Metaphoric Self-portrait
Click on image to see enlarged!
Click on image to see enlarged!Artist Statement
Artists are not born artists; they are developed. Through a weaving of experiences, influences and opportunities a child’s innate natural curiosity and creative gifts can be nurtured. A good teacher can and should act as a guide through this growth process. A master teacher understands this delicate balance between support, guidance and freedom. Using their own personal experiences and expertise to structure the learning environment the art teacher weaves together history, design, materials and processes to motivate and engage their students. Like a collection of brightly colored yarn each student responds and develops in their own unique way. Through choices and exploration the students construct their own knowledge and apply new meaning in their creative expressions. It is the ultimate goal of each art teacher to enrich a child’s future through opening doors of opportunity allowing their students to explore their own paths as creative individuals.
Brainstorming and Sketches
Original Sketches
Posts
Your image is very informative and intriguing. I appreciate the connections you make in regards to nurturing students and helping them "weave" a sense of self. Your images reflect a sense of cultural connections that appear to be both personal and poignant. I think that you are making a direct connection with what students are currently aware of in terms of design through the Mehndi on the hands. The cat's cradle ties into childhood which is a great contrast to the environment of the landscape and the structure that surrounds the hands. I look forward to teaching and I hope that with open hands I can give my students not only the opportunity to create but to better understand the world they are a part of.
ReplyDeleteI have read the first few lines a couple times and I keep wanting to change the word neutered to nurtured. If you really meant to choose neutered, I think you could have selected a better word like hindered, constricted, undeveloped. Neutered sounds like your "fixing" them. Also, "origional sketches" is spelled wrong - original.
ReplyDeleteI can see the connection with art to the student. Are the hands that of the teacher or the student? I guess the portrait makes sense either way. The student has a “weaving of experiences” and the teacher “understands this delicate balance”. The portrait looks good, but I would say the walls confuse me. They make my eyes wander to the back of the work and not focus on what is in the foreground. I would deemphasize the walls or direct them to the hands more.
ReplyDeleteKevin Kelley (Husband)
ReplyDeleteI find the image very effective. I see the teachers hands as the tools that weave a variety of opportunities and experiences (metaphorically represented by the multi colored/wooven scarf beneath the hands) for the students to draw from. As the students (multi colored balls of yarn) progress (unroll from the teachers hands) they are presented with multiple paths to explore (the doorways to the left or right). I feel the sunsent in the back ground represents the unending horizon and potental the students can explore.
Cindy (sister)
ReplyDeleteI like the image of the hand holding and nurturing a student, yet with the yarn flowing out of the hand making a connection that each child is unique. The different colors of the yarn displayed a connection amoung all children yet with a teachers guidance helps them development into their own. The sunset in the back reminded me of how following your own path can bring peace and harmony within yourself.
kristine
ReplyDelete(student-18)
As a stuent entering into the college I had that one favorite teacher that helped guide me into what i wanted to do in life.This picture reminds me that time in my life. It took just the one right person to lead me and help me grow into the person I want to be. The sunset and trees at the back of the picture reminds me of finding your path. I really like the picture and how it relates to teaching and the colors represent all different children or my friends.
I am intrigued with your statement. While I may not share your view on whether or not we are born artists, I absolutely agree that we need to be developed. The traditional theories of art education provide us tools to sculpt students toward their potential. The cat's cradle is an interesting metaphor. As just a string, it is nothing, but weaved correctly, it creats a thing of beauty. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteConnor (student-13)
ReplyDeleteI think the image is interesting. I like the way the pictures blend together to create a new piece of art. The seperate parts are not random. They all seem to fit for the meaning. It makes sense to me. The only thing I would change is the picture frame in the background. I think it should fade out more.