Becky Frehse pictureBecky Frehse

Primary Discipline: Visual Arts

Areas of Specialty: Drawing, Painting, Mixed Media

 

Based in: Tacoma
Phone: 253-566-1394
Email: becky@tacoma.com
Website: www.beckyfrehse.com

 

Biography: Becky Frehse earned an MFA in drawing and painting from Central Washington University. As a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tunisia she helped organize a school for disabled children. She has traveled widely and studied traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy while living in China. Frehse was an Artist-In-Residence at Pacific Lutheran University for many years and also taught Middle School and High School Art at Charles Wright Academy in Tacoma. In addition, Frehse has been a Teaching-Artist-Mentor with the Arts Impact Program of the Puget Sound ESD. She maintains a full-time studio in Tacoma and exhibits her work regionally and nationally.

 

When asked about her approach as a Teaching Artist, Ms. Frehse wrote this: "As a teaching artist I provide a model for a creative person who uses knowledge from the fields of math, history and language arts to express myself and to communicate ideas through art. I enjoy the challenge of introducing students to new vocabulary, telling them stories and showing how an artist can incorporate history or math into art work. Students I work with are excited to have an intensive opportunity to work with art materials and teachers are delighted to know that I can reinforce the classroom curriculum. I am able to find the art concepts that are present in almost any academic subject. My efforts to inspire kids to use their imaginations and critical thinking skills increase exponentially when the classroom teacher participates in my projects. Students tell me I’m funny and teachers tell me I’m fun. I’m empathetic to both students and teachers because I understand school culture - routines that must be adhered to, classroom management and having fun without driving the custodian crazy."

 

Suitable for Grades: K-12
Preferred Grades: 3-12

Curriculum Integration Possibilities: Literacy, Reading, Writing, History, Social Studies, Other Arts Disciplines

 

Additional Interests/Experience:

  • Leading Professional Development workshops for K-12 Teachers
  • Working with at risk students
  • Working with students with special needs / disabilities

 

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