Local teacher finds hidden passion

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September 20, 2011 - 12:00 AM

Tera Reed, new art instructor at Allen County Community College, said it was her mother Sonya Noland who encouraged her as a young child to pursue her interest in art.
Reed, 28, who grew up in Chanute, said, “It was my mom who pushed me to be creative, but it was Rick Bushnell, my art instructor at Chanute High School, who opened my eyes to the wonderful world of art.”
 After her graduation from Neosho County Community College Reed transferred to Pittsburg State University with the intent of pursuing a degree in photography.
“To fulfill my requirements for a bachelor of fine arts degree I took a painting class, which changed my world,” she said.
Reed earned her bachelor of arts in 2009 and her master of arts in 2010 with emphasis on painting, both from PSU.
“I feel so fortunate to have been able to spend part of my summer in 2007 studying in Italy. The architecture, fountains and paintings of the great artists are breathtaking,” she said.
Trained in both traditional and digital media, Reed is using pixilated images to stir the imaginations of her students. The images help the students think outside the box and see the use of color in a more creative way, she said.
Reed works alongside her students, and said, “I like to paint each day, draw portraits and design cards and invitations.”
Each semester will bring new projects to Reed’s classes. In addition to her drawing, painting, art appreciation, design and life drawing classes she would like to eventually add a digital photography class and perhaps next year ceramics.
“I hope my students get so excited about art that there will be a waiting list for my classes,” she said.

PRIOR TO coming to ACCC, Reed was an adjunct faculty member at PSU and at Crowder College in Webb City, Mo.
In August, Reed assisted Marjorie Schick, PSU art professor, with the inventory of her artwork from 1966 to the present which will be displayed in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.
In her free time she and her boyfriend, Jason Schultz, like to walk their dogs, Brownie, an English springer spaniel, and Mani, a miniature Schnauzer, who, she said, thinks he is a big dog like Brownie.
“I got a lot of kidding from my friends in Chanute when I moved to Iola, but I tell them the faculty at ACCC and the people of Iola have been nothing but warm and inviting to me,” she said.

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