![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5ce839_86a59621b70f4503ad5c53ec91eff4ad~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_63,y_70,w_980,h_1099,q_85,enc_auto/5ce839_86a59621b70f4503ad5c53ec91eff4ad~mv2.jpg)
Judith Scott: Transforming the
Everyday
Lead by Teacher Candidate Magda Petmeza
at Muriel Sutherland Snowden International High School
under Supervising Practitioner Nancy Allen
In this lesson, students learned about Judith Scott, a woman who was institutionalized due to her Down Syndrome and undiagnosed deafness and used art as her only form of communication. Through looking at Scott’s work, students reflect on the ways that art can work as a language, a means of connection and a way to gain autonomy and independence.
Students were instructed to select from a random assortment of objects to then transform using various colored and textured threads, following the same process of the artist. Students were then asked to create a drawing that is in relationship with their sculpture, depicting it literally, matching the color palette, mimicking a similar process etc.
In the end, students completed a mini critique where they were asked to try to pair each sculpture to its respective drawing, using visual evidence to justify their picks. They finished the critique by leaving post-it note reflections under their peers' sculptures.
This lesson was the first introduced to the new group of sophomores. Its reliance on intuitive processes such as wrapping and tying, as well as its use of unconventional materials and techniques made the lesson accessible to all students, including ones that were apprehensive towards the art or felt like their skills were underdeveloped. This project really highlighted the expressive nature of art and its ability to communicate and connect.
![Skye](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5ce839_cddc146985f44a12bbb3c594c9345cc7~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/5ce839_cddc146985f44a12bbb3c594c9345cc7~mv2.png)
Seashell, yarn, mohair thread
![Benz](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5ce839_4ba557c5b42c4f7690c97cd9b74acaeb~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/5ce839_4ba557c5b42c4f7690c97cd9b74acaeb~mv2.png)
Wire statue, yarn
![Isabella](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5ce839_7da4530e310b45798e825ce9341f12cf~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/5ce839_7da4530e310b45798e825ce9341f12cf~mv2.png)
Wooden sculpture, thread, yarn, pearl beads
![Abdullah](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5ce839_0cd1bda183da40c9b58a90517d3d307e~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/5ce839_0cd1bda183da40c9b58a90517d3d307e~mv2.png)
Plastic ladle, christmas ornament ball, thread, yarn, tape
![Myriam](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5ce839_742a2fd109644f12b410385c8fc61fb6~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/5ce839_742a2fd109644f12b410385c8fc61fb6~mv2.png)
Wooden totem pole, yarn, thread
![Junior](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5ce839_1f6db611d40a4d50bd8fcec728e99a4d~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/5ce839_1f6db611d40a4d50bd8fcec728e99a4d~mv2.png)
Glass bottle, yarn, thread
![Paul](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5ce839_a7f9dffa276248ad81d995b6a9bf77f1~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/5ce839_a7f9dffa276248ad81d995b6a9bf77f1~mv2.png)
What I like about my sculpture... is it's simple and easy to do. If I were to do this again I would... maybe change the way I wraped it.
![Ygor](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5ce839_4cf213aa82d047538d2f7f61e7b5215f~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/5ce839_4cf213aa82d047538d2f7f61e7b5215f~mv2.png)
What I like about my sculpture... something that I like about my object is that it is harder to wrap because it is so thin and flops around so i have to use more effort to wrap it. If I were to do this again I would... probably chose an easier object to wrap because it was a bit challenging to wrap it.
![Marilyn](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5ce839_c4215da3a0a04af1bd9de08b837a8784~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/5ce839_c4215da3a0a04af1bd9de08b837a8784~mv2.png)
What I like about my sculpture... how it was very round so that's what made it kinda hard. i also like how I was able to use different colors and wrap it different ways. If I were to do this again I would... maybe use a color I like more. I would also use a different object maybe something with sharper corners.
![Maylim](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5ce839_94e998450e2b42bd874ad8f153f95634~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/5ce839_94e998450e2b42bd874ad8f153f95634~mv2.png)
What I like about my sculpture... how sturdy it was and how it did not move. If I were to do this again I would... first change my object to maybe something bigger maybe add more things to it.
![Christian](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5ce839_d931e7b7ec9c49d28ff83da94b9fe3b0~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/5ce839_d931e7b7ec9c49d28ff83da94b9fe3b0~mv2.png)
What I like about my sculpture... is how soft it is and how it feels. If I were to do this again I would... make it look like something like a stone.
![Junior](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5ce839_703451ad439747bca79260744662b4b5~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/5ce839_703451ad439747bca79260744662b4b5~mv2.png)
I chose red and blue because they are two interesting colors to mix. And then I chose the second set cause i like the color green and it also matches my fit. The bottle interested me because I remember finding a piece of glass from 1904 in the sea at camp.
![IMG_9419 3_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5ce839_a1a40fb929d949a496b113e4e969a5e1~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_48,y_0,w_1995,h_2896/fill/w_586,h_851,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/IMG_9419%203_edited.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5ce839_2f54e974b643478e95baa03824b21489f000.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1742,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/5ce839_2f54e974b643478e95baa03824b21489f000.jpg)
MAGDA PETMEZA
Hi! I am an artist and educator from Thessaloniki, Greece!
My passion for education stems from my belief that education is a powerful tool to build autonomy and self awareness and to challenge institutions of racism and classism that stop us from achieving our potential.
I believe that the most important role of an art educator is realizing that every student has potential to achieve greatness in their own way. The beauty in the nuance of art necessitates the teacher relinquishing control of ‘knowing the right answer’ and instead working collaboratively with students, guiding them through their individual journey of self discovery through artistic expression.
To view my education philosophy and my art click here
![IMG_6128 2.HEIC](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5ce839_2761bba6e2704825a434a3cf812af2dc~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_365,h_486,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/IMG_6128%202_HEIC.png)