Spotlight On: Mrs. Carter, Art Teacher

Mrs. Carter is a teacher who is widely known and loved throughout Harriton High School; whether she is providing insight into one of the pieces you are working on, or having a chat with you about any subject under the sun, she is always hilarious and full of energy. The Harriton Banner sat down with this fun and talented art teacher to talk about her favorite paintings, as well as her outlook on art, everyday life, and more!

Harriton Banner: How long have you been a teacher and how long have you been a teacher at Harriton?

Mrs. Carter: I have taught at Harriton since 1988. When the Harriton population shrunk in the mid-nineties I split my time between Harriton and Welsh Valley, where I taught with Mrs. Rogers, and at Penn Wynne, where I taught with Ms. Caum. I have been teaching full time at Harriton since 2000.

HB: What classes do you teach at Harriton?

C: The classes I teach are Art 3 Honors, Art 2 Honors, Art 1 Honors and 9th Grade Art Honors.

HB: What is your favorite painting before the 20th century?

C: “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande” (1884), by Jatte by Seurat. I can’t believe how detailed and tiny the dot pattern is; it’s an amazing painting.

HB: What is your favorite modern painting?

C: Picasso’s “Girl before a Mirror” (1932). This painting is the mystery of the women.

HB: What is your favorite medium(s) of art, and why?

C: I like all media. Each has its own power to communicate. It’s so varied and many materials work well together so the possibilities are endless and fun to explore. But of course, you have to develop a rapport with a material; master it and then see what else can be done.

HB: What’s the strangest project you’ve witnessed a student at Harriton make?

C: A full body caste self portrait; it was a bit jarring at first, to see a naked sculpture of a student!

HB: What would you say your life philosophy is?

C: Life is precious. Art is life. Work hard and play gently.

HB: What do you think the best advice you could give to a person is?

C: Look, learn, think. Bear witness to the truth. Speak up for those that can’t. Be creative. Try new things. Be careful and exercise. Open your mind. Support the arts.

HB: What is your favorite quote?

C: “Colour is a power which directly influences the soul. Colour is the keyboard, the eyes are the hammer, the soul is the strings. The artist is the hand that plays, touching one key or another, to cause vibrations in the soul.” – Wassily Kandinksy

HB: What is your favorite thing about Harriton?

C: The students. You are all so interesting, smart, funny and full of energy (but not during first period…). You make me laugh daily, and I am always so pleased and proud of the work my students produce.

HB: Who is your teacher best friend?

C: Mrs. Labrinakos and I have had each others’ backs since the minute we met. Mr. Murray and I have been a great team since 1988 and worked to make Harriton Art and its artists the best there is. I’d also like a shout out to Mrs. Witman who is best friending with baby Joplin this year.

HB: Why do you think it’s important for students to take art/have it in their lives?

C: Mastering a material is a personal accomplishment. Expressing your ideas, vision, and feelings is a personal accomplishment. Mastering a new visual language is an accomplishment. Artists create beauty for others to enjoy. I never think about all the necessary but time consuming things I have to get done when I’m in a museum looking at art. I am transported to other worlds, past, present, and future, shown new ideas, and dazzled by the elements and principles of visual language and the emotions and ideas they communicate. No thoughts on laundry or what I am going to cook for dinner. I am in a sensory world of color, line, shape, illusion and mastery.

How awesome is that? Art is for everyone! Makers and viewers.

Mrs. Carter shows us that art really is something that everyone can enjoy, and the same goes for her outgoing personality! You can hear even more of Mrs. Carter’s thoughts at Art Club on Thursdays, or simply by stopping by her room. Whether you have a question about Picasso or what kind of paint you should be using for a school project, she’s sure to have a great answer.