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SM South News

the student news source of shawnee mission south

SM South News

the student news source of shawnee mission south

SM South News

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New Art Teachers

By Danielle Pham

Over the past thirty years, Pat St. Louis has been to eight different schools and has finally landed at Shawnee Mission South to take over the photography position left behind by Guy Malone.
With such big shoes to fill, it was inevitable for anyone taking the job to feel uneasy.

“I was very nervous. [Malone’s] style is so much different than mine,” said St. Louis. “Because he’s been doing it for so long, his grasp of it is far better than mine. There’s just no way I could do it the same way he did it.”
Even with such a looming reputation to follow up, St. Louis continues to teach with his own style the best way he can.

“The idea is I’m more of a guide, a facilitator. I give students things that they need to do, that they can explore, and help them explore that way,” he said. “It’s really exploring certain facets of art, and then through that exploration you begin to learn not only about the art part of it, but you learn about yourself and self expression.”

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Receiving his photography degree from UMKC, St. Louis didn’t want to become a professional photographer because he didn’t want to be away from his children. He instead decided to teach.
“I like the idea that you have the ability to make a difference not only just in their education, but to teach them how grow up to be good people,” said St. Louis. “You try to be a strong role model; you try to interact; you try to help students find their goals and find their way, especially because art can be part of everybody’s future.”

Being hired ten days before school was in session, St. Louis has taken on a full load with an Intro to Studio Art class, a Drawing class, and four Photography classes.
“A lot of my students are very eager to learn and some need to be convinced that art is learnable,” he said. “Some people think they don’t have any talent, when everybody has talent. It’s just a way of how we get to it.”
And for the record, St. Louis said, “No, I have never lived in the city of St. Louis, nor do I own it.”
-Danielle

Although only a teacher for three years, Jennifer Hudson has an old soul when it comes to teaching art.
Starting as an English major at Emporia State University, Hudson originally planned on becoming an English teacher. However, upon seeing the two-paged book list for all her literature classes, she then changed her major to art.

As an art major, her professors tried to persuade her into pursuing art professionally, but Hudson was adamant about becoming a teacher.
“I did have a hard time going back and forth between teaching art and doing it professionally,” said Hudson. “You know that saying ‘those who can’t do, teach?’ My professors said, ‘Well you can do it, so why are you teaching it?’ There was a lot of pressure to become a professional printmaker, graphic designer, or something like that.”

Hudson is a strong believer of “paying it forward.” She doesn’t think art is beneficial for anyone if you can’t share the tricks of the trade.
“I feel like it’s a waste if somebody has a lot of skill, and they don’t share it with other people,” Hudson said. “If I know how to do it, and I have the skill to do it, then I should be sharing that with the community or passing it on.”

Hudson tries to provide a balanced approach to art education. In her curriculum, she includes bits of art history and the criticism process along with the studio production.
At South she teaches Intro to Studio Art, Printmaking, Drawing, Painting, and Commercial Art.
“I really do like being in high school because this is the time when you guys can do more complicated stuff. You understand what I’m showing you, and it’s not just art for fun,” she said. “You’re coming up with your own ideas, and I feel it’s really interesting to see people grow that way.”

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  • T

    Torsten PihlApr 21, 2021 at 12:37 am

    Congrats, Pat.

    May you not pull a Guy Malone by borrowing art (8mm film work in my case) and deny that it was ever borrowed.

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