Mission Statement
James Mellick, Director
Heartwood School of Art
Ever since teaching a summer workshop at
Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina I have nurtured a vision for my
own art school in a rural setting. This Summer of 2005 will be the
start of that dream by offering several studio art workshops for young people
and adults at Heartwood Studios and Farm.
A successful artist will have the legacy
of leaving behind many beautiful objects of art--material evidence of his
existence on Earth. A successful artist who is also a teacher at heart
will live on in the thinking and talents of his students that he has
influenced. In this, there is living and breathing immortality
that mute art objects cannot provide.
The primary goal and mission of the Heartwood
School is one of continuing education in a relaxed setting--to bring out
the latent talents suppressed by the demands of everyday living. The
Summer workshop format caters to the older student whose family responsibilities
do not allow a long range commitment.
The second part of this mission is to give the
talented high school student, current college art student or recent art graduate
the opportunity for a focused development of technical skills and creative
thinking free of other academic responsibilities. With the agreement
of the student's college or university, it may be possible for the student
to earn course credits. The high school student has the opportunity
to improve their portfolio before applying to art school.
The third part of Heartwood's mission is
to develop the talent of the young child who is being home-schooled or is
not getting the needed attention or direction for their talent in their school.
The mission of Heartwood is to teach the young child and does not intend
to be an expensive "baby sitting" or "corrections" service. Heartwood
will enroll only those young students who want to learn.
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About the Director
Many years ago my professors saw me as a
"renaissance person" because of my skills in many different studio art media
and a general interest in the liberal arts.Today I am recognized
for my wood sculpture but my Master of Fine Arts degree was in painting.
This "renaissance" knowledge in studio art made me ideal for teaching
at small colleges with small art departments. At some point in my past
teaching career, I have taught and exhibited the various processes of
printmaking, painting, drawing and sculpture. I have taught foundation
courses of 2D and 3D design as well as art history and art
appreciation. In 1978 I developed and founded the first
art major program for Houghton College (NY) at the age of 31. I began
my teaching career as an elementary art teacher from 1969 to 1971, before
and while going to graduate school. |
We live in a culture that prefers labels
and specialties. As an artist in the tradition of the multi-talented
masters who were both painters and sculptors, I refuse to be tied down to
the limited and narrow expectations of a university or art school where every
professor has a protected niche or territory that is not to be crossed over.
The Heartwood School of Art allows me to get back to the basics of
what it means to be an artist and a teacher in the broadest sense.
I do not intend to be a "one-man-band". If
I cannot teach a desired course, my intent is to bring in artist/teachers
whom I 've respected over the years and people I trust to teach special courses.
For a complete history of professional accomplishments, please see
my resume .
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