ART Connection

Comment

Comment by Dr. Camille Dempsey on March 9, 2011 at 11:30pm

If you haven't seen it, this is a great networking site for arts educators: http://arted20.ning.com/

Comment by Doug Parker on February 16, 2011 at 1:11pm

Katherine,
Yes, please share and feel free to spread the word about the group.  The more members and resources the better!

Comment by Katherine Douglas on February 16, 2011 at 10:13am

I believe art educators have benefited more from the Internet than we realize.  As the only elementary art teacher in the entire town for 35 years I was terribly isolated.  Thanks for starting this; I have a number of art teacher blogs and a PLC I can share if you are interested.

Comment by Doug Parker on February 16, 2011 at 12:10am

Comment by Doug Parker on February 16, 2011 at 12:09am

Comment by Doug Parker on February 16, 2011 at 12:08am

Comment by Doug Parker on February 15, 2011 at 10:39pm

Why Teach Art?

ART IS A SCIENCE In many cases creating art demands exact, specific mixtures as a variety of compounds such as:  silica, wax, oil, and pigment.  Artists develop hypotheses on the result of these combinations and how they will affect their art.  This experimentation is done with note taking in a journal to record successful and sometimes not so successful results. Artists look for absorption rates, appropriate catalysts, dissociation points, and causes of devitrification.  Artists are keen observers and recorders of their environment just as a scientist is. Artists are scientists. ART IS MATHEMATICAL Artists translate a complex three-dimensional world in to two-dimensional and three-dimensional images and sculptures.  This requires a keen understanding of spatial relationships, linear perspective, technical shading of form, symmetry and asymmetry, and knowledge of geometrical and organic shapes.  Many works of art require the artist to develop exact measurements of size and weight.Artists are mathematicians. ART IS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE Many of the terms commonly used in art originate from a variety of languages like:  Italian, German, Latin, and French.  Words such as: appliqué, Bas Relief, tromp-l'oeil, chiaroscuro, monochrome, gouache, and sgraffito.  Vocabulary in art is a blend of many cultures and therefore becomes its own unique language. Artists speak a foreign language. ART IS HISTORY Art reflects the environment, culture, and often the political conditions of the time and place in which it was created.  The artworks of the world are mankind's greatest records of his history on planet earth.  The cave paintings of France, the pyramids of Giza, the urns of Greece, the sculptures of Michelangelo, the masks of the Native Americans, the narrative paintings of the 19th century, and the characters of Grant Wood, have all remained as a record of communication of times gone by.  History is simply not history without the artifacts that support its existence. Artists record history. ART IS LANGUAGE ARTS Art is a higher form of communication.  As artists translate the world around them, stories of bravery, heroism, valor, sorrow, and hope emerge into narratives of imagery, characters, and settings.  Artists research, brainstorm, rough draft, create preliminary drawings, keep journals, date title, and sign their works, and create works based upon a theme or series.  Artists have made images inspired by poems, music, stories, and events. Artists are communicators. ART IS PHYSICAL EDUCATION Art requires fantastic coordination of the fingers, hands, arms, and body. The hand and the eye must work in perfect harmony in order to create. Many forms of art require great physical strength, balance, and coordination such as sculpting large structures from stone, metal, and wood, and throwing hundreds of pounds of clay.  Painting, drawing, and sculpting require great physical stamina. Artists are fit for life. ART IS TECHNOLOGY Great works of art are now created on computers requiring artists to have highly developed computer skills and knowledge.  Graphic arts and communication professions have changed dramatically with the use of this tool. Artists a