Joe Mullins
Teaching Artist Experience
Gyotaku is a method of printing developed by Japanese fishermen in the mid 1800s to record their catch. "Gyo" in Japanese means “fish,” and "taku" means “rubbing.” This method of print making allows for excellent educational workshops at both the elementary and high school levels, and allows me to discuss both sustainability issues as well as instructing students on print making. I discuss the types of fish that can be found in local waters, whether it be the Hudson River, the Long Island Sound, or more local rivers and lakes, how our wild fish stocks are an important part of our heritage, and how we need
to maintain our local waters so that the fish survive as a food source for both us and other species.
At the elementary school level, I concentrate on the basic anatomy of the fish, how the shape of fins and tail, the size of the fish, the position and size of the eyes all impact on the fish’s fate - as a predator or food for other fish. In the middle school and high school levels, I discuss how the environmental health of our local waters impacts fish survival, and in turn, how that impacts other species such as eagles. I also discuss how the environmental movement, especially in the Hudson River valley, has shown that we can reverse the damage we have done and allow species to recover. The science aspect of these programs is complimented with hands-on fish printing instruction. The images made by the students are very powerful and exciting.
In addition, I conduct workshops that focus entirely on the art of fish rubbing. In these programs, the focus is on how the fish rubbing can
be used in various artistic disciplines from printmaking to textile design. More exotic fish may be used in these workshops.
In addition to the fish rubbing educational workshop, I have a flora rubbing session. In this workshop, I introduce the art of fern rubbing which is done in the same fashion as the fish rubbing. I talk about how this process was used in the Middle Ages by scientists and botanists to record local flora for future generations.
I design and provide custom handouts for each workshop that dovetails with the current curriculum at the school being serviced.
In addition to being a Teaching Artist at Weschester Arts, I bring workshops to schools, public and private organizations throughout the tri-state area including zoos, art galleries, art fairs, field days, corporations, private parties. I also provide individual instruction in drawing and painting.
Here is a partial list of organizations and schools I have worked with:
Carrie E Tompkins Elementary, Croton on Hudson NY
Cedar Ln Elementary, Yonkers NY
Croton - Harmon High School
Edgemont Elementary, Scarsdale NY
Fonda Elementary, Fonda NY
Graham Elementary, Mount Vernon NY
Grimes Elementary, Mount Vernon NY
King St Elementary, Port Chester NY
Longfellow Elementary, Mount Vernon NY
Roywaton Elementary, Rowayton CT
Sacred Heart, Greenwich CT
Saint Marks, Yonkers NY
Trinity Elementary, New Rochelle NY
Williams Elementary, Mount Vernon NY
Arts Bash, Arts Westchester, NY
Arts Family Day, Mount Vernon NY
Clearwater Sloop Fund Raising
East End Seaport Museum, Greenport NY
Hudson River Museum, Yonkers NY
Staten Island Zoo
Gyotaku is a method of printing developed by Japanese fishermen in the mid 1800s to record their catch. "Gyo" in Japanese means “fish,” and "taku" means “rubbing.” This method of print making allows for excellent educational workshops at both the elementary and high school levels, and allows me to discuss both sustainability issues as well as instructing students on print making. I discuss the types of fish that can be found in local waters, whether it be the Hudson River, the Long Island Sound, or more local rivers and lakes, how our wild fish stocks are an important part of our heritage, and how we need to maintain our local waters so that the fish survive as a food source for both us and other species.
At the elementary school level, I concentrate on the basic anatomy of the fish, how the shape of fins and tail, the size of the fish, the position and size of the eyes all impact on the fish’s fate - as a predator or food for other fish. In the middle school and high school levels, I discuss how the environmental health of our local waters impacts fish survival, and in turn, how that impacts other species such as eagles. I also discuss how the environmental movement, especially in the Hudson River valley, has shown that we can reverse the damage we have done and allow species to recover. The science aspect of these programs is complimented with hands-on fish printing instruction. The images made by the students are very powerful and exciting.
In addition, I conduct workshops that focus entirely on the art of fish rubbing. In these programs, the focus is on how the fish rubbing can be used in various artistic disciplines from printmaking to textile design. More exotic fish may be used in these workshops.
In addition to the fish rubbing educational workshop, I have a flora rubbing session. In this workshop, I introduce the art of fern rubbing which is done in the same fashion as the fish rubbing. I talk about how this process was used in the Middle Ages by scientists and botanists to record local flora for future generations.
I design and provide custom handouts for each workshop that dovetails with the current curriculum at the school being serviced.
In addition to being a Teaching Artist at Weschester Arts, I bring workshops to schools, public and private organizations throughout the tri-state area including zoos, art galleries, art fairs, field days, corporations, private parties. I also provide individual instruction in drawing and painting.
Here is a partial list of organizations and schools I have worked with:
Carrie E Tompkins Elementary, Croton on Hudson NY
Cedar Ln Elementary, Yonkers NY
Croton - Harmon High School
Edgemont Elementary, Scarsdale NY
Fonda Elementary, Fonda NY
Graham Elementary, Mount Vernon NY
Grimes Elementary, Mount Vernon NY
King St Elementary, Port Chester NY
Longfellow Elementary, Mount Vernon NY
Roywaton Elementary, Rowayton CT
Sacred Heart, Greenwich CT
Saint Marks, Yonkers NY
Trinity Elementary, New Rochelle NY
Williams Elementary, Mount Vernon NY
Arts Bash, Arts Westchester, NY
Arts Family Day, Mount Vernon NY
Clearwater Sloop Fund Raising
East End Seaport Museum, Greenport NY
Hudson River Museum, Yonkers NY
Staten Island Zoo