Spring Break
Lessons For A Teacher
After Inspiring Thousands Of Students, Kochanek Takes A Few Classes Of His Own
Kyle Charette
Issue date: 3/21/07 Section: News
"These players are vintage from the 60's," Kochanek says. "I've collected about 30 of them."
He stops on a Bob Dylan record and puts on the song, "Lay Lady Lay." "I love Bob Dylan," Kochanek says. He listens for a minute. "His songs are just wonderful."
As Dylan's melodies float in the background, Kochanek points out the art around the room. There are charcoal drawings, paintings, prints and more.
"These are my art pieces from over the years," he says. He focuses on a colorful painting with abstract boats and lighthouses hanging above his desk. "This water color over here actually won first prize last summer in the Falmouth, Cape Cod Juried Art Show for an abstract piece of work. It was best in show."
Kochanek made the painting, entitled "Falmouth Harbor," in art professor Kathryn Myers' aqua media class.
"There is just so much love and positive energy emanating from him," Myers said. "It affected everyone around him and the dynamic of the class that year became something very special. I wish I could have someone like Dick in my class all the time."
Kochanek has come a long way since he started taking art classes and says he owes his success to everyone at the art department.
"I am so very grateful to the head of the art department, Judith Thorpe, and the entire talented art faculty for their guidance and support," Kochanek said.
In his office, Kochanek also has two very detailed and precise charcoal drawings. He drew them when he was 16 years old, but after being a versatile artist throughout much of his youth, he stopped drawing.
"I wanted to be an artist when I went to college but Mom and Dad said 'no, you have to do something that will lead to a career,'" Kochanek said. "I did art up until when I was 16 and then I never did anything again as an artist for 40 years."
Instead, Kochanek went into engineering, accounting, and finally, teaching.
"In retrospect it worked out really well because teaching, I think, is a very artistic pursuit in general," said Kochanek. "Teaching allowed me to really interact with human beings and constantly be challenged by young people."
He stops on a Bob Dylan record and puts on the song, "Lay Lady Lay." "I love Bob Dylan," Kochanek says. He listens for a minute. "His songs are just wonderful."
As Dylan's melodies float in the background, Kochanek points out the art around the room. There are charcoal drawings, paintings, prints and more.
"These are my art pieces from over the years," he says. He focuses on a colorful painting with abstract boats and lighthouses hanging above his desk. "This water color over here actually won first prize last summer in the Falmouth, Cape Cod Juried Art Show for an abstract piece of work. It was best in show."
Kochanek made the painting, entitled "Falmouth Harbor," in art professor Kathryn Myers' aqua media class.
"There is just so much love and positive energy emanating from him," Myers said. "It affected everyone around him and the dynamic of the class that year became something very special. I wish I could have someone like Dick in my class all the time."
Kochanek has come a long way since he started taking art classes and says he owes his success to everyone at the art department.
"I am so very grateful to the head of the art department, Judith Thorpe, and the entire talented art faculty for their guidance and support," Kochanek said.
In his office, Kochanek also has two very detailed and precise charcoal drawings. He drew them when he was 16 years old, but after being a versatile artist throughout much of his youth, he stopped drawing.
"I wanted to be an artist when I went to college but Mom and Dad said 'no, you have to do something that will lead to a career,'" Kochanek said. "I did art up until when I was 16 and then I never did anything again as an artist for 40 years."
Instead, Kochanek went into engineering, accounting, and finally, teaching.
"In retrospect it worked out really well because teaching, I think, is a very artistic pursuit in general," said Kochanek. "Teaching allowed me to really interact with human beings and constantly be challenged by young people."
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Denise Duffee
posted 3/21/07 @ 8:23 AM EST
I met my husband Glenn in Mr. Kochanek's class back in 1976. He threw Glenn out on the first day because he thought Glenn knew more than he. The school had not let him skip accounting in the MBA program, despite his graduating from UMASS magna cum laude in Business but Mr. (Continued…)
tomfeinberg
Samples Of Papers
posted 4/01/09 @ 10:34 AM EST
"Although at the time I had been teaching for nearly 20 years, I learned so much from Dick about truly engaging students in such a large section," good words!
640-822
posted 4/10/09 @ 3:37 AM EST
Really astonishing further informative topic. Thank you juice that sharing this.
Post a Comment