Michael Pesselato

Teacher Michael Pesselato redefines art education with his multi-dimensional teaching style and efforts to raising art awareness.

BY ABBY SMITH EDITORIAL EDITOR

He releases a sigh of contentment as the clock approaches midnight and he is finally able to find the time and space to work on what he loves. His light blue eyes study the image of the red finch, visually memorizing the sharp lines and curves of the creature as he raises his brush to start painting. He compels himself to actually look, not just see, but to look beyond the surface.

Growing up in St. Louis, fine arts teacher Michael Pesselato first realized his passion for art in the sixth grade. According to his father however, Pesselato had been showing signs of artistic abilities far before then, most likely from the influence of his creative mother. Throughout the next few years, Pesselato began pursuing his new-found love of art in the form of Saturday art classes. It was in these weekly three-hour classes that art blossomed into a lifestyle for young Pesselato.

“It wasn’t until I received a scholarship for the second year of Saturday art classes that [my father] realized my commitment was there. He realized it wasn’t just a phase,” Pesselato said.

According to Pesselato, his father’s belief in him was only more motivation to pursue what he loved. His hard work paid off when he was accepted into Carnegie Mellon, a private university in Pittsburgh, Pa. There he chose to study painting, although his love for sculpture has since remained present in his interest for 3D art.

“My parents were very supportive of what I wanted to do even though a degree in art doesn’t necessarily warrant an immediate positive approach in terms of what are you going to do for a living,” Pesselato said.

of Many Dimensions

Before his teaching career began, he gained experience through working for a commercial design company out of Chicago and then as an art-preparator for the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. At this time, according to Pesselato, becoming a teacher was the last thing he wanted to do with his life. He saw himself strictly as a studio artist. It took several years before this idea began to change.

“I got hooked on teaching because when you start communicating with the students, you see a light go on within them. Then they get excited and passionate about it and they take it in a completely different direction that you didn’t think of,” Pesselato said. “It becomes a really great stimulus for your own intellect.”

Through teaching, Pesselato feels as though he is constantly learning something new and seeing different approaches to more than just the art. He aims to help his students understand the role - and also lack - of art in our society and culture. According to Pesselato, it is crucial to grasp the function of art in daily life, whether or not it is one’s passion.

“I think there is a misunderstanding of art at the high school level in terms of making projects for fun and not including the language of visuals,” Pesselato said.

He aims to expand students’ learning capabilities and teach life lessons that aren’t necessarily addressed in the regular core classes. He also wants to help his students find a linkage between all that they are learning so that they are able to do the same later in life.

“There isn’t really that sort of blanket answer in art. There tends to be a lot of room, including an acceptable room for failure,” Pesselato said.

Now, nearly 18 years after his first teaching experience, there is never a time when he doesn’t want to come to school and teach.

“He creates a unique balance between teaching and allowing students to explore on their own. His art projects push your boundaries and help you grow as an artist,” AP Art junior Mayme Loyd said.

Pesselato also brings an extra element to his class that many students may not have experienced before in any of the previous art classes.

“He brings other culture’s art into his class and teaches about the history of artwork, some of which relate to what we learn in history class,” sophomore Catherine Dehamers said.

The many dimensions that Pesselato brings to teaching would not be possible if it weren’t for his broad travels to locations such as Indonesia, China and Paris.

“Traveling has made a huge difference in who I’ve become,” Pesselato said.

His trip to Indonesia 12 years ago left an especially big impact on Pesselato both within and outside of his life. This was his first time in a nonwestern culture and the indigenous peoples’ extraordinary preservation of culture still amazes him to this day.

“My trip to Bali woke me up in so many ways such as what I was trying to do with my life and also seeing a different way of how people interact in a community,” Pesselato said.

Another monumental change in his life came just a year and a half ago with the birth of his daughter.

“She has totally changed my perspective on what I do and how I do it. She has redefined what I see as important,” Pesselato said.

According to Pesselato, both these events, along with his other travels, have humbled him greatly and helped him see the world in a new light.

Pesselato’s 3D artwork is a reflection of this unique outlook on life. His current inspiration stems from a fascination with nature and a curiosity for how things work. Common subjects include large-scale drawings of insects, birds and clouds.

Pesselato’s subjective over objective way of thinking is mirrored in his layered teaching style designed to make the most of students’ education. On his journey to raising art-awareness, his life-altering travels serve as another dimension to strengthen not only his lessons but his character as well.

Art teacher Michael Pesselato examines his painting of a red finch. (photo by Abby Smith)