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Staff Profile

Ms Kathryn Grushka

Visual Art & Design Lecturer

Faculty Manager Retraining
Program Convenor Bachelor of Education
Program Convenor Bachelor of Teaching/ Bachelor of Design & Technology

Faculty/Division:           Faculty of Education & Arts
School:                          Education
Phone:                           02 4921 6583
Fax:                               02 4921 7916
Email:                            Kath.Grushka@newcatsle.edu.au
Location:                       HA96, Hunter Building
Campus:                        Callaghan

Biography

First trained as a secondary art teacher, Kathryn has continued her professional studies as both practicing artist and visual arts educator. As artist Kathryn works in the areas of printmaking, mixed media and fibre arts. She has worked as fibre artist, community artist in residence, tapestry artist, and art tutor and mentor. Her works are represented in the National Tamworth Fibre Collection, Newcastle Regional Museum, Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, private and public collections.

As arts educator she has had many years teaching visual arts in secondary schools and currently lectures in the areas of visual art and design education.

Qualifications:

Studying for Doctor of Philosophy: Meaning making in visual arts, identity and transformative learning.
Master of Educational Studies (1997), Newcastle University,
Thesis: Verbal Critical Reflection of Art Making; Case Studies of Pre-service Visual Art Teachers
Bachelor of Education, Art Education (1993)University of Newcastle
Diploma in Art (Printmaking, Fibre Art) 1980University of Newcastle(formerly Newcastle C.A.E.)
Diploma in Art Education (1974) University of Newcastle (formerly Newcastle C.A.E.)

Academic Appointments:

Senior Lecturer Art and Design Education

Consultancies & Community Service:

National Review of Visual Education: Research Team Member
Academic Adviser Australian Government Quality Teaching Project, 2004-5, Singleton High School
Community Artist /Designer consultant working with Hunter Community Weavers, on commission works, 10 year association. (1992-2002)
NAAE (National Association of Arts Educators)
Fibre Artists of the Hunter, artist and project manager, since 1996
NSW Board of Studies Marker, since 1998

Courses taught:

Bachelor of Teaching/ Bachelor of Design & Technology
Bachelor of Teaching/ Bachelor of Fine Art
Bachelor of Education, Design & Technology
Masters of Educational Studies: Arts, Design & Technology Education

Teaching interests:

Curriculum Design and Theory, Visual Arts and Design
Reflective Teaching Practices
Technology Education
Assessment in the Arts and Design
Peace Education

Specific areas of responsibility:

Manager Retraining programs across Faculty, international and employer funded
Faculty representative for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) into Programs
Manager of Programs for International Students in undergraduate RPL programs
Program convenor Bachelor of Education, Design & Technology
Program convenor Bachelor of Teaching/ Bachelor of Design & Technology

Publications/Productions/Exhibitions:

Articles in Refereed Journals

Grushka, K. (2005). Creative Engagements with Visual Culture, Communicative Knowing, Citizenship and Contemporary Visual Art Education. Paper presented at Backing Our creativity Education & the Arts Research, Policy and Practice Conference, Melbourne 12-14 September, (in publication review process to be published by Australian Council)
Grushka, K (2005). Visual Consumers and Art Makers; Adolescent Art making for a site of legitimate critique of cosmopotilanism. Published Conference Proceedings. Sites of Cosmopolitanism Conference. Centre for Public Culture and Ideas. Queensland, Griffith University. ISBN: 1 920952 497.
Grushka, K. (2005). Artists as reflective self-learners and cultural communicators: an exploration of the qualitative aesthetic dimension of knowing self through reflective practice in artmaking', In International Journal of Reflective Practice, 6 (3), 353-366.
Grushka, McLeod & Reynolds (2005), Reflective Practice in Teacher Education: Theory and Practice in one Australian University, In International Journal of Reflective Practice, 6 (2), 237-244.
Grushka, K. Avard, N. & Nicholson, M. (2004). Curriculum Innovation change in an Australian Comprehensive High School, framed by Multiliteracies and the Quality Teaching NSW Public Schools Model as a Catalyst. In International Journal of Learning, 11, 1375-1386.
Grushka, K 92004). Imagine Design Arts Technology not design as rhetoric in technology Education and other implications for the future of Visual Arts Education. In Journal of the Australian Institute of Art Education, 27 (2), 22-41.
Grushka, K. (2004). Design as Rhetoric A NSW Technology Education Curriculum Perspective. Design and Education, 10 (1), 17-29.
Grushka, K. (2002). Accelerated Teacher Training, The University of Newcastle, Australia: An innovative experiment that is blurring institutional boundaries and views of knowledge, challenging its learners and confronting change. International Journal of LEarning. 9. 1585-1600.
Russell, K; Grushka, K; Middleton, H. (1997) Design Literacy, Process and Product, The Concepts of Design, Technology and Craft. Australian Centre For Arts Education. http://education.canberra.edu.au/centres/acae/literacy/litpapers/deslit.htm
Grushka, K.M.(1996) Implementation of a multi media computer design program in visual design, integrating a problem-solving student centred learning environment. Design & Education, 6(2), 27-34.
Grushka, K.M. (1995) Effective Collaborative Design Teams in the Classroom, Design and Education, 5, 20-28.

Book Chapter

Russell,K; Grushka, K; Middleton, H.(1998) Design Lieracy, Process and Product, The Concepts of Design, Technology and Craft, in Livermore, J. (Ed), More than Words can say. A View of literacy through the arts. (1998). Australian Centre for Arts Education, Canberra.

PAPERS

Grushka, K. (2005). Creative Engagements with Visual Culture, Communicative Knowing, Citizenship and Contemporary Visual Art Education. Paper presentated at Backing Our creativity Education & the Arts Research, Policy and Practice Conference, Melbourne 12-14 September.
Grushka, K. (2005). Visual Comsumers and Art Makers: Adolescent Art making for a site of legitimate critique of cosmopolitanism. Published Conference Proceedings. Sites of Cosmopolitanism Conference. Centre for Public Culture and Ideas. Queensland, Griffith University.
Grushka, K. (2004). Visual Consumers and Art makers: Art making as self narrative and a site of legitimate critique fro contemporary society and gender identity negotiation. Paper presented at International Reace Research Association Conference, Sopron, Hungary, July.
Grushka, K. (2004). Artist as reflective self-learners and cultural communicators: an exploration of the qualitative aesthetic dimension of knowing self through reflective practice in art making. Paper presented at 3^rd Carfax International Conference on Reflective Practice, Gloucester, England, June.
Grushka, K. Avard, N. & Nicholson, M. (2004). A Multiliteracies Focused Curriculum in an Australian Comprehensive High School, Framed by the Quality Teaching NSW Public Schools Model as a Catalyst. Paper presented at The Eleventh International Literacy and Education Research Network Conference on Learning. Havana, Cuba, June
Adams, D.; Boote, J.; Grushka, K. & Tranter, S. (2004). The Contribution that Vocational Education and training in Australian Secondary Schools Makes to Lifelong Learning. Paper presented at The Eleventh International Literacy and Education Research Network Conference on Learning. Havana, Cuba, June.
Grushka, K. M. (2003), Imagine Design Arts Technology not design as rhetoric in technology Education and other implications for the future of Visual Arts Education. Paper presented at AIAE ( Australian Institute of Art Education) , National Visual Arts Education Summit, Perth Western Australia, Nov.
Grushka, K. M. (2003), Imagine Design Arts Technology not design as rhetoric in technology Education and other implications for the future of Visual Arts Education. Paper presented at AIAE ( Australian Institute of Art Education) , National Visual Arts Education Summit, Perth Western Australia, Nov.
Grushka, K.M. & Reynolds, R. (2002) Mentoring in a University/Senior High Collegiate. A Study of the Learning Environment & The Mentor/Mentee Relationship. Paper presented at The Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE), Brisbane, Dec.
Grushka, K.M. (2002) Australian Insights into re- Searching the Art of Inquiry:
Fibre Constructs and Personal Histories Constructing an identity as artist and group member. Paper presented at the 31^st International Society of Education through Art (InSEA)World Congress, NewYork
Grushka, K.M. (2002) Fibre Constructs: Australian Insights into re- Searching the Art of Inquiry: Art of Inquiry as a vehicle for the construction and negotiation of identity. Paper presented at the 31^st International Society of Education through Art (InSEA) Research Conference, New York
Grushka, K. M. (2002) ‘My mother said you should never read a book if your house is untidy’. Constructing an identity as female artist and group member’. Paper presented at the 9^th Interdisciplinary Gender Studies Conference, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.
Grushka, K.M. (2002) Teacher Identity: Its Construction and Negotiation in an Accelerated Teacher Training Program. Paper presented at the Learning Conference, Beijing, China.
Grushka, K.M. (2002) Accelerated teacher training, The Universityof Newcastle, Australia: An innovative experiment embracing social and personal transformation, that is blurring institutional boundaries and views of knowledge, challenging its learners and confronting change. Paper presented at the Education Mini conference, Newcastle.
Grushka, K.M. (2000) A critical Interactive Art Experience: computer technology usage designed to transform the secondary school visual art classroom. Australian Institute of art Educators (AIAE), Melbourne, Australia
Grushka, K.M. (1999) Spirituality & the Human Commitment, The Closet curriculum in Australian(Disk) Education: Focus Spirituality in NSW Visual Arts Curriculum. InSEA 30^th World Congress, Brisbane
Grushka, K.M. (1998) Images of Sustainability, an environmental frame. Australian Institute of Art Educators (AIAE), Wollongong, Australia,
Grushka, K.M.(1997) Connecting Critical Reflective Thinking and the Design Process. Cognitive Strategies towards developing Key Competencies in Design Students. DECA(Design Education Council of Australia) Biannual Conference, Gold Coast, Queensland, July.
Grushka, K.M. (1996) Critical Reflecting in Art Making in Linguistic Terms. Australian Institute of Art Educators (AIAE)/ New Zealand Art Educators Association.Dunedin, New Zealand,June.

PUBLIC ART EXHIBITIONS : selected

2001 Prototype design commission, HAPS, John Hunter Hospital
2000 "Limited Shelf Life”. John Paynter Gallery, Newcastle. February
1998 Steel Works a Regeneration, Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery
1997 Sustainability Platter Exhibition, Watt Space, Newcastle
1997 Torque, craftspace, Centre for Contemporary Craft, Sydney; touring Lake Macquarie Art Gallery, Manning Regional Art Gallery.
1996: ‘Second Look’, Prospect Textile Biennial, Adelaide, Melbourne, Northern Territory.
1994: Act III, Fibre Artists of the Hunter, Newcastle Regional Gallery
1993: Weswal Gallery, Tamworth
1992 : 'Living in Glass Houses & Throwing Stones': Sonya Celtan, Newcastle Contemporary Gallery
1992 : 'Primitive Concepts. The Four Elements' Touring Maitland, Lake Macquarie and Muswellbrook Regional Art Galleries
1991 : 'Delivery' 3 Woman Show: Manning Regional Art Gallery
1991 : 'Contained uncontained' Fibre Artists of the Hunter touring NSW Regional Galleries
1990 : Tamworth National Fibre Touring Exhibition acquired
1989 : Fibre Artist of the Hunter, Maitland City Art Gallery
1989 : Newcastle Printmakers, Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery
1988 : Tamworth National Fibre Exhibition
1988 : Maitland Fibre Artists, Maitland City Art Gallery
1987 : Newcastle Contemporary Drawn Show, Mini Exhibition
1985 : Primitive Ties, Two Woman Show, Paterson Gallery
1984 : Tamworth Fibre Collection Travelling Exhibition
1982 : National Tamworth Fibre Exhibition- acquired

COMMISSIONS: Selected

2000 : Hunter Valley Grammar School Tapestry
1993 : Maitland City Library, weaving installation.
1992 : Newcastle Workers Club, Fibre Art Installation
1988 : 'Fibre Wall' Newcastle Regional Museum Artist in Residence, Newcastle Spinners &Weavers

REPRESENTED:

Maitland City Art Gallery
Newcastle Regional Museum
Tamworth City Art Gallery, National Fibre Collection
National Slide Library, Craft Council of Australia
Goulburn Regional Art Gallery

Research:

Currently working in the following research fields: Arts, Identity and Cultural Sustainability; Arts Literacy, Vocational Education in Schools, Retraining in Teacher Education,
Presently Academic Adviser on 2 Australian Government Quality Teaching Projects one on Vet Best Practice, the other Integrated Curriculum for year 7 with multi literacy focus.

Membership of Networks and Professional Associations

Continue my associations with the following Australia Council, National Association of Visual Artists (NAVA), National Association of Arts Educators (NAAE), Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE), Australian Institute of Art Educators (AIAE), Design Council of Australia (DECA), Art Education Society of NSW, International Society for Education through Art (InSEA)