Teacher's passion for art leads her into great journeys | Condor Voice

By Tiara Ousley

Dawn Pavloski has always been fascinated with art since her childhood. Pavloski?s love for art caused her to seek much education and it was in college where she surprised herself and became a teacher. Equipped with knowledge and talent, Pavloski?s passion for art lead her to unintentionally make Curie history and she still has many more adventures.

Pavloski looked back on childhood days when her aunt would babysit her. ?The minute I walked in she had pen and paper,? Pavloski said. It was this exposure to art that kept Pavloski thriving in visual arts in high school.

During Pavloski?s high school years, Pavloski?s art teacher her art and noticed that she had a ?natural talent for art? and helped her craft her talent. Pavloski joined and soon, became the president of the art club.

Despite the struggles and high competition that goes with the visual arts industry, Pavloski?s art teacher and even her parents encouraged her to pursue her dreams.

This lead Pavloski to become the first in her family to attend college. She attended American Academy, Art institute of Chicago, and Columbia College and majored in many forms of art such as film,? animation, and illustration.

Over the years she worked for animation companies such as Bix Pix Entertainment, Lala Bash Entertainment and currently freelances and does children book illustrations for Wilkinson?s Studio, Inc.

Although, Pavloski may have a passion for art, she discovered another passion later in life.

Pavloski said, ?I had no passion to be a teacher to start with and it wasn?t till down the road, till I wanted to share my knowledge.? Pavloski then attended and received her Masters at Dominican University and became an art teacher at Curie in 2007.

It is here at Curie, where she impresses her colleagues, grasps students? attention, brings a completely different media into the art department, and makes a difference in shaping people?s perspective on the importance and impact that art has on society.

Richards, an art teacher said, ?She?s one of the most talented people I?ve ever met in my life. I would love to be able to illustrate like that, like she does off the top of her head.?

Rebecca Pavesich, Department Chair of Visual Arts and art teacher said, ?Her creativity is overwhelming?she has an extremely positive personality, she connects with the students?she has a great report with her students and her colleagues.?

During Pavloski?s time at Curie, she has done much. In 2011, Pavloski applied for and won the Oppenheimer grant through the Oppenheimer Family Foundation, which is a foundation that gives grants to CPS teachers to enhance teachers? and students? learning experiences, according to their website.

Pavesich said, ?This was an adventure or project that she came up with?wrote the grant, received the money? her students worked on it furiously and now we have beautiful benches [in the courtyard] that came from out of that grant money.?

During the 2011-2012 year, theater tech was no longer offered as a major and some students were disappointed.

However, new art classes were offered to the entire student body. Pavloski created Curie?s first Film & Animation class. Richards said, ?The opportunity came along, she wrote out a proposal to the board of education and they approved it.?

Pavloski spent most of her summer putting together her curriculum for the Film & Animation class.? ?There?s not really a lot of high school level classes taught in film and animation. Putting the curriculum together was challenging because there?s so much and its packed into the one class of film and animation,? Pavloski said.

Some things that Pavloski teaches in her new class is? how people in the filmmaking industry, from Screenwriters to Costume Designers are able to make a great living from art, the history and impact the arts has had on society. Pavloski? has even had Visual Arts college representatives come to her classes and speak to students about art careers they could pursue. She encourages students to pursue a career in art or to attend technical school.

Although Pavloski experienced many challenges putting together the class was worth it.

?It wasn?t work when you have something that you enjoy doing and that?s important, to find what you like doing,? Pavloski said.

Richards said, ?Whoever takes that class is really lucky to have her as a teacher because she?s covering that class unbelievably well.?

Kevin Amor (Div. 509), didn?t sign up for the Film & Animation class, however he has been enjoying it. Armor said,?It?s different from all the art classes. It?s one of those classes not every school has. It?s going to get more interesting.?

Pavesich said, ?she had enough students to fill eight classes, so only half the kids?actually got in.?

Pavesich said, ?I hear students in my class talking about films they saw, what they think, and how the film might have been different if there were a different ending. And just to have that dialogue to carry on to another class, she is really making an impact on the students she teaches.?

Although, Pavloski loves teaching, she would love to have more time to work on her personal projects at home. Pavloski?s passion for art, ? knowledge, motivation, and accomplishments may leave many to wonder what? is next in line for her.

Pavloski said, ?I would love to have my own animation studio. I would like to have a studio where students, from technical colleges? would submit their own work, as well it would be a great mentoring program.?

Source: http://condorvoice.org/?p=3035

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