Even in retirement Judy Barks-Westrich will practice the art of teaching

Even in retirement, Judy Barks-Westrich plans to teach.

The art educator retired this year after nearly four decades in the classroom. She started in the Sikeston School District, where she taught art at every level over 23 years before coming to Cape Girardeau Central High School in 1995. She watched her last group of graduating art students leave earlier this month.

Westrich said she plans on spending more time in her garden and in The Artist Studio, her own art studio downtown.

Judy Barks-Westrich, center, longtime art educator, will retire this year from Cape Central High School. Around her, students Jessica Hagerty, Haleigh Givens, Megan Brock, Ashley Jackson and Lars Monia, from upper left, display their artwork. (Kristin Eberts)

Along with her artist workshops, which teach different mediums like pop art, printmaking and painting, she hopes to create a few workshops geared toward art teachers.

While at the high school, Westrich has not only taught hundreds of students to love and produce art, she has scattered that art throughout the school. Art from her upper-level classes hangs in the main office, the guidance office, the library and the school district's Central Administrative Office.

"She's leaving her legacy all over the place," said Julia Jorgensen, the Central librarian. "And what a legacy to leave."

Westrich's classes learn art techniques, but Westrich said she's always looking to instill a sense of pride and provide new learning experiences for her students.

"There's lots of things to teach them and it doesn't necessarily have to remain within the four walls of the classroom," she said.

The lessons from Westrich's class don't even stay on school grounds. Once a year, she organizes a senior show in a gallery downtown to give students the "adult artist" experience. It also shows the community what the students are working on.

"If someone doesn't have a student here in the high school, how do they know what's being produced here?" she said. "A school is reflective of a community, and I think the community should be proud of the products that these students are creating."

She first sought to highlight the students' work in 2000. She approached the Central Administrative Office and the superintendent at the end of the school year and pitched the idea for them to buy a piece of art from a graduating senior. She initially thought that down the road, people would walk into the office and see a gallery of student works.

"A hall of fame, so to speak, honoring a graduating art student of each class," she said.

Now, each year the central office buys a piece, the main office at the high school buys a piece and so do the guidance office and athletic director's office.

Jessica Hagerty, who graduated this month, sold her piece titled "Strut Your Stuff" to the school. She took Westrich for Art 3 and 4 this year. She said Westrich turned an interest in sketching into a love for all art, especially painting.

"She's not like a normal teacher," Hagerty said. "She'll give you her opinions, which helps. In art you don't need someone to tell you everything is gorgeous."

Westrich had many phrases she used in class, but one stuck out for Hagerty.

"She wouldn't say she liked [a piece of art]. She would say 'I'm not opposed to that,'" Hagerty said.

For Westrich, it was simply a way to allow the student to express his or her personal creativity, but at the same time making sure the piece is finished and successful. She wanted them to be able to explain why they felt the piece was a successful work.

"I'm getting them to explain -- be able to defend, be able to support the finished piece," she said.

She may throw out some ideas after stating she's "not opposed to it," but she agrees it's a finished piece and it can stand on its own. More could be done but the piece does not need more, and the final decision lies with the student.

"Because in that respect I think it's the teacher and the student are two artists talking together and discussing a piece of work," Westrich said.

But Hagerty and her classmates looked up to Westrich. They dubbed her "Mama West" and on the seniors' last day in class, threw her a surprise party with cookie cakes. One read "Mama West, You da best!"

Westrich had planned a small speech, but never expected the party.

"I was touched and I was pleased," she said. "And I loved that one cake."

Elizabeth Thomas, a teacher at central who will take over Westrich's classes, said the department was losing a strong, outspoken art supporter.

"I think that's what made the art department as strong as it was," she said. "I think she definitely did a lot to improve the department."

Westrich said she wants people to understand that art is part of the core curriculum.

"I do not think that you can possibly teach a young person about what's important in life without including the visual arts," she said, adding that the critical thinking involved in art enhances the students' education.

"Being able to critique a piece of artwork, being able to look at it and describe it and analyze it and interpret and judge it, that's all the steps involved" in critical thinking, Westrich said. "That's also what they are mentally going through as they're creating a piece of work."

Westrich said her junior students made her promise to come back and check on them. She said she would, but that they could come see her as well.

"I'm not quitting, and I'm not just sitting at home," she said. "My kids all know where I'm at."

charris@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent addresses:

1000 South Silver Springs Road, Cape Girardeau, MO

38A N Main St, Cape Girardeau, MO