Guillermo Santiago's Journey as an Emerging Arts Educator
Recently, we had the opportunity to sit down with ARTS Team Member Guillermo Santiago, who has been with us for the past two years. Guillermo has primarily worked as a Facilities Specialist within our Operations team. He is also a talented visual artist, graphic designer, and illustrator. His multimedia artwork, "Symbiotic Memories," along with his spoken word poetry and performance piece, "All Things Given," were highlights of our Shared Memories Team Exhibition last summer. Guillermo is about halfway through his program, pursuing a Master's Degree in STEAM Education with a teaching credential from National University. We are excited to be part of Guillermo's journey to becoming a certified teaching artist!
This month, he taught a workshop as part of our JDI program, and we wanted to share some highlights from that session and his journey so far!
“I found ARTS to be a great place because I felt it would help me become a better artist. I wanted to improve and learn about different mediums, almost like going back to art school to discover new techniques, new artists, and innovative ways to teach a class, along with various tools and resources.”
When we asked Guillermo what initially drew him to ARTS, he responded, "I found ARTS to be a great place because I felt it would help me become a better artist. I wanted to improve and learn about different mediums, almost like going back to art school to discover new techniques, new artists, and innovative ways to teach a class, along with various tools and resources."
He values the diverse approaches to art and the range of resources available at the ARTS Center, seeing them as essential for youth just beginning their creative journeys. As he prepared for his workshop with the diversion program, he recognized that not all young people would be completely open to the idea of art, as many might have preconceived notions about what it means to create art or be an artist. "Yeah, they think it's just drawing," he noted. "It can be a quick sketch or a masterpiece. But the act of creating is what brings us here."
“That's why I based the class for today on that idea. I didn't want them to think it would be all about figure drawing or an oil painting class—something that can be a bit overwhelming. I wanted to teach them that art can be practical, elaborate, and encompass many forms.”
For his workshop, Guillermo chose to teach Graphic Symbolism, which he describes as expressing creativity through letters, words, shapes, and colors that reflect emotions, text, and design. His goal was to explore creativity without becoming too technical. He aimed to show that art and the ARTS Center can be gateways to numerous possibilities.
"They saw the equipment available here and realized that this is a fantastic platform for high school students, offering resources that traditional schools don’t provide. I feel like they left here with a new perspective. Even if they didn’t take away everything from my class, they noticed all the activity and hopefully, they were inspired to think, 'Oh, I can do this too.'
“I noticed that the students were really opening their eyes to the idea that this is not just a class; it’s more like a space they can come to. I could tell they were enjoying that aspect.”
We have partnered with the Juvenile Diversion Initiative to provide artistic skill-building workshops to youth impacted by the justice system. Our program offers them a chance to learn new skills, explore their artistic talents, and gain a better understanding of themselves and their communities—all in a safe and welcoming space. Our main goal is to support young people as they connect with the larger ARTS community by exposing them to plenty of opportunities to self-express, get involved, and realize their creative potential beyond the ARTS 4 Justice program.
Guillermo hopes that by pursuing his teaching credential, he will gain recognition for the programs and curriculum he teaches. He believes it is essential to promote "the raw feeling of art, where emotions are," but he also recognizes the practical ways to incorporate creativity into a career. He states, "With my background, along with the credential, I can begin teaching and guiding students toward different paths in art that are both sustainable and respected in society."
One of the core principles he aims to instill in the youth he works with is the importance of staying true to themselves. He explains, "I like to be genuine in my art because it reflects my experiences. I want to help students discover their own uniqueness." He adds, "I want to show that there are both free and structured aspects to art, and that there are steps to follow and a process to embrace."
Guillermo's journey speaks to the power of art in helping us discover more about ourselves and transform our lives. Through his commitment and innovative ideas, he shows the power of creativity in tackling challenges and finding our own voices. Embracing our creativity can open up new opportunities and connect us with a community of like-minded individuals. This connection fosters personal growth, enhances our understanding of one another, and builds meaningful relationships. We are excited to see Guillermo's next steps as an arts educator and are grateful to have such a valuable mentor and emerging teaching artist on our team!
Follow us on the ARTS social media channels for updates about our ARTS 4 Justice program and check out Guillermo Santiago's artwork on Instagram @g.santiago.studios.
