Stacy Koffman

Phone:  678-717-3874
Email: skoffman@gsc.edu

Brief Bio/Education:   

I received my B.F.A. from University of Tennessee in Ceramics and my M.F.A. from University of Georgia in Painting and Drawing.  I am an active artist, participating in regional, national, and international exhibitions.  I maintain a studio at my home in Watkinsville, Georgia.

Following is an excerpt from my recent written philosophy of teaching

Art relates directly to life itself.  Through personal exploration in the arts, a student can literally “find” him or herself.  When they enter the studio, they are often quiet, reserved, curious, and attentive.  I often say “art cannot be taught, but it can be learned”.  I want to clearly communicate that the classroom is neither teacher nor student “centered”.  It is “subject” centered.  This allows a freedom of discussion and learning without personal conflicts.  Maintaining a certain level of subjectivity in class discussions often lead to conceptual ideas and thinking.  The arts are clearly tools created for this process.  When students appear lost or confused during these dialogs or conversations, I often find myself offering clues or suggestions or even asking more questions to guide them back to the path.  Many times, I too, am in search of answers and this common goal brings us together.  From both the student and teachers perspectives communications need to remain honest and open.  The best teachers I have known teach from the heart and from the truth.    “…teaching can come from the depths of my own truth- and the truth that is within my students has a chance to respond in kind.” Quoted from Parker Palmer’s book, The Courage to Teach.

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