It has been an interesting few weeks since I made my initial post. I have been trying to have the students the last few weeks look at art that was not produced in Europe or the United States. It has gone rather well as it has allowed the students to tackle artistic techniques they have not tried before like coil building and paper mache. The students responses to the actually art has been pretty varied. With some loving the art and others absolutely hating it. Surprisingly, my students really dislike the Pre-Colombian art. Every time I show, it I am met with a sea of complaints that its so ugly and questions of why any would make that. I want the students to appreciate the art of other cultures, but I do not know if I am going about it the right way. I do understand that many have not seen anything like that and it is so different from the art that they have seen previously. I am hoping with enough exposure they might grow to appreciate it.
On another note, I have been really proud of my students projects recently. Two weeks ago they made masks and they did a great job making them expressive by sculpting three dimensional features. They also made clay cups using the coil building technique and I am excited to see what they look like after they are fired. Unfortunately, not all the students were able to make a pot. One student had to leave early because she was rather upset. This has been a common occurrence, about halfway through every class she usually starts crying saying she misses her mom. Some days I and my supervisor have been able to cheer her up and get her to finish her projects, but last week she left before class even started. I find that I am a little awkward when it comes to handling students that are upset. I understand, though, she gets upset. She is the youngest student and this is her first year at school. I think it might be separation anxiety. I am hoping that over the next two weeks she gets more comfortable being in class. I hope I can find some ways to make it easier for her to be in class while I am researching projects for the students to do in the spring class.
There are only two classes left before the winter class is over and I hoping it can end on a high note.
Good for you that you are diversifying what types of art you show them. I am really surprised that they hate the pre-Columbian art so much! Have you asked them why they don't like it? What kind of context do you give them about the art?
ReplyDeleteI think anyone would feel awkward when dealing with someone who is upset. It is really hard to comfort someone else when you don't know what they are used to! It sounds like separation anxiety is a good guess... have you talked to her parents to see if there are any tips or tricks they use with her when she is distressed?
I have asked them why they do not like it. They think its scary and a little inhuman because of the figures' heads have been bound. I tried to explain that the Mayans believed it was beautiful. I usually focus on the social significance of the art. That class we were talking about the mayan ceremony of sharing hot chocolate and the types pottery that were used during the ceremony.
ReplyDeleteI will definitely try asking the parents.
If you're still having difficulties exploring historical works of art, you can try relating them to a more contemporary artist? If you can make that bridge to things that are currently going on or they may have been exposed to in pop culture, it might make approaching aesthetically different artwork easier.
DeleteI appreciate your effort to show art other than American and European. This is not an easy task of course. I've been seeing Pre-Colombian art at the Kimbell for a while now and every day I look at it I find something new that makes me appreciate it. Thus, I think maybe understanding its history and why they made these items in the first place, as well as how the use the materials and make them (such as the pigments) would help them appreciate it more once they are put in context? Maybe also trying to engage them with the pieces in an interactive way might work, for example if you ask them to notice some details and report why they think such details were made? What are their purpose and what do they imagine the artists intention?
ReplyDeleteToday, I was at the Boston museum of fine arts and I was impressed by the numbers of visitors in the ancient world sections comparing it to the European and American that was empty. It's great to see that people are eager to explore other art too.
I wish you all the luck. And I am excited to see your students' work at the end!