Retirement doesn't hold former Salem art teacher down

When the 2019-20 school year began, little did anyone realize that a pandemic was on the horizon, an event that would disrupt the plans of students, parents, and teachers alike.

One such Salem teacher was Jane Spencer-Pierce, who taught Art and served as Fine Arts Chair at Salem High School. Even after 40 years teaching, 34 of which were at Salem, she still had plenty of gas in the tank.

“That year I had one of the strongest – and – largest freshman classes we’d ever had. Leaving them was unexpected,” says Spencer-Pierce. That departure was only surpassed by the difficult decision to retire in 2020. “I think we all felt that things would be back to normal soon, but of course that wasn’t the case. Retirement seemed the wisest option.”

But one can’t keep a dedicated teacher down for long, and in the fall of 2021, Spencer-Pierce opened Creekside Art Space, offering lessons and classes in drawing and painting. Four years later, the studio is still up and running and welcomes a new batch of students this spring - a group that runs the gamut from teenagers to adult lifelong learners.

Residents will best remember Spencer-Pierce for her historic murals on the Salem square, and her students’ perennial success at prestigious competitions, including

seven 9 th Congressional District Art Competition champions, six Project XL State Champions, and numerous state finalists in the XL event.

One such winner is Sydney Calhoun, a Purdue graduate now working as a Conservation Specialist in the Ag Retail field. A 2015 SHS grad, Calhoun was named 9 th District Art champion her sophomore year. Her achievement was commemorated with an award trip to Washington, D.C., and her artwork was displayed prominently in the U.S. Capitol building for a year. Calhoun notes that “Jane always encouraged me to put forth my best effort. She created an environment that was both collaborative and fun, but also meditative when you needed it to be. I’m so happy that she continues to teach – and connect.”

There’s a generational aspect as well - Spencer-Pierce laughs and notes that “I guess I’ve been around long enough to now have the opportunity to teach the offspring of

former students.”

SHS sophomore Whitley McCreary is one of these, as her mother Emily was a former student. McCreary notes that “I was thrilled to learn Jane was teaching privately. As a former student, I really wanted my daughter to learn from Jane and her unique style of teaching.” Former student Johnny Crawhorn agrees, remarking that Spencer-Pierce “taught me how to see the world in an artistic way and apply that to paper, making a poor, introverted kid realize he could really be good at something.”

Crawhorn now takes classes at the studio alongside his son Lennon, an SHS senior, adding that “when I found out Jane was giving private lessons, I wanted my son to experience that process.” These aren’t isolated stories, as over fifty of Spencer-Pierce’s students have gone on to study at prestigious institutions, including the Chicago Art Institute, Kansas City Art Institute, Savannah College of Art and Design, and others. Many have settled into Art careers of their own - here in Washington County, each high school Art Department is led by graduates of the Spencer-Pierce “coaching tree”.

Spencer-Pierce notes that after a winter hiatus, classes at Creekside will resume in full swing March 1. “Our classes are small, and all instruction is 100% individualized. We welcome everyone from beginners to experienced artists ages 13-adult, and the resulting mix of people is a lot of fun.” Nestled in a tranquil country setting, Creekside Art Space is located at 3138 E

Nicholson Holow Road, just north of Salem. Reservations for the coming term are accepted now. Details available at CreeksideArtSpace.com.