Elizabeth Theresa Wallsmith

Community involvement has always been an important part of my life. Giving back through time and talent in the community is an investment I feel is part of citizenship and pride in community.

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When I arrived in Pittsburg Kansas, I began my first semester in college and I found a church I liked. Meeting others through community events, attending church and college classes allowed me to make some solid connections that would eventually turn into long term friendships. My friends would become part of my family and be a support system that my son and I would benefit from.  

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In 2003, I became involved with a church youth group as a youth sponsor. At that time, Carl Junction experienced a tornado that damaged several homes and businesses, including school buildings.  We took the youth group and spent a few days in the community helping individuals and groups clean-up damage left behind. From this act of service to many others, I continued my involvement in the youth group for six more years. Being involved in the youth group influenced my decision to later interview for the Carl Junction Junior High Art Teacher position in 2006 in Carl Junction.

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Throughout the years of being a resident of Pittsburg and working in Carl Junction I have continued to build my portfolio and encourage my students to do the same. I wanted to lead by example as both an artist and a teacher so I started to display my artwork in local art walks in both Pittsburg and Joplin. Being a part of the art walks helped me to gain confidence to share my work in more art events and local galleries like the Spiva Center for the Arts in downtown Joplin. 

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The idea of serving others through charitable work is what stirred a desire to use my art in a charitable manner to the community. Using art to influence, impact and inspire others allowed me to stay active as an artist to serve my community through art. I was inspired to be a part of the SEK Art Fests and the Community Theater as an artistic director in creating art to raise funds for non-profit organizations such as IDES, Joplin Tornado Recovery and Joy in the Journey ministry.

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In 2009, my son and I became Ambassadors for the Children’s Miracle Network. We were serving as a voice for the organization and sharing the opportunities available for other families who like us were dealing with ongoing medical needs. I presented the idea of using art as a way to help those in need to my classroom students. For example, my students raised funds through their espresso paintings for the SEK Humane Society, collected can goods during our Andy Warhol assignment for a local food pantry, and decorated over twelve hammers for the Hearts for Hammers project: a fundraiser that would support Joplin in rebuilding five new homes destroyed by the 2011 tornado. My students continued to use their artistic talents to support the local Lions Club and by being involved in the Lions International Peace Poster Contest which we had an International winner from our group two years in a row. Being a part of the Peace Poster gave the Lions Club an opportunity to share the mission of the organization. Just this last fall my students made over one hundred and fifty bowls out of clay, to be sold at an event called Empty Bowls which is a fundraiser for local food pantries and homeless shelters in the Joplin area.

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As a teacher I also want to encourage and promote student artwork. I am proud of their achievement in completing pieces that helped build their confidence in creating art. Displaying student work requires a lot of additional time outside of my teaching schedule and I view this as a way to give back to my students for all their hard work. Displaying student artwork, submitting student work into competitions and giving my students opportunities to explore such venues is one of my goals in their development as artists. Seeing my student’s view of themselves transform from self-doubt to believing in their ability to create art is worth all the additional hours it takes to submit work and display work.

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Using technology such as social media allowed us to invite the community to events such as the Big 8 Art Show hosted in 2014 at the junior high. Over two hundred and fifty pieces of artwork were on display as well as in competition within categories. As the host of the event, I wanted the community to have the opportunity to view the work and come to an event that was both fun and inviting. Using our Facebook (CJJH Art Class)”like” page, it also encouraged more parental and community support. Sharing information on our page allows students and parents to be informed about local events in art.

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Making a connection between the success of my students and the support by the community, is something for students to observe and learn from.  The experience of being an active artist and giving back to the community is an experience that can impact the lives of the students in a positive way.  I believe educators should be visible leaders in the community by staying active in the service they are drawn too.  I hope I am a teacher that can be seen as leading by this example.  

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“Art is an exploration of the soul; therefore, creating art is a personal experience of that exploration; an experience which inspires and serves in the lives of others”.-Elizabeth Wallsmith