I still miss you hero
Chuck Warner was by far, one of the most inspirational leaders in the art teaching world. He personally pulled me through some of the hardest years of my life via our one-on-one friendship through the art department and working on set design/backstage techie at the Woodland High School theatre.
I didn't find out about his death until about a year ago, as I had moved from Woodland back in 1999. I cried, a lot when I found out why he hadn't responded to my emails >_<
I still wish I could have told him in person one last time how much I appreciated all of his efforts.
~Emily
a working artist inspired to keep advancing by Chuck Warner
From the Sacramento Bee:
Obituary: Charles Warner, renowned high school art teacher
By Steve Gibson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Saturday, July 30, 2005
Story appeared in Metro section, Page B4
Charles "Chuck" Warner, a nationally recognized art teacher at Woodland High School who inspired many students to pursue careers in visual arts, has died at the age of 59. The cause was complications following a lung transplant, said his wife, Marion Cantor. He died July 23 at Stanford University Medical Center.
Mr. Warner, a teacher at Woodland High for more than 35 years, had chaired the school's art department since 1974.
Under his leadership, Woodland High's arts program won numerous accolades, including recognition in 1997 by BusinessWeek magazine for its "Outstanding Arts Driven Curriculum," one of eight in the nation.
The same year, Woodland High was one of six high schools in the United States selected as a Getty/Annenberg arts grant recipient.
Mr. Warner "possessed an uncanny ability to challenge his students in a variety of problem-solving environments," his wife wrote in an e-mail. "He inspired them to produce inventive, independent, meaningful pieces of visual art that consistently demonstrated higher order thinking."
In addition to his duties at Woodland High, Mr. Warner taught classes in commercial art, ceramics and theater production at Woodland Community College.
A working artist himself, he specialized in acrylics and won numerous awards for his work. He was named "most inspirational teacher" in 2003 by the California Assembly. In 1998 he was honored as Woodland Joint Unified School District's teacher of the year.
"We take the business of being artists seriously," Mr. Warner said in a 1988 interview with the Woodland Daily Democrat. "Most art departments tend to be a dumping ground (for students). This is definitely not true here.
"We have a reputation for being tough. Our expectations for students are awfully high, but the students keep meeting our expectations."
In an interview with The Bee last year, Mr. Warner talked about how troubled students could turn their lives around when they discovered their artistic talent.
"The students who are running into problems, they come here and they know this is serious business," he told Bee staff writer Pamela Martineau. "There's no fooling around here."
Charles Stone Warner was born and raised in Sacramento, one of three children of Wilma Stone Warner, an elementary school teacher, and Earl Stone, a commercial artist.
As a student at Encina High School, he earned spending money from printmaking and graphics. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree in art from California State University, Sacramento, followed by graduate work at University of California, Davis, and California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland.
He married Marion Cantor, a Davis attorney, on April 2, 1983. They have three children.
Among his former students who became professionals in the art world are Peggy Jo Ackley, Jeff Shurtz, Jeff Moore, Karen Yamauchi, Gustavo Ramirez, Wenda DeNova and Emily Potts.
In addition to his own painting, Mr. Warner for many years also did freelance commercial art work. At one point, he served on the Davis Art Center's governing board.
"He was passionate about art in his own life and about sharing it with others," said Sharon King, one of Mr. Warner's fellow art teachers at Woodland High. "He loved kids, he loved teaching, and he loved seeing that sparkle happen."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charles S. Warner
Born: April 1, 1946
Died: July 23, 2005
Remembered for: His nationally recognized arts education program at Woodland High School that inspired scores of students
Survived by: Wife, Marion Cantor of Davis; son, Dylan Warner of Davis; daughters, Erika Gatlin of Navarro, Mendocino County, and Rachael Sturgeon of York, England; brothers, Stuart Warner of San Anselmo and Philip Warner of Sacramento; one grandchild
Memorial services: 2 p.m. Aug. 6, Buehler Alumni/Visitors Center, UC Davis
About the writer: The Bee's Steve Gibson can be reached at (916) 321-1085 or sgibson@sacbee.com.
I didn't find out about his death until about a year ago, as I had moved from Woodland back in 1999. I cried, a lot when I found out why he hadn't responded to my emails >_<
I still wish I could have told him in person one last time how much I appreciated all of his efforts.
~Emily
a working artist inspired to keep advancing by Chuck Warner
From the Sacramento Bee:
Obituary: Charles Warner, renowned high school art teacher
By Steve Gibson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Saturday, July 30, 2005
Story appeared in Metro section, Page B4
Charles "Chuck" Warner, a nationally recognized art teacher at Woodland High School who inspired many students to pursue careers in visual arts, has died at the age of 59. The cause was complications following a lung transplant, said his wife, Marion Cantor. He died July 23 at Stanford University Medical Center.
Mr. Warner, a teacher at Woodland High for more than 35 years, had chaired the school's art department since 1974.
Under his leadership, Woodland High's arts program won numerous accolades, including recognition in 1997 by BusinessWeek magazine for its "Outstanding Arts Driven Curriculum," one of eight in the nation.
The same year, Woodland High was one of six high schools in the United States selected as a Getty/Annenberg arts grant recipient.
Mr. Warner "possessed an uncanny ability to challenge his students in a variety of problem-solving environments," his wife wrote in an e-mail. "He inspired them to produce inventive, independent, meaningful pieces of visual art that consistently demonstrated higher order thinking."
In addition to his duties at Woodland High, Mr. Warner taught classes in commercial art, ceramics and theater production at Woodland Community College.
A working artist himself, he specialized in acrylics and won numerous awards for his work. He was named "most inspirational teacher" in 2003 by the California Assembly. In 1998 he was honored as Woodland Joint Unified School District's teacher of the year.
"We take the business of being artists seriously," Mr. Warner said in a 1988 interview with the Woodland Daily Democrat. "Most art departments tend to be a dumping ground (for students). This is definitely not true here.
"We have a reputation for being tough. Our expectations for students are awfully high, but the students keep meeting our expectations."
In an interview with The Bee last year, Mr. Warner talked about how troubled students could turn their lives around when they discovered their artistic talent.
"The students who are running into problems, they come here and they know this is serious business," he told Bee staff writer Pamela Martineau. "There's no fooling around here."
Charles Stone Warner was born and raised in Sacramento, one of three children of Wilma Stone Warner, an elementary school teacher, and Earl Stone, a commercial artist.
As a student at Encina High School, he earned spending money from printmaking and graphics. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree in art from California State University, Sacramento, followed by graduate work at University of California, Davis, and California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland.
He married Marion Cantor, a Davis attorney, on April 2, 1983. They have three children.
Among his former students who became professionals in the art world are Peggy Jo Ackley, Jeff Shurtz, Jeff Moore, Karen Yamauchi, Gustavo Ramirez, Wenda DeNova and Emily Potts.
In addition to his own painting, Mr. Warner for many years also did freelance commercial art work. At one point, he served on the Davis Art Center's governing board.
"He was passionate about art in his own life and about sharing it with others," said Sharon King, one of Mr. Warner's fellow art teachers at Woodland High. "He loved kids, he loved teaching, and he loved seeing that sparkle happen."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charles S. Warner
Born: April 1, 1946
Died: July 23, 2005
Remembered for: His nationally recognized arts education program at Woodland High School that inspired scores of students
Survived by: Wife, Marion Cantor of Davis; son, Dylan Warner of Davis; daughters, Erika Gatlin of Navarro, Mendocino County, and Rachael Sturgeon of York, England; brothers, Stuart Warner of San Anselmo and Philip Warner of Sacramento; one grandchild
Memorial services: 2 p.m. Aug. 6, Buehler Alumni/Visitors Center, UC Davis
About the writer: The Bee's Steve Gibson can be reached at (916) 321-1085 or sgibson@sacbee.com.