Engagement in arts-related activities is evidence students are growing, learning, and becoming active participants in the world. Art education stimulates growth, development, creativity, imagination, and learning. Making, viewing, and discussing art can be an exhilarating as well as transformative experience for learners of all ages, with different learning abilities and from all backgrounds, regardless of age, gender, race and ethnicity or socio-economic status, or ability. Art is a language, as is writing, which has its own vocabulary and symbols. These symbols need to be understood so that students can learn to give form to their ideas and communicate with others.
Art is more than meets the eye. It takes the whole body to understand. Art education engages students in physical and sensory activities that help them become familiar with their physical and emotional worlds. Art is a way for students to express their ideas, communicate and tell stories and make sense of their experiences.
Art education allows for greater understanding not only of art and the art world but, of the world in which we live. Art should be inclusive of all races, religions, beliefs, and orientations. Through exposure to art, learners come to understand who they are in the world. They learn to empathize, identify with and become familiar with others. Subsequently, as one grows and develops, art education enables learners to think critically, challenge social norms, and question the status quo. The latter particularly so when critical pedagogies are employed.
Art education should be exploratory, allowing learners to investigate a myriad of ideas and experiment with a wide variety of materials. Teachers may provide models and examples, but then, encourage learners to figure out “what feels right” for them as they practice and refine their skills. Through exploration, learners may not find all the answers or even the "correct" answers but discover that they have more questions and more curiosities that keep them connected and engaged with art.
Artists'/learners' work should be exhibited and invite community connection. All formats for display are relevant, from the classroom and school exhibitions to galleries and museums to on-line venues and public spaces. Learners, peers/classmates, teachers, family members and neighbors should all be invited to celebrate the creativity and imagination of artists/learners studying art in their communities.
Written by Cheri Eileen Ehrlich
Art is more than meets the eye. It takes the whole body to understand. Art education engages students in physical and sensory activities that help them become familiar with their physical and emotional worlds. Art is a way for students to express their ideas, communicate and tell stories and make sense of their experiences.
Art education allows for greater understanding not only of art and the art world but, of the world in which we live. Art should be inclusive of all races, religions, beliefs, and orientations. Through exposure to art, learners come to understand who they are in the world. They learn to empathize, identify with and become familiar with others. Subsequently, as one grows and develops, art education enables learners to think critically, challenge social norms, and question the status quo. The latter particularly so when critical pedagogies are employed.
Art education should be exploratory, allowing learners to investigate a myriad of ideas and experiment with a wide variety of materials. Teachers may provide models and examples, but then, encourage learners to figure out “what feels right” for them as they practice and refine their skills. Through exploration, learners may not find all the answers or even the "correct" answers but discover that they have more questions and more curiosities that keep them connected and engaged with art.
Artists'/learners' work should be exhibited and invite community connection. All formats for display are relevant, from the classroom and school exhibitions to galleries and museums to on-line venues and public spaces. Learners, peers/classmates, teachers, family members and neighbors should all be invited to celebrate the creativity and imagination of artists/learners studying art in their communities.
Written by Cheri Eileen Ehrlich