Even from a young age, I had a burning desire to be an artist. In first grade, I remember badgering my elementary art teacher to see if I would be next in line to receive the coveted “Artist of the Week” award. As a child, I was constantly creating and lookng for the next opportunity to expand my knowledge of art.
I gradually drifted away from this attitude as I grew older – simply dimissing it as a childhood dream. I began to see that teaching was where I was meant to be; I enjoyed learning and working with others to help them grow in understanding. However, my dream to be an artist was soon rediscovered through a very inspiring high school art teacher who pushed me to explore and express myself. Caught in a dilemma over which dream to choose, I realized that I did not have to abandon either aspiration; I could have the best of both worlds by becoming an art teacher.
In our rapidly growing society, art is becoming more important than ever. Not only is art the preserving factor of our past, present, and future, but art is also the connecting factor between all the different cultures on Earth. Visual communication is the universal language which helps to connect those who would not be able to easily communicate or understand another’s culture otherwise.
Art is essential for understanding another's culture, and, as a result of our ever expansive visual culture, art is becoming essential to decode our own. I hope to assist students in analyzing the messages conveyed by visual culture, which will enable them to look deeper than face value when confronted by the plethera of images that surround their daily life. Through teaching art, I hope to encourage appreciation within my students of not only art, but also the world around them.
Art is not only the connecting factor between cultures, but it is also a meaningful connection between nearly all subjects. Art can be used to explain history, it can be created through science, and it can be used to illustrate literature. Art also has connections in mathematics through geometry, symmetry, linear perspective, and proper proportions. Through teaching art, I hope to help students better understand the other subjects in school as they are often easier to master through approaching a subject from multiple points of view. Art should help support students in their pursuit of education.
To me, art is found inherently in conjuction with expression. Art is in the eye of the beholder. It is a tool used by the artist visually communicate the innermost stirrings of their minds and hearts. As Georgia O'Keefe so gracefully stated, “I found I could say things with color and shapes that I could say no other way... Things I had no words for.” Art has given me the gift of expression in my life, and I have found that through proper use of the elements and principles I can articulate whatever I please. As an art teacher, I hope to give the gift of visual communication and self-expression to my students, and help them find words for the areas of their life where there are none.
Most of all I wish to teach so that I can help children develop the same love for art that I personally possess. I would like to teach so I can share my passion for art and help students see the beauty that lies within art. Through cultural connections, interdiscplinary activities, and self-expression, I intend to ignite the same passion for this magnificent subject within my students' hearts.
Look at Erin's Prezi at:
No comments:
Post a Comment