Comics Workshop for k-12 teachers

On June 22, the Art Education Department, UIMA, and the Belin-Blank Center hosted an all day workshop for teachers. The workshop was led by Rachel Williams and Corey Creekmur. We looked at comics in American culture from the birth of Superman comic books to the present. Our whole group traveled to the UIMA where we were treated by Dale and Chris to a sneak peek at the new educational collection of comics. This collection features the work of Jeff Lemire, James Turm, Jessica Abel, Matt Madden, Phoebe Gloeckner, Bryan Lee O'Malley, Chip Zadrsky, and Jay Stephens. Next we traveled to the UI Main Library to work in the new TILE classroom. We did a series of writing exercises inspired by Lynda Barry, and some fun comics games. We discussed ways to analyze comics and then explored the grassroots comics method created by world comics. Finally we ended the day at Daydreams Comic Bookstore on Dubuque street. Below are some pictures of the workshop. What a great day and a talented group of educators.