VISION STATEMENT

Art Education promotes life skills that are vital to contemporary society. By making art, students solve problems, practice open-mindedness, and find ways to express the ineffable. Through developmentally appropriate instruction, students at any grade level can build a repertoire of artistic skills in a variety of media. They will learn to give shape to ideas in media such as painting, drawing, printmaking, graphic design, sculpture, animation, and collage.

In my classroom, learner-centered projects will motivate students to explore interdisciplinary themes. Each project will use essential questions as a foundation for students to explore a given topic. "How can I combine different animal parts to create a mythical creature?" "What details in a costume can tell a story?" "How can I juxtapose word and image to design an ad about myself?" Students will be prompted to create personally relevant artwork that reveals their voice. They will keep journals, independently research resources that interest them, and consider different techniques for developing their work.

As part of a 21st century art curriculum, students will be exposed to diverse, multicultural resources to help them tap into a topic and consider views other than their own. Students will explore art across time and genres, ranging from folk traditions such as Oaxacan Alebrijes to contemporary designers such as Colleen Atwood. They will learn to examine historical and cultural context and ask questions about society, technology, power, identity, and intent in relation to an artwork.  Using art as a springboard for discussion, they will make interpretations based on what they see, and describe reasoning that supports opinions or claims. Such tasks will prepare students for success in college and careers.

As an added benefit, the arts can contribute to an overall culture of excellence in a school. A strong visual arts program can link ideas across subjects, create relationships among school clubs, and engage students with their greater community. Art Education offers possibilities for students to expand their interests and love for learning.