who realized their teachers not only teach, but express themselves in their artwork.”

Although his fulltime job is teaching physical education, Clerveaux teaches sketching to a small group of students at St. Mary Cathedral School because he recognizes the educational and healing qualities of art. 

;I was first taught art and how to draw by Irene Henshaw at St. Rose of Lima in Miami Shores,” said Clerveaux. “She showed me how to express myself through art, and how relaxing it was, and is, especially in the second grade, when my parents got divorced.”

“I am considered a musical person,” Clerveaux continued. “I see art as silent music. All of the lines, colors and shades make the picture tell a story with harmony.”

The exhibit is curated by Stefano Campanini, owner of Etra Fine Art and Wine by the Bay.

“This exhibit is a beautiful opportunity to communicate to a younger population,” said Campanini. “It makes us remember that art is a very important means of communication and it is nice to demonstrate art from teachers to our youth, and hopefully inspire the base that will be our future artists.”

Campanini has first-hand experience in advancing teaching and learning through the arts as a board member of Arts for Learning.

“It is important for our kids to know that we not only teach, but we practice what we teach,” said Macia. “This is an important exhibit in that it lets our students see that one can have a career as an artist, and that they, too, can learn and discuss art and take it home to their parents to show the expression of the right side of the brain.” /p>

Seven of Macia’s paintings have been commissioned by Carnival Cruise Line and their reproductions grace the walls of passenger suites.

“In today’s world, filled with tragedies such as 9/11 and many natural disasters, it is important to recognize the healing qualities of art and the universal nature of its communication,” said Brother Moffett. “It is the Catholic tradition, with art at the core of the Church, to capture the visuals and the symbols that touch the human soul.”

FIND OUT MORE

• The Teaching Artists exhibit at Archbishop Curley Notre Dame 6 to 12 Prep continues through October 29. Admission is free and the exhibit is open daily during business hours.

• Upcoming exhibits include Tom Salyer’s Chinese Stories, opening Nov. 5; the Middle School Art Festival opening Jan. 31, 2012; Benjamin Rusnaks’ 23 Degrees, Far from Paradise, opening Feb. 25, 2012; and Carl Juste’s presentation of Students’ Photography, opening April 21, 2012.

• The school and exhibit are located at 4949 N.E. Second Ave., Miami, FL 33157. For more information, call 305-751-8367.