MANAGING THE ART ROOM

Sophia B. (class of 2022) and her grandmother share finished embroideries on a Zoom call in spring 2020.

Lauren Cunningham

Two summers ago, many art teachers prepared for possible campus closures and searched for suitable projects that students could do at home. This environment presented several challenges for art-making, including the availability of space and materials. When my high-school Mixed Media course transitioned online in March 2020, I taught embroidery and discovered that the medium is a great option for the virtual art room because it’s inexpensive, clean, safe, and doesn’t take up much space. Plus, students can embroider just about anywhere!

My students figured out quickly that embroidery does not have to take place at a traditional work station. They embroidered at the kitchen table, on the floor, sofa, bed—even outside! The compactness and portability of embroidery offered the flexibility students needed for making art at home.

Making Familial Connections
For a few of my students, embroidering around the house led to connections with family members. One student taught her mother and younger brother how to embroider after they saw her project and expressed interest.

The compactness and portability of embroidery offered the flexibility students needed for making art at home.

Another student reported that her grandmother came over on Mother’s Day and “brought over all this embroidery stuff because she is so happy I am doing it.” The student continued to update her grandmother on her project via text and Zoom.

A third student wrote, “I was able to connect with my mom because she was really into needlepointing.”

These anecdotes highlight an unexpected benefit of embroidering at home: the potential for cross-generational exchange. A class survey revealed that 85 percent of my students had relatives who knew how to embroider or do other needlecrafts. These results suggest there are further opportunities for students to learn from or even collaborate with family members, to deepen students’ engagement with the curriculum—and their family relationships. Students could do an optional activity with their relative or create projects inspired by a relative’s craft.

For any art teachers looking for projects for remote learning, I highly recommend embroidery. The materials are ideal in many ways for students working at home, and fostering relationships is built right into the art.

Lauren Cunningham teaches art at Episcopal High School in Bellaire, Texas. 
laurencunninghamteaching.com; lcunningham@ehshouston.org