Ms. Stroebe stares at the sky from her studio, absorbed by the various shapes of the clouds and the beauty of the birds that fly above her. She notices colors like blue, green, grey, and orange, which she jots down in her sketchbook. She then observes the grass and the many textures around her, the grainy sand, the soft dirt filled with ants, worms, and bugs. She’s in her flow state, and ready to create what she calls her “Talismans of Protection:” a work of abstract art filled with color, expression, and imagination, all of which embody Ms. Suzanne Stroebe.
These Talismans of Protection, although just abstract art, can be seen and embodied in room 337 – Ms. Stroebe’s art room – where she can be seen in her element, teaching the young aspiring artists of Mission High School.
This year, Mission has welcomed her into the community as one of our newest art teachers. Ms. Stroebe, a UC Santa Cruz graduate and former art teacher at Everett Middle School, has come to share her knowledge of art with those throughout Mission who are willing to learn.
In our recent interview, I asked Ms. Stroebe why she chose teaching over being an artist in the community. She explained her outlook, saying, “Teaching feels important; it feels like I can give students a moment in their days that’s theirs, and they can have a moment to express themselves and have freedom.” Hence, everyday I pass by Ms. Stroebe’s class, I frequently see students attentive and engaged in creating their own works of art, which they could consider their own Talismans of Protection.
Nevertheless, Ms. Stroebe’s goals for her students go deeper than just freedom of Artistic expression; she’s determined to make her students find themselves, and also “develop their own voice,” as Ms. Stroebe says. But one question may arise: how did she find hers? Beginning in her pre-adolescent years, Ms. Stroebe mentioned to me that there was nothing she would have ever done or studied besides art, referring to herself as “That little kid,” implying her hyper amusement with the subject. Graduating from a South Bay High School, Menlo Atherton, Ms. Stroebe also mentioned in our interview how she “didn’t really come into her own until college.” A statement that is nevertheless surprising, considering her various accolades today, and also her frequent participation in art class all 4 years at Menlo Atherton H.S. Moreover, after taking a gap year to figure things out, Ms. Stroebe decided to study drawing & painting at UCSC, more specifically, at the prestigious Benjamin F. Porter Art School. Here, Ms. Stroebe refined her art skills at the top-floor studio with an amazing view of the UCSC skyline, slowly transforming into the passionate Art teacher we know today.
“Art is so much a part of my life, who I am, what I do.” Ms. Stroebe says, continuing to say, “I’ve always loved art, always wanted to make art as long as I can remember, before I can remember.” But art doesn’t come as just “art” to Ms. Stroebe; it comes with a cause as well. A cause that many people throughout local communities are not very informed about. A cause in which Ms. Stroebe wishes to fight and change. Mentioning that “I would like the average person to know more about artists that are living, that are not white, who are queer, and doing interesting things.” The common knowledge of artists among people is “dead white guys.” Despite not many people having an idea of who some famous artists are who are living now, that are ten times more impactful. But even so, Ms. Stroebe doesn’t fail to implement education on contemporary art which she says “Is something I try to bring into my class.”
Today, we can find her in her room, still as a statue, writing and drawing in her sketchbook, not just creating, but exploring different colors and shapes, textures and sizes, just like in her studio. But this time, she isn’t working on her Talismans of protection; she’s working on a new muse, a muse that is as complex as her greatest creation, a muse with many textures and thoughts, a muse that is her students, and love for teaching.
Find Ms. Stroebe’s artwork here, on her website: Ms. Stroebe’s Talismans of Protection
