Artistic Impression

Martin Mensah has spent nearly 30 years as an art teacher, but when the West Africa native arrived at Veterans Memorial Middle School, he was greeted by an administration that was open to his ideas. The results have been breathtaking.

by TERRI WEBSTER

Martin Mensah was born in Ghana, West Africa, and discovered his passion and appreciation for art at a young age. He placed third in a district contest at his school in fourth grade, an event that spurred his motivation to learn more about the arts and develop his talent. Mensah’s inspiration to pursue an education and career in the field was passed down from a family member.

“I have an uncle who was an artist and very successful in life—he owned his own house and piano at a very young age— and I said to myself, ‘I can be like him with my art, too,’” he said.

Mensah grew up in a church program called The Boys Brigade. Part of an international program and interdenominational Christian organization, it focuses on developing leadership qualities in young boys between the ages of 6 and 17.

“I went through the ranks of The Boys Brigade to become the captain of the program as an adult,” Mensah said. “My father was my motivator, as well as my Boys Brigade leaders. They saw the talent I had as a young boy and kept encouraging me to pursue art as a career.”

As captain, Mensah became effective in running activities in arts and crafts, hiking, camping and community service. “Teaching as a career was the best option for me to have time for the young boys and also practice my skill,” he said, “hence teaching art as a career.”

Mensah attended Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana, where he majored in sculpture; painting was an elective for his first degree. He also holds a

“At the beginning of my classes, I repeat a Michelangelo quote to my students: ‘A man paints with his brain and not with his hand.’”

master’s degree in art education from the school and completed certification programs at The Art Institute of Seattle and The Art Institute of Atlanta. Mensah taught in Ghana and the Bahamas before he arrived in the United States in 2001. He has taught students of various ages throughout his 27 years in the classroom, from kindergarten through college.

“I have seen my students develop through the arts to become successful, practicing artists in their adult life,” Mensah said.

After he settled in America, Mensah landed multiple teaching positions at several schools in the Atlanta area before he came to Veterans Memorial Middle School in Covington roughly five and a half years ago. His teaching techniques and learning strategies have had a major impact on his students there. Mensah has made use of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math program, which allows gifted students—including those in art—to earn high-school credits while still in eighth grade.

“These are the students I have been working with on mixcollage portraits,” Mensah said. “They were students who were identified at the end of sixth grade and put in an intermediate visual arts program in seventh grade to prepare them for the high school-level program. Most of these students have a strong interest in art, which is the main ingredient for learning and developing their artistic skills.

“This makes it easy for the teaching and learning of the visual art program with these identified students,” he added. “Though the program is very challenging, they strive to meet the level of every requirement. All I do is motivate them and develop their confidence.”

Mensah also models practical application after instructing students on techniques.

“This helps them better understand the process of the project and builds their confidence in the teacher with what he is asking them to do,” he said. “I am not really surprised at the results I have seen in my students because growing up as a boy their age, I was also doing great works like them; and I do tell them they can do better with all the modern technological devices that aid artistic development.”

According to Mensah, support from the school administration and VMMS Principal Dr. Takila Curry has been paramount to his program. “She gives me all the support, supplies and resources I need to be a successful art teacher,” he said. Mensah

points to the development of confidence in his students as one of the secrets of his success, as they use daily creative thinking skills and a warmup activity called “What Do You See?” He finds inspiration in one of the greats.

“At the beginning of my classes,” he said, “I repeat a Michelangelo quote to my students: ‘A man paints with his brain and not with his hand.’”

Martin Mensah’s artistic talents and skills extend beyond the classroom. He founded the Adanko Studio in 1989 and operates it out of his basement. While wood carving and cement sculpture are his specialties, he focuses more on acrylic painting in the abstract—Pablo Picasso cubism style. He also paints realistic portraits. To schedule a portrait session or to find out more about Mensah’s artwork, email him at adankostudio@gmail.com or msmensah@yahoo.com.

ART SPEAKS

by MARGARET WARFIELD - ARTIST

Art is a vital part of our lives. It helps children develop their motor skills, social skills, decision-making, risk-taking and inventiveness. Art also allows us to see new perspectives on our world, our emotions, and our imaginations. There are multiple forms of visual arts, painting, drawing, sculpting, pottery making, jewelry making, wood turning, digital and fashion design.

Fewer artists focus on the oldest materials used in the process of painting, oil paints. History tells us that oil paints have been used since the 7th century when oil was taken from walnuts or poppies to decorate caves.

Fast forward – oil paint is a slow-drying medium made of pigment particles suspended in linseed oil. The linseed oil causes light to bounce around and gives oil paintings a certain glow, as seen in the Mona Lisa’s face. Today’s paints have additives like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, red and yellow cadmium pigments. Many artists increase the glossiness of their paintings with varnish.

To learn the art of oil painting, contact:

BRENDA BOSTIAN, COLORIST

Wildart 404-455-1594 TheWildart.com 1105 Washington St. Covington, GA 30014

EDUCATION CORNER The Buck Starts and Stops with Parents

Statistics show that poor readers who are identified as having behavioral problems as children are much more likely to drop out of school, have low job skills and pay, adopt unstable work patterns and engage in delinquent activities that lead to incarceration.

by TATICASEJUANA BOBO STEVENS

Eagerness and zeal to read and learn are critical primary skills that are honed from home at an early age. Our children’s development is contingent upon how we mold them from birth. We are their first teachers. They model the behavior they see, so it is imperative that we lead by an excellent example. We teach good manners, proper etiquette, respectable behavior, great civic and citizen conduct and my all-time favorite: an enthusiasm for reading. These life skills are a crucial part of their persona before entering pre-school—or are they? We have all heard the phrase that “it takes a village to raise a child.” I subscribe to this idea and believe in building stronger communities for our families.

Learning is not one size fits all. However, this does not exonerate us from exploring what teaching style works best for our children. Take a look at your kids. No two are alike. That’s what makes learning unique and exhilarating. We must nurture and encourage reading from the womb. Studies have shown how reading stimulates part of a child’s brain to grow and be more active. It increases their vocabulary, comprehension and confidence to speak publicly. Reading spawns great business leaders, creates effervescent imaginations and develops confident communicators.

Education has always been an integral fiber of my being. Early in my career, I served in law enforcement at a mediumsecurity prison and worked as a community programs director at a children’s group home and in the school system. In hindsight, I see the correlation with reading efficacy, beginning in primary grades. I encourage us to leave no child behind. The time is now to bridge the gap of reading and leading productive lives.

Therefore, the buck starts and stops with us, as parents. Invest in your child’s literacy and knowledge, so that you are not left holding an empty bag. Meet your children where they are, take a trip to the local library or bookstore, or browse books online. Allow them to select an age-appropriate book and share with you the things they found fascinating in the story. Finally, encourage them to write their own stories, too. “Learning is not one size fits all. However, this does not exonerate us from exploring what teaching style works best for our children. Take a look at your kids. No two are alike.”

Taticasejuana Bobo Stevens is a Ph.D. candidate and holds an undergraduate degree in accounting and a Master of Business Administration. She is the CEO and founder of Stebeaux’s Educational Enterprises, LLC, where she teaches early childhood literacy from Pre-K to eighth grade.