Hello from the Volta Art Studio!

Hi there! I'm Pegeen McGhan, Volta's Visual Arts teacher and Arts Liaison since 2019. Here are some things you might want to know about me... I grew up in Flint, Michigan and moved to Chicago in 2013 after living in San Francisco, California for several years. Since I was a kid, I have loved making things, and before becoming a teacher I worked as a Props Artisan and Designer in theaters all around the Bay Area. I really enjoy working with students of all ages and helping them express themselves through art. 

 

The Volta Arts Studio is a special place where students can explore choice-based art-making through centers. There are five permanent centers: Drawing, Painting, Fiber Arts, Construction, and Collage, as well as opportunities for temporary pop-up centers like Clay and Printmaking.

 

In addition to creating their own authentic work, Volta artists receive instruction in different art techniques, use of media, and artists, all while practicing the 8 Studio Habits of Mind (SHoM). These habits are: Develop Craft (Technique & Studio Practice), Engage & Persist (Finding Passion & Sticking with it), Envision (Imagining & Planning), Express (Finding & Showing Meaning, Observe (Looking Closely), Reflect (Question & Explain, Evaluate), Stretch & Explore (Play, Use Mistakes & Discover), Understand Art Worlds (Domain & Communities). For more information about the SHoM, please visit https://www.studiothinking.org/.

 

I'm really looking forward to this school year and can't wait to see what we create!