August Alumni Spotlight

Alumni Spotlight

Amanda Galbraith, BFA 2003, Graphic Design

Amanda on her career in the Shelby County school system, "I have served as the Lead Teacher for the Visual Arts for Shelby County Schools for the past three years. This means that I spend three days each week in the classroom as an art teacher at Ellendale Elementary and two days each week in a leadership role. As Lead, my mission is to make the other art teachers' lives easier, coordinate interesting, valuable and fun professional development and facilitate community partnerships. I also work at the district and state levels to revise standards, curriculums and assessments. As a teacher, my goal is to foster a love of art for my students through fun and challenging projects. In addition to my regular teaching assignment, I have been fortunate to work on the Summer Fine Art Academy instructional team for the past three years."

An Interview with Amanda Galbraith. . .

1. Where did you grow up and where do you live now?

I grew up hiking in the hills in Middle and East Tennessee around my home town of Cookeville, TN. I now live with my husband, two stepsons and two dogs in East Memphis. I have switched to trail running due to the absence of mountains here in Memphis.

2. What was your first job?

My very first job was at the Cookeville YMCA as a lifeguard, swim instructor and day camp counselor. My first job post-college was an art teaching position with Shelby County Schools, where I am still employed. Additionally, I have been the assistant coach of the Bartlett Xtreme Swim Team for the past 9 years. (Go Xtreme!)

3. What is your favorite food?

My favorite food is definitely dark chocolate.

4. What is your favorite book?

The Bible is my most favorite book because it is the inspired word of God.

5. What is your favorite movie?

Who has time to watch movies? I don’t.

6. What do you waste your money on?

Hardly anything because I am so tight with money. However, I do notice a lot of money disappears into the upkeep of our vegetable garden.

7. What was the dumbest thing you ever did?

I guess it is my ongoing struggle to not take on too many projects at one time.

8. Can you tell us about your current project?

Which one? I was working on scheduling workshops for the SCS Summer Fine Art Academy when I received the email that I had been nominated.

9. Briefly, describe your workspace.

Piles and piles of active projects amongst compulsively organized art materials.

10. Which artists had the greatest influence on you?

I would say the strongest recent influence on my art would be Walter Anderson and the time I have been fortunate to spend on Horn Island. Through that experience, I learned how to take time to focus and notice small things.

11. If you could have lunch with one artist, dead or alive, who would that be and why?

I would have to pick Gary Larsen, illustrator of the Far Side comics. It would be great to converse with him about how he was able to come up with such great (although slightly demented) observations and illustrations.

12. Give us 5 words that describe your overall style.

Energetic
Systematic
Eclectic
Natural
Progressive

13. What is your fondest memory?

My adventures in France and Austria with my husband.

14. How often do you work on your art?

I work on my personal art in June and July each year and whenever I can beyond that. I work on my art education materials for my students the rest of the time.

15. How did you change or grow while at MCA?

The standard I place on myself and my work was raised at MCA. I would like to thank the instructors I had for sharing their time and expertise, the staff of student services for all the work they did to make attending MCA a reality for me, and Jeff Nesin for his leadership and guidance for the college.

16. What one piece of advice do you have for new artists?