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Lesson Plans


I AM an "artist in residence"

[ Thread ][ Subject ][ Author ][ Date ]
Kauai Academy of Arts (kaca)
Sun, 14 Feb 1999 22:38:35 -1000

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I feel compelled to jump into this discussion since I have functioned =
as a full time art teacher for years but currently work as an =
Artist-in-the-Schools (residency). I also run a non-profit summer art =
academy which employs artists to teach six week classes.
=20
I know many art teachers who can't even draw and many great artists who =
are too scattered to teach any concepts coherently. But, not ALL =
artists are crummy teachers. Let's try to avoid stereotyping because of =
one bad experience with an artist in residence. Usually, the classroom =
teachers I work with have no experience in art at all and don't want =
any.
=20
I would expect an artist to present a general plan for their work with =
my students and provide documentation that they have the equipment, =
experience and expertise to do what they say they will do with the art =
unit. If you don't know their work or reputation, get references or =
don't hire them. Why would you expect any less of them up front than =
you would of any other teacher? Having artists of different mediums =
and techniques come into a school to create a project with students is a =
wonderful opportunity for students to meet real artists and learn about =
different techniques and styles. Asking an artist to come in and just =
work in your room while kids watch is a dumb idea--kind of like watching =
animals in a zoo. Ditto the idea of "art days" where kids make quickie =
projects with a bunch of different artists (is this education about the =
artistic process?) If you want to see the artist working, go to THEIR =
studio. I liked the idea presented here of a school with a gallery =
space where guest artists conduct tours and give talks about their work.
=20
The State of Hawaii does not employ art teachers in the elementary =
schools and positions are quite limited for upper level teaches, so, the =
State Foundation on Culture and the Arts funds my program. Each year =
the school must apply for funds to get an artist to come into the school =
for a specific time to do a specific project. An artist can go into the =
regular classrooms and teach (like I do) or apply for Art in Public =
Places money to create an art work for the school. As part of the =
latter arrangment, the artist is required to either get the kids =
involved in the artwork (usually sculptural) or do corresponding =
projects with them.
=20
In a perfect world, I think anyone who teaches art in a school should be =
a professional artist (with a passion for making art) AND a degreed art =
educator (with a background in organized lesson preparation, =
developmental skills, educational psychology and classroom management). =
And of course a love of kids would help too.
=20
Deb Rosenbaum

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 I feel compelled to jump into = this=20 discussion since I have functioned as a full time art teacher for years = but=20 currently work as an Artist-in-the-Schools (residency).  I also run = a=20 non-profit summer art academy which employs artists to teach six week=20 classes.
 
I know many art teachers who can't = even draw and=20 many great artists who are too scattered to teach any concepts = coherently. =20 But, not ALL artists are crummy = teachers.  Let's=20 try to avoid stereotyping because of one bad experience with an artist = in=20 residence.   Usually, the classroom teachers I work with have = no=20 experience in art at all and don't want any.
 
I would expect an artist to present a general plan = for their=20 work with my students and provide documentation that they have the = equipment,=20 experience and expertise to do what they say they will do with the art=20 unit.  If you don't know their work or reputation, get references = or don't=20 hire them.  Why would you expect any less of them up front than you = would=20 of any other teacher?   Having artists of different mediums = and=20 techniques come into a school to create a project with students is a = wonderful=20 opportunity for students to meet real artists and learn about different=20 techniques and styles.  Asking an artist to come in and just work = in your=20 room while kids watch is a dumb idea--kind of like watching animals in a = zoo.  Ditto the idea of "art days" where kids make = quickie=20 projects with a bunch of different artists (is this education about the = artistic=20 process?)   If you want to see the artist working, go to THEIR = studio.  I liked the idea presented here of a school with a gallery = space=20 where guest artists conduct tours and give talks about their = work.
 
The State of Hawaii does not employ = art teachers=20 in the elementary schools and positions are quite limited for upper = level=20 teaches, so, the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts funds my=20 program.  Each year the school must apply for funds to get an = artist to=20 come into the school for a specific time to do a specific project.  = An=20 artist can go into the regular classrooms and teach (like I do) or apply = for Art=20 in Public Places money to create an art work for the school.  As = part of=20 the latter arrangment, the artist is required to either get the kids = involved in=20 the artwork (usually sculptural) or do corresponding projects with=20 them.
 
In a perfect world, I think anyone = who teaches=20 art in a school should be a professional artist (with a passion for = making art)=20 AND a degreed art educator (with a background in organized lesson = preparation,=20 developmental skills, educational psychology and classroom = management). =20 And of course a love of kids would help too.
 
Deb = Rosenbaum
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  • Reply: Buerkle, Jennifer: "Re: I AM an "artist in residence""