Additional musings on the previous post...
One can and many do have their students create cookie-cutter, candy factory projects (and exercises) like those arty party workshops where they serve wine. Most are happy with the results. The teacher, and students have something to "show" for their work. It's comfortable, there is a feeling of closure and completeness, and most parents, students, colleagues, and administers feel "You're doing an awesome job."
It's like going to a lavish buffet and eating pizza, chicken nuggets, with a cookie to top is off. You'll be full, you'll be happy, and you'll have never challenged yourself to go beyond your comfort zone, which is... comforting.
You'll never know what chicken tikka masala is like, or souvlaki, sushi, vichyssoise, shawarma, or the melt in the mouth joy of fresh crème brûlée. You'll never need to use a fork, knife, spoon, or set of chopsticks. You won't care either because you have let yourself stay inside that comfortable ticky tacky little box.
Art is THE most important class a child can have. Even if they want to be a lawyer, accountant, senator, custodian, chef, etc... The most successful people in every field are the ones who can solve problems in creative ways, finding new and innovative answers. The ones who can integrate math, science, history, language, and the other disciplines into their thought process succeed. ART has done this since the times of Ancient Greek schools. It is only since the industrial revolution that the focus on product, as opposed to process, became a goal, dumbing down art to what happens in so many rooms.
Students will learn linear thinking in other classrooms.
2+2=4
H+2O=Water
In 1492 Columbus discovered something important
"Casa" means house in Spanish, and Umbrella in Japanese
There is a right and a wrong answer.
But no formula, no class, no guru can show you the right way to paint YOUR dreams, express your soul, your pain, your point of view... but we CAN do it EVERY day in art... if we would just let go of the Ticky Tacky mindset.
It's like going to a lavish buffet and eating pizza, chicken nuggets, with a cookie to top is off. You'll be full, you'll be happy, and you'll have never challenged yourself to go beyond your comfort zone, which is... comforting.
You'll never know what chicken tikka masala is like, or souvlaki, sushi, vichyssoise, shawarma, or the melt in the mouth joy of fresh crème brûlée. You'll never need to use a fork, knife, spoon, or set of chopsticks. You won't care either because you have let yourself stay inside that comfortable ticky tacky little box.
Art is THE most important class a child can have. Even if they want to be a lawyer, accountant, senator, custodian, chef, etc... The most successful people in every field are the ones who can solve problems in creative ways, finding new and innovative answers. The ones who can integrate math, science, history, language, and the other disciplines into their thought process succeed. ART has done this since the times of Ancient Greek schools. It is only since the industrial revolution that the focus on product, as opposed to process, became a goal, dumbing down art to what happens in so many rooms.
Students will learn linear thinking in other classrooms.
2+2=4
H+2O=Water
In 1492 Columbus discovered something important
"Casa" means house in Spanish, and Umbrella in Japanese
There is a right and a wrong answer.
But no formula, no class, no guru can show you the right way to paint YOUR dreams, express your soul, your pain, your point of view... but we CAN do it EVERY day in art... if we would just let go of the Ticky Tacky mindset.
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