Sometimes there are no words. And that, says Meghan Fox, is where art steps in:
“The thing I love about art, and why I enjoy teaching it so much, is that art is a universal language. It’s older than written language. It has been connecting people for thousands of years. Even when words aren’t strong enough, art is always present.”
Fox is receiving a BFA in Art Education with K-12 licensure, and there is one age group she has a particular interest in teaching:
“People say I’m crazy, but I really want to teach in middle school. A lot of people see middle school in a negative way. Students are going through such a formative time in their lives. I think it’s interesting because a student can be almost a different person from day to day because they’re going through so many physical changes and emotions.
“If I can just help provide a safe space for expression and help influence one more artist in the world or one more good person, then that’s what teaching means to me. Also, middle school is usually the time when students either pick up a hobby or drop it. I love being able to give them a positive experience with art that may make an impact in the future.”
Currently a student teacher in grades six through eight, Fox sees the benefits of art in her classroom:
“For students, the arts really boost morale and test scores, too. That includes visual art, singing, playing an instrument, or dancing. All those things give the brain a break and help students process some of those complex emotions. Sometimes they can’t describe how they’re feeling, and they need to physically act on it. Art is a physical process.”
Fox also sees art as a way to create community. COVID-19 happened while she was in high school, and she says she saw and felt the impact that isolation had on students:
“The pandemic led to a real lack of communication skills. We couldn’t have interaction and teamwork building, so students weren’t able to create community. That’s what I want to bring to my classroom. I want to bring back that sense of community that we’ve been lacking and the social and communication skills, not just in school but as active members in the cities and town where they live.”
Fox has found community in a variety of forms in many places:
“I am from a little bit of everywhere. My dad was in the military for over thirty years. I was born in Virginia, and I’ve lived in five different states—Virginia, Georgia, Arizona, California, and North Carolina. As a military kid, I’ve grown up with community and structure.”
Art has always been a part of the community building for Fox:
“When I was young, I would make crafts and things for my dad when he was deployed. It was a way that I felt I could stay connected with him. Then, in middle school, there was a time when I was bullied, and I found art to be a way to express my feelings. Now, I just love sharing my passion with students, the next generation of artists.”
When she got to UNCG, Fox made it a point to find her fit. She worked in the Office of Military Affiliated Services on campus and did volunteer work with veterans. She has also served as a CVPA peer guide, helping new students make connections and get involved:
“It’s easy to feel isolated and homesick at college. I haven’t had as many struggles with that, just being a military kid and constantly being uprooted and moved around, but I’ve seen friends go through it. Getting involved on campus, finding your people, your support system, can really help you through.
“UNCG has a small school feel. It’s been easy to find friends outside of my major. I spent my first year going to many events and exploring all the different clubs on campus. I found my place here within the School of Art and in other groups, too.”
Fox’s artistic practice focuses on sculpture and ceramics, and she’s found there are many opportunities for students to showcase their work:
“We have an iron pour each semester with lots of family friendly activities. It gives people a chance to see some of the cool things we do here. We also have Greensboro Project Space, which is our art gallery downtown. Students do exhibitions there, and some of our professors and our master’s students show there as well. We have local artists that come in, too, so that really ties us into the Greensboro community, too.
“The school also has a summer art and design intensive for high school students. Art education majors take part in that as part of a course we take. But I loved it so much, I did it a second time as a volunteer. I loved the experience so much—giving students the tools and just letting them create made me so happy.”
Art lessons aside, Fox wants to share something else she’s learned:
“The biggest thing is probably patience. Being a sculptor—being any kind of artist—takes time. Being a teacher takes patience, too. I really have to make sure I pay attention to students’ skill levels to know how to push them to be better.”
Story by Terri W Relos
Photo credit: Meghan Fox
