Tara McGowan has been fascinated by all forms of picture-storytelling, East and West, since childhood. As a visual artist, who has lived and studied in Japan for many years, she brings to her performances and residencies an intimate knowledge of the language and culture. Her programs bring Japan to life through story, song, and image, and the artwork and artifacts she creates help students visualize the objects and landscape of everyday life. Tara graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s Language and Literacy in Education division of the Graduate School of Education in 2012. She is revising her dissertation into a book that examines student performances of original kamishibai stories. Her earlier book on teaching kamishibai storytelling in the classroom, published by Teacher Ideas Press, an imprint of Libraries Unlimited, released in 2010.
Tags: Cartoon Studies, CCS, Japan, Kamishibai, picture storytelling, Tara McGowan, Visiting Artist
