The art teachers of Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester are living two lives, which they say is exactly as it should be.

“We’re practicing artists that believe in our own personal work, and that’s why we are the teachers that we are,” said Mattapoisett art teacher Greta Anderson.

For October and November, the tri-town’s public school art teachers put their work on exhibit in the district’s central office.

“The idea came about to share that we are artists in addition to educators,” said Meghann Bodeau, who teaches at the junior high.

The location is a strategic one, said Bodeau.

“The stakeholders that come to meet and have an investment in what’s happening in the district are going to be sitting around those tables and have some artwork to show that we are active in the arts,” she said. “It is advocacy for the arts in the district.”

The teachers have watercolors, oil and acrylic paintings up in the space as well as some mixed media pieces.

“I have students in Mattapoisett that don’t know artists exist today,” said Anderson. “It is good that they know that art is a current profession.”

The teachers also said their personal artwork keeps them relevant in the classroom.

“Artists and art educators are constant lifelong learners,” said Sippican School’s Erin Kirk. “We always want to take the next class, learn a new medium.”

Old Rochester Regional High School teacher Jo Barrett agreed.

“My practice informs my teaching. It is absolutely important to keep doing it.”

In the future, the teachers hope to display artwork from their students in the space.