Dames, Benjamin

Cell: 412-969-9273 Home: 412-262-7233 105 Seibert Road Coraopolis, PA 15108 damesbr@gmail.com

Objectives
To inspire and educate students of all ages in the area of the Visual Arts in a K-12 public school setting To be a leader, mentor, and role model within the community

Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

December 2011 | Bachelor of S cience in Art Education
Minors: Ceramics and Art History Deans List : Spring 2008, Fall 2008, Fall 2009, Spring 2010 , Fall 2011 3.33 QPA

Teaching Experience
July 8, 15, 22 & 29 | Worksho p Instructor
Society for Contemporary Craft | 2100 Smallman St., Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Creating bottle and flask forms from clay using basic hand-building techniques. Great for beginners who are just starting out in clay, or someone with a little more experience this workshop will expose you to the tricks of the trade and versatility of ceramics.

Octo ber 8, 2013 | Decem ber 20, 2013 Ceramics Instructo r Afterschool Program
Union Project & Pittsburgh Citiparks | Langley and Martin Luther King Jr. Middle Schools

I was responsible for leading 2 groups of children, ranging from 5 to 7 grade, in lessons related to ceramics. Students learned the basics and hand-building ceramics and wheel-thrown pottery. Lessons were designed to give the students opportunities to be creative, work in collaborative setting, and become problem-solvers.

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Febuary 8, 2012 | Current Full-Time Co-o p member and Ceramics Instructor

Union Project | 801 N Negley Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206

As a member of the Ceramics Co-op I take part, with a group of emerging artists, in creating a supportive, creative, and collaborative communal environment. As a community, we share space, studio responsibilities, skills, interests, and knowledge. As a member I assist the Co-op by also teaching classes. In the 2012 winter session, I taught the Squirt Class, a ceramics class for children ages 5-8 years-old; the 2012 spring, summer, and fall sessions, I taught the Kids Class, a class designed for children ages 9-12; and in the winter session of 2013, I taught the Homeschoolers Class. These classes were designed for children to learn the basics of handbuilding ceramics and gain experiences with wheel-thrown pottery. In the spring of 2013, I taught the Beginners Pottery Class to a group of adults and will be teaching the same class in the fall session.

July 1, 2013 | August 7, 2013 PPS Summer Dreamers Academ y Activities Provider July 16, 2012 | August 17, 2012 PPS Summer Dream ers Academy Activities Provider
University Prep/Milliones | Pittsburgh Public Schools As a representative of the Union Project and in collaboration with the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, I helped to construct and design a ceramics curriculum for the Pittsburgh Public Schools Summer Dreamers Academy. As an Activities Provider in 2013, I was responsible for leading a group of 35 children (3 Graders), in lessons related to ceramics. I was responsible for integrating a writing standard into the curriculum and assisting the children in exploring artist statements and creating their own for their body of work. The children took part in brainstorming activities to formulate and create accurate and articulate Artist Statements that aimed at giving the reader an in-depth look into what steps and creative choices went into their artwork. Campers were challenged to think critically and creatively through series of fun and challenging lessons in clay all aimed towards the end goal of an Art Show at the end of camp celebration. Their artwork was on display alongside their artist statements and cumulative sketchbooks. In 2012, I was responsible for leading 2 groups of children, ranging from 3 to 7 grade, in lessons relating to ceramics and mosaics. Students learned the basics and hand-building ceramics and wheel-thrown pottery using a kick-wheel. Lessons were designed to give the students opportunities to be creative, work in collaborative setting, and become problem-solvers. The summer camp was a 5-week program and the children worked towards the final product of creating a Mosaic Mural that will be permanently display in the Greenway Center, and they concluded the camp with an Art Show of their pottery and sculptures and an Art Sale.
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Octo ber 24, 2011 | December 15, 2011 Student Teacher

Cambridge Springs Elementary School | 130 Steele Street, Cambridge Springs, PA 16403 Facilitated student learning in the areas of drawing, painting, and ceramics, created multiple bulletin boards showcasing student artwork, worked with multiple faculty members in the areas of music, writing, recording, and storytelling; designed and built a drum wall mural, and assisted in coaching the 5 and 6 grade boys basketball team.
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August 30, 2011 | October 19, 2011 Student Teacher

Perseus House Charter School of Excellence Leadership Center | 1511 Peach Street, Erie, PA 16105 Facilitated student learning in the areas of drawing, painting, and ceramics. Created unit plans, lesson plans, and assisted in mentoring and hallway duty.

Octo ber 2010 | December 2010 Field Experience

Strong Vincent High School | 1330 West 8th Street, Erie, PA 16502 Along with four other Art Education students, I planned, coordinated, and implemented a mosaic building project with inner city high school students involved in CHAMPS, an after-school program designed to help troubled or underprivileged youth.

Skills and Interests

Coaching Baseball and Basketball Art Clubs and Workshops Ceramics, Drawing, Digital Illustration, Photography, and Art History

No vem ber 16, 2012 | Febuary 15, 2013 Volunteer Ass istant 9 t h Grade Boys Basketball Coach
Moon Area High School | 8353 University Boulevard, Moon Township, PA 15108 As a volunteer assistant coach, I assisted in teaching fundamentals, creating game plans, keeping the scorebook, calling plays, and adjusting the game plan. As a team we completed the season with a 13 wins and 9 loses and finished second in the Moon Area Invitational Tournament.