After retiring from the U.S. Air Force, Gulf War vet and current South Junior High School art teacher, James Van Horn, took a position working at a youth shelter group home. He began to teach art as a means of expression for the youth. When the home was forced to close, he knew his passion for art would continue.
“It was so much fun [teaching art],” thought Van Horn, “that I’d love to be an art educator.”
Van Horn went back to school using his GI Bill at a local community college and then transferred to St. Cloud State University where he finished his teaching degree and began educating students at St. Cloud Area School District.
“It is so rewarding,” smiles Van Horn. “I can give out the same assignment and the students will come back with their own interpretations of it.”
Which is why Van Horn is drawn to art. Everyone has a different perspective – no matter the art piece. Two or three people can look at one piece of art and see something different; each with its own meaning. His favorite type of art is political pieces.
“To take the horrors of war … and synthesize that down so that we can analyze it, not in a grotesque or morbid manner, but to look at it with rose-colored glasses,” says Van Horn. “To get the viewer to think and reassess.”
His own creations are dichotomies of love and war, love and hate. Taking the dichotomy view, he often assigns his students ideas surrounding that.
“I want my students looking forward, thinking ahead, doing the creative-solving aspect,” explains Van Horn. “But taking these skills and applying them to life. Art is strong. It makes the world a better place. It can change the world in positive ways.
One of his recent assignments for students was to draw in the blank space between two different partial images. Students had to find a way to bridge the gap between the two different images. Some of his students were quick to notice that the other half of one of their images was someone else’s assignment. They eventually figured out that each student’s piece made one continuous art piece when they all were put together. They are anxious to see it displayed on the walls of South.
Van Horn is most proud of the community support for his students’ artwork. Their art pieces can often be found at one of the libraries, at the downtown art crawls and other local businesses. Recently, 10 of his students won Dexter R. Stanton Awards for their artistic interpretations of one of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s quotes, “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.”
“They all had the same assignment to interpret Martin Luther King Jr.’s quote,” shares Van Horn. “They are just remarkable. I’m just so proud of them.”
When Van Horn tells his students that their artwork will be displayed somewhere, he loves to quote Andy Warhol. “Everyone will be famous for 15 minutes.” He hopes one day one of his art students will be the next Andy Warhol with their 15 minutes of fame. If not, he knows that at least each will walk away from his class with a new appreciation and perspective of art.
Fun Facts:
- Van Horn loves to cook.
- He loves to garden.
- He really enjoys riding one of his Harley Davidson motorcycles.
- Van Horn loves to spend time with other vets at the Legion or VA.
- He’s flown at six and a half Gs without passing out.
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