Cilau is a Huichol artist from Mexico who is transforming the artistic traditions of his people through yarn and bead paintings. He'll be visiting our Folk Art Extravaganza again this July in Santa Fe. You'll notice the use of symmetrical and radial balance in his work. Photo by Bill Yarborough
At state and
national art education conferences, I always peruse the commercial exhibits,
especially looking for new products or resources. One time, I was looking at a
display of large art reproductions that featured images of artworks that had
interdisciplinary connections between art and math. As a teacher passed by and
glanced at the posters, I heard her say, “I don’t teach math!” My immediate
thought was, “You may not know it, but yes, you do!”
Teaching art
through an interdisciplinary approach has always made the most sense to me. Any
concept, big idea, or subject can be viewed through the lens of artworks that
express it. For example, in the case of math, art teachers certainly teach
about symmetrical and radial balance, geometric shapes and forms, and pattern
and repetition. These art/math concepts can be represented by artworks that
feature them, such as work by M.C. Escher, Victor Vasarely, Medieval stained
glass rose windows, and anonymous Amish quilters (not necessarily in that
order). If the art teacher knows and uses the same math vocabulary that is used
in the classroom, learning in both art and math is benefited.
Art is central
in such a curriculum and serves as a bridge that unites and connects content
areas in logical, meaningful, and engaging ways. Such an approach encourages
students to create, investigate, appreciate, and question art in ways that
develop and hone critical thinking skills that naturally cross-curricular
borders. To implement a meaningful art-based and interdisciplinary curriculum,
it is essential to uphold art as central to learning. The fundamental aim of an
interdisciplinary curriculum is substantive, measurable learning experiences in
and through art.
The new National
Core Arts Standards for Visual Arts, available at http://nccas.wikispaces.com/, though voluntary, meet this high standard. Connecting is included as
one of the artistic processes, along with Creating, Presenting, and Responding.
Connecting is conceived as embedded in these other processes that define and
organize the link between the art and the learner.
“Nancy Walkup and Stevie Mack with Agustin Cruz Prudencio. We first met him and his family at the Santa Fe Folk Art Market and were delighted to reconnect with them last October at their home in Oaxaca, Mexico. The connections made through such events at the Market have changed the lives of many such artisans for the better.” Photo by Bill Yarborough
Meaningful,
heartfelt connections can also be made across cultures at events and celebrations
such as the International Folk Art Market, which takes place every July in
Santa Fe, New Mexico. In this marketplace, which annually draws together some
of the best folk artists from around the world, it is easy to see and
experience the connections we all share as human beings.
This summer will
be the 11th year for the Market and SchoolArts has been there for
every one. Each year we welcome back folk artists we have come to know and
treasure. We look forward to connecting with them again this year in our
SchoolArts/CRIZMAC Folk Art Extravaganza. If you would like to connect with us,
learn more about our seminars at http://www.crizmac.com/travel.cfm.
Naina and Surendar, our quilting friends from Pakistan with their sponsor Tricia Stoddard and Nancy Walkup. They'll be back for our Folk Art Extravaganza as well. Photo by Bill Yarborough
The Santa Fe International Folk Art Market is
nonprofit organization that provides a venue for master traditional artists to
display, demonstrate and sell their work. By providing opportunities for folk
artists to succeed in the global marketplace, the Market creates economic
empowerment and improves the quality of life in communities where folk artists
live.
It is now the largest
international folk art market in the world, and its success led to Santa Fe’s
designation as a UNESCO City of Folk Art, the first U.S. city named to UNESCO’s
prestigious Creative Cities Network.
Iam Vijaya Mohan, an artist cum art therapist, would like to create/demo/exposure/experience my traditional art work of SINGARANGOLI...
ReplyDeletemy website is www.singarangoli.com. please let me know the procedure to join /display...
Vijaya Mohan-Singapore