Importance of Art Education

The Philadelphia Art Education Struggle

Funding art programs decreases as teaching focus is shifted to reading and math test scores. The number of district schools that lack an art teacher amount to 109 schools, which is 41%. More then one out of five schools have neither an art teacher nor vocal music teacher. Because of the cut in public school funding many schools have dropped their art programs all together. Many teachers try to help the loss of the art programs by having in school and after school art activities. The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers is aware of the importance of art.  They have found that is helps children who struggle academically to stay in school and help attendance. This way they have something they can be confident in. teachers continue to use their own time to do projects and put on plays because they find that art is important to the learning process.

Benefits of Art Education for Children

Art education develops imagination and critical thinking.  It strengthens problem solving which helps with overall academic success. Art develops a sense of craftsmanship, quality work, and goal setting. It teaches children to articulate a vision, their vision. Art can nurture team building skills and respecting alternative viewpoints. It also brings about the awareness of different cultures and traditions. It plays a central roll in cognitive, motor, language, and social-emotional development.  Art is the most natural vehicle for play which promotes and enhances development overall.

Adult View on Art Education

This data is taken from Americans for the Arts National Public Opinion survey. 91% believe that art is vital to a well-rounded education. 95% think art teaches intangibles such as creativity, self-expression, and individualism. 89% believe that all schools should find the money to keep art programs alive. 96% agree that art belongs to everyone, not just the fortunate or privileged.

Social and Academic Impact of Art Education

Art makes it possible for people to create themselves. Art is hard to measure, sit it is often underestimated and undervalued. Art can help students out of “formal” ways of approaching relationships, outcomes, and perceptions. Art draws on a range of intelligences and learning styles helping children find their strengths.

Art Experiences that Promote Learning

Dance builds motor control, body relationships, and a sense of direction. Drawing, sculpting, and other visual arts develop spatial acuity. Group activities such as learning dance steps or singing songs build social skills. Repeating stories, poems, or songs strengthens memory.

Programs in the Philadelphia Community to assist in Art Education

ArtsRising

This group helps provide high quality art education opportunities for children in Philadelphia. It was created in 2008 by the Philadelphia Education Fund, Fleisher Art Memorial, and Public Citizens for Children and Youth. They offer programs inside and outside of schools for the community. They have three core issues: in schools to provide access to a high-quality education for every child, in communities to celebrate out city’s thriving neighborhoods, in life to engage young people and prepare them for success in school and beyond.

Philadelphia Arts In Education Partnership (PAEP)

They promote learning in and through the arts for students K-12 in southeastern PA. They encourage excellence in art education. They believe arts are integral to the comprehensive education of all learners. They were created in 1996 with the initial involvement of 25 local arts and cultural institutions. They work in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. PAEP supported, designed, and implemented more than 1,124 residencies facilitated by 1,150 area artists for more then 16,500 students. They employ 910 teaching artists. They have also placed artists in 350 schools. They provide daily arts-making experiences in a record 90,000 inner-city youth.

The Village of Arts and Humanities

They began with the transformation of a vacant lot into an art park for neighborhood children. They were formally incorporated in 1989. They value art as a vehicle for creative place, building self-esteem, and engender mutual respect. They encompass visual and performing arts as well as creativity in thinking, methodology and implementation.  They are very focused on maintaining and restoring the local community. Their programs are designed to grow youth and adult residents into community leaders.

Pick a Picture!

I chose this piece right here because it caught my eye immediately. I love the power that can be conveyed through black and white photography. I believe this is a good piece because it has a special kind of symmetry to it. Instead of a reflection in water, which can look to crisp at times, the tree's shadow fuzzes out on the ground. The contrast between the two tree forms is just a treat to look at. It goes from ridged and detailed to fuzzy and organic. I also enjoy the fact the horizon line in the picture is on a bit of an angle. That makes a great deal of difference. The angle isn't trying to be dramatic, just different. The light beams just draw you right in as well. It also doesn't appear to be otherworldly like a lot of nature scenes are heading towards these days due to over editing. The subject, the tree, is allowed to speak for itself. This photograph didn't need all the bells and whistles to grab my attention.

Ways To Stay Creative

Here are personal things I do to stay creative...

•Sleep

•Do not over think things

•Crochet to relax

•Daydream

•Eat a great home-cooked meal

•Make a book

•Talk to friends

•Play pool tournaments and pool in general

•Criticize things 

•Challenge myself

•Tell myself nothing is a bad idea, it is just an underdeveloped good one waiting to happen

•Hang out with my dog

•Take my lizard for a walk outside

•Practice mind maps

•Document my work

•Write down ideas as they come

Critique Exercise

Sandy Skoglund - Revenge of the Goldfish

Descriptive Critique 

The image is of a bedroom that has many goldfish. The bedroom itself is entirely blue. Some of the drawers of the dressers are open, the bed is messy, and one of the pillows is on the floor. The goldfish around the room are in different places such as the floor, suspended from the ceiling, laying on the dresser, and coming out of the drawers. They are not all the same goldfish because I see some in different positions as well as different sizes. Also, on the bed, there are two people who have their eyes closed. One person is laying down while the other person is sitting up.

Joel Witkin - Portrait of Nan

Interpretive Critique 

Overall, this is a very confusing image to me. The grungy feeling achieved in this photo makes it look really frightening. The woman is so calm that it simply doesn't make sense for her hair to be that way. The way it is nailed to the wall in different pieces looks painful, yet she sits there perfectly content. The only item of clothing she is wearing is her gloves, which says to me that she doesn't want to get her hands dirty. It is almost like she is living in sinful place but refuses to be a part of it. The arbitrary appearance of the curtain on the wall could be interpreted like there was once a window, but it has long since been boarded up. The tiny skeleton could be death lurking in the background. I find it interesting that this skeleton is turned away as if death has turned its back on this woman. A few things I can't possibly place are the dots on her chest, the "T" looking form overlapping her, and the small animal she is holding.

Alfred Eisenstaedt - The V-J Day Kiss

Is this a good photo?

I believe this is a good photo because it captures the spontaneity of the kiss. The two frontal figures are in focus like they should be. There are people in the background looking at the couple as well. Smiles are everywhere giving the photo a lighthearted, happy feel. Distance in achieved as well through the perspective of the buildings receding in the distance. The figures are also conveniently located at the center of that receding focus. The only thing that makes the composition a bit awkward is how there is half of a man on the right side. There is no reason for him to be there. I would crop him out.

Here is the post I found!

The reason this post attracted me in the first place is, just like everyone else, I struggle with creative block.  I have never really found a "solution" to this problem, but these tips seem rather helpful and a bit more productive then just simply waiting until the creative block passes.  They have broken creative block down into seven different categories; the mental block, the emotional barrier, work habits that don't work, personal problems, poverty, overwhelm, and communication breakdown.  I can recall experiencing each kind.  The thing I liked best about the solutions is that all of them were applicable to daily life situations as well.  Many of them involved believing in yourself, relaxing, and getting over your fears of failure.  All of which are great pieces of advice no matter what your problem may be.  I already found this article helpful and it will surely be helpful in the future.

Digital Narrative

For this assignment we had to use our skills of manipulating images on photoshop to create a narrative. I used my lizard as a subject and placed him in my daily life situations. Seeing him in different scenarios in my life really portrayed a lot larger of a story to some people than I assumed it would. I enjoyed this project very much. The final form of this project was a book entitled "The College Life of a Commuting Lizard."

Photoshop UnTruth

The assignment here was to use the tools of photoshop to experiment with the truth. I used myself as the subject. I edited myself according to the previous comments of others. Everyone has been made fun of one time or another. I used the comments on my physical appearance and changed them accordingly to make what people said a reality. 

Keep in mind these images are a progression.

The first image is me as I am.

The second image I simply took away blemishes.

The third image I made my eyes smaller.

The fourth image I made my nose smaller.

The last image I made my forehead smaller.

The reality is that, if I ever "fixed" my face based on peoples comments I wouldn't be a better looking person at all. Hopefully this speaks to how cruel comments made on a daily basis shouldn't hold any weight at all. People are beautiful the way they are. The second people begin to change what they are beauty begins to fade.