DiDi Grimm was looking for a chance to reconnect with artmaking. She’s worked as an art teacher in Chicago, Illinois, for 25 years and has spent 17 years at Lincoln Park High School, where she teaches drawing and painting.
Throughout the spring, Grimm researched residencies on the internet and social media. When she discovered the Summer Artist / Educator Residency (SAER), Moore’s week-long studio-based residency built for art educators of all genders, she was drawn in by the College’s inclusivity and rich history of advocacy for women in the arts.
“I was looking a little further to places I hadn’t been before, and this one looked really good. Moore’s history with women was very enticing to me, as well as its support for a lot of diverse groups. That’s so important in education and in society,” she said.
What made traveling from Chicago to Philadelphia for the first time worth it for Grimm? Aside from the program’s expansive curriculum and allocated studio spaces, she was most excited about connecting with other art educators. Not only did she learn alongside them, but she also learned from them.
“Working in the studio environment and having artists as neighbors to discuss ideas has been really rewarding. Even though everybody’s working in different ways, I’ve learned a lot of new techniques from my studiomates that I can take back to my own studio,” she said. “I’m really excited about that.”
Although she typically works with acrylic paint, Grimm explored a variety of new media throughout the week, including tintype photography, watercolor and printmaking. While she developed her art with other participants, she also learned new classroom approaches from Moore’s facilitators and guest speakers.
“I knew there was going to be topics that are really pertinent to education today, like trauma-informed teaching and working with diverse populations,” she said. “Anytime you can pick up new skills to bring to the classroom is always great, especially when you can do it in a way that keeps students engaged.”
Ultimately, the residency was “a very special time” for Grimm, allowing her to be more intentional with her craft. A dedicated time and space for art helped her tap into new inspiration, like two recent trips to Senegal and Colorado.
Grimm said she would consider coming back to SAER in the future. For those who also want to attend, her advice is to embrace the new experiences that come with the environment.
“The focus of this residency is really important, current work,” she said. “My piece of advice is to be open to experiment and explore.”
Want to learn more about Adult Continuing Education offerings at Moore? Click here for more information or contat us at ce@moore.edu or 215.965.4030.
Artwork by DiDi Grimm. Photos by Gabi Stevenson.
