CUBERO, N.M. — For some teachers, adjusting to a new way of teaching the past year has been a nightmare. For one Cubero Elementary School teacher though, it was an opportunity. Debra Woodward, an art teacher for 38 years, struggled with the adjustment at first, but it got better as she familiarized herself with the technology more and more. Woodward is deeply involved in the New Mexico Public Schools art community, and a question she and many other art teachers asked was, “How do we do this virtually?” Woodward and many others in the art teacher community brainstormed on how to keep students “engaged, creative, and artistic.” One of the ways Woodward did this was by having her students participate in an art program in which there was a possibility for their artwork to be selected and featured on an electric billboard right outside State Fair Grounds.
Usually, every year during the State Fair, art is featured at the fair from all around New Mexico. According to Woodward, there is even a youth art exhibit. However, due to COVID-19, the State Fair of 2020, along with many other things, was canceled. With the autumn season of 2021 approaching, art teachers around the state coalesced their efforts to feature the New Mexico youth’s talent. The result was a program in which artwork would be sent in from all around the state, from students of all different grades, to be evaluated and selected by a group of New Mexico Public School art representatives. Sixteen selected pieces would then be featured on an electronic billboard on State Fair Grounds. The featured pieces could also serve as preliminaries to be featured in the event that the State Fair does occur in the fall.
“The kids have been incredible… and their families too,” said Woodward, continuing, “I would never have thought this year of teaching would be so gratifying.”
One of Woodward’s students that made teaching, so gratifying is Tayden Begay. Begay is a second grader whose artwork was selected among the 16th (out of 100) pieces to be featured at the State Fair Grounds’ electronic billboard. Upon being selected, each of the 16 students’ art pieces were scheduled for certain times throughout this summer to be featured. Begay’s artwork was scheduled for June 23, and on that day, Woodward, Begay, and Begay’s grandparents visited the grounds to see the young student’s artwork and celebrate his accomplishment.
Begay’s grandparents, Francine M. Chavez-Piaso and Sam Piaso, Jr., both from To’Hajiilee, New Mexico, have assisted Begay’s parents and supported their grandson greatly throughout the past year by getting accustomed to the technology themselves and helping Begay with his schoolwork. Not only that, but they have taught him valuable life skills as well. “During the pandemic, [Tayden] and his little brother, Cole Begay, stepped up and not only performed schoolwork, but also learned the responsibilities of being ranchers. They fed their cattle and horses daily, and now know what a huge responsibility it is to have livestock,” said the grandparents.
When asked how they and Begay felt whenever he discovered his art was chosen, his grandparents said, “He was ecstatic and could not believe his art was chosen of all the submissions in the State of New Mexico…. It makes us truly proud knowing that we were able to guide him and encourage him throughout the entire school year.”
According to Begay, his artmaking is far from being over. Begay’s favorite subject in school is art, and when he grows up, he wants to be a paleontologist and a famous artist.