Allisyn Massimo is an Art Educator at Eastport South Manor Junior-Senior High School. She has been teaching in the district for over 15 years. Allisyn started off teaching Studio Art but now teaches the more advanced classes, like Drawing and Painting and Independent Art Workshop. When she is not teaching, she enjoys ceramics and painting with her daughter. 

Why did you choose Art Education as your career path? Did you ever consider art as a career over Education? 

I originally wanted to go into architecture. I visited Pratt with my father when I was 16 and decided that I'd rather go into Art Ed. I thought if I wanted to have a family one day that the schedule would suit me best. 

What kind of art do you make?

I love ceramics and painting. However, I'm at the point in my life where my family comes first and unfortunately, I rarely get the opportunity to create for myself. It seems like something else always takes precedence. However, I'm hoping that once my daughter is a bit older, I can get back to it for myself. She and I do create art together though, mostly just drawings and small paintings or sculptures here and there. 

Do you work on collaborative projects as an artist, or do you typically work alone?  

Collaboratively working with my daughter! If I am creating, it is solo. I do some collaborative works with my classes though, like the East End Arts Martin Luther King painting project.

How often do your students get to collaborate with each other or students from another class/subject? 

I would say that my students work collaboratively on evaluating and critiquing each other's works on a regular basis. Offering their peers praise and constructive criticism, different options for completion and improvements really helps build the community within the classroom. We do a collaborative project within the class as mentioned earlier. It is a portrait of MLK measuring 4'x4' divided up into many square canvases, each student painting one piece of the large scale portrait. We have also collaborated with elementary students: the kindergartners drew animals, then my secondary students sculpted the younger students' creations and they met to give them as gifts. The younger students created monster drawings and my high schoolers traced their monster and set it into an original background. The little ones loved seeing their designs brought to the next level. Oftentimes, I collaborate with other teachers of different disciplines for certain lessons: Hispanic Heritage Month, Red Ribbon Week, etc.

Do you feel they benefit from collaborative projects? Are students who may be shy intimidated by group projects? 

Yes, I have gotten lots of positive feedback from students on the collaborative projects we have completed. Sometimes introverted or more reserved students are reluctant, but with encouragement and maybe some modifications if needed, they got by just fine. 

Do you focus on technical skills more than conceptual art in your curriculum?

I do. I feel it is my job to give high school students a good understanding of different mediums and techniques. I don't think I really learned about conceptual art until I went to college. 

If students are interested in conceptual art, do they use research as a tool when they are starting a new project?

I try to play off my students' interests in general, giving them freedom to create something that fulfills the project requirements, but also has their own spin on it. Research can be used as a tool for brainstorming and gathering references, definitely! 

How do you promote sustainability in your classroom/Is it possible to promote sustainability with the number of students you teach? 

Sustainability? As in reusing recycled materials, creating art that can benefit the environment? If so, yes. Each year we repurpose plastic bottles to create holiday ornaments for our "Stuff a School" charity event. We create collage in Drawing & Painting using discarded books, newspapers, and magazines from the school library.

Are you able to present ideas for new courses at your school? 

Yes, each spring the art department can submit course suggestions and descriptions to administration for approval. This year, we added Independent Art Workshop for 11th & 12th graders to create based on their choice of medium with the assistance of the instructor. 

What advice do you have for a future Art Educator?

Be kind. Share your love of art with your students in various ways. Show them your art. Teach different techniques. Modify where needed. Fair is not always equal. Give opportunities for your students to shine and be recognized, via photos on the school website, displays around the school, outside museum exhibits, etc. Be fun. Make your class the best part of their day.