The art department at Fargo North is small but mighty, with just two teachers: Lisa Kraft and Tracy Melendez. Melendez has taught at North for 18 years, teaching all levels of drawing as well as the more advanced clay and sculpture classes. “My emphasis area is drawing and ceramics, so that's just what I'm most trained in,” said Melendez.
Melendez graduated from West Fargo High School and then attended MSUM for her bachelor’s, before getting her master’s in drawing and ceramics at UND. Being drawn to the Fargo community where she grew up, she has stayed local, combining her love for art and working with kids. “I’ve always had a love for art, and I used to work with kids in a variety of ways because I was a coach, and so through coaching and my love of art that kind of just directed my path in life,” said Melendez.
Melendez could have taught many different grade levels, but chose to teach high schoolers. “I enjoy working with older students, one just because of like the subject matter I teach. I like to be able to teach more complicated projects and more complicated art processes, so it's tough to do that with elementary [and some middle school] students,” said Melendez.
The feeling is mutual among her students, who praise her teaching style and enthusiasm for local art. “I think she gives a lot of good feedback, and she also talks about […] opportunities for art outside of just, like, art class. For example she really encourages the local art showcase that was last weekend. She encourages that her students go and see that,” said senior Selena Zhao, one of her students.
When teaching so many different classes at many different skill levels, it could be hard to pick a favorite project, but not for Melendez, who passionately talked about a project that intermediate clay completes. “My intermediate clay kids are finishing their house as a metaphor project, and I really like that one, it's a good project because they create a house sculpture or architectural dwelling that is representative of them or their personality traits. So I like that project for a lot of reasons but one of them is just that it allows them to infuse their own personal experiences into their art,” said Melendez.
Her students also appreciate how she guides them into creating art that feels unique and creative. “I feel like she always gives good pointers on where, like, when you’re coming up with the concept stage. I like to check in with her often during that stage because she’ll tell you like, where you could further explore an idea or point out different directions that you weren’t originally thinking about,” said Zhao. “Rather than being a super strict teacher, she’s just good at helping you reach the goal of your project or that higher standard rather than just shooting down your ideas.”
In addition to the classes she teaches, Melendez is also the advisor for art club, which is a place for students to have additional time working on skills they learn in the classroom while still having fun. “Art club is just more of a social group, so we get together. We do a craft project or an art project but it's usually something that we do in one night, so we’ll do a small craft and they’ll finish it in one setting versus in the classroom where we usually take a couple of weeks to complete a project,” said Melendez.
Melendez is not just a teacher, but also an artist well involved in the Fargo-Moorhead community, with many unsuspecting North students possibly seeing her work without even knowing. “I’m an active member of the Red River Watercolor Society and I do a lot of commissioned art. I’m also a caricature artist and I do caricatures at various local events. I’ll sometimes do caricatures at the Red Hawks games or at community picnics and things like that,” said Melendez.
Kraft interview questions:
How long have you and Ms. Melendez worked together?
What’s something you admire about Ms. Melendez?
Do you ever trade art projects or skills?
How do you two work as a pair as the sole two art teachers?
What’s your favorite part about working in the North art department?
What is something Melendez does well?
What do you like about art with Melendez? “I think she gives a lot of good feedback, and she also talks about like, opportunities for art outside of just like, art class. So whenever there’s for example she really encourages the local art showcase that was last weekend. She encourages that her students go and see that and, yeah.”
How does she make you feel supported? “I feel like she always gives good pointers on where, like, when you’re coming up with the concept stage–I like to check in with her often during that stage because she’ll tell you like, whether you–where you could further explore an idea or point out different directions that you weren’t originally thinking about. And then she’ll come and just point those out for you so you could further explore one element of your piece. And I feel like rather than being a super strict teacher she’s just good at helping you reach the goal of your project or that higher standard rather than just shooting down your ideas. Also, I know this isn’t really about class, but she runs the art club, and she does a really good job planning activities and helping kids through that.
How long have you been a teacher?
How long have you been at north?
Where did you go to school?
What made you decide you wanted to be an art teacher?
What out of that made you decide highschool art instead of a different level?
What Art classes do you teach and why?
What is your favorite class to teach?
Do you do any art related things outside of the school art department?
What's art club like compared to art class?
Who are some of your favorite artists?
What do you hope your teachers take away from their time in class? Especially graduating seniors?
What's your favorite project you do or have done with your students
Do you have a memorable moment from working at north?
Are there any summer art events or showcases your excited about?
How do you support art students who hope to pursue art beyond high school
Do you do any art outside of school?
