Whenever possible, the author tries to incorporate the work of artists who are included in the collection of nearby museums. The school is close to the Dallas area and visiting the Dallas Museum of Arts (DMA) is in the realm possibility. The DMA has a sculpture in their collection by artist David Bates called "Seated Man #4." The fact that Bates…

Each school year, the author's intermediate art students look forward to this unique self-portrait assignment. Chuck Close's photorealistic portraits are the inspiration for this assignment. The lesson incorporates technology using digital cameras and an image-manipulation computer program. The lesson is introduced with a brief overview of Chuck…

The author of this article is continually trying to come up with interesting ways for beginning art students to put color theory into practice. This article describes a project that integrates new learning about color schemes with previously learned concepts such as observational contour drawing and abstraction and converting two-dimensional shape…

At the NAEA conference in Minneapolis, Carpenter and Sessions asked, "What are we teaching, especially about ceramics?" Art educators are often criticized for leaving out historical context when teaching studio art. In this article, the author offers guidelines, based on national and state art standards, and share the results of teaching about…

Most parents and educators are not as familiar or comfortable with the developmental stages that may also occur in three-dimensional work, yet no doubt a similar progression exists. Is there a scribble stage in sculpture? Do children need to master one set of skills before they are able to move on to the next? Do students have opportunity and…

On September 18th 2003, the director of the Human Creativity youth arts program at Central Falls High School in Central Falls, Rhode Island, and four of its youth leaders enter Lincoln Center in New York City. They are there to present their program's work at a national forum held by the Arts Education Partnership (AEP). The forum is one of three…

States research shows collaboration among schools and external partners enhances student learning under certain conditions. Addresses reservations about collaborating, emerging trends and cautions, an alternative view of collaboration, and the impact of future changes in music education on collaboration. Describes a model music education…

Reports a case study of a non profit arts advocacy group. Explores how Arts Collaborators, Inc. (ACI) advocated arts education, how they chose and developed arts education activities, and how individual and corporate beliefs about art influenced those choices. Offers recommendations about effectively evaluating and incorporating outside influences…

Focusing on Chicago Public Schools (Illinois), explores issues related to philanthropy's role in the development of arts education policy. Discusses the relationship among philanthropic organizations and the core curriculum; the impact of research; preservice teacher training, and economic development and arts education. Offers recommendations for…

Asserts that testing is widely accepted and politically supported in Canada. Examines why there should be testing in the arts; what should be tested; who makes the tests, takes the tests, and benefits from them; and how frequently students should be tested. Concludes by outlining issues for consideration by policymakers. (PAL)

Focuses on multicultural education/art and visual culture education addressing the issues of history, heritage, tradition, culture, personal cultural identity, multiculturalism, multicultural education, and social reconstruction approaches. Provides six position statements for multicultural art and visual culture education and a curriculum…

Focuses on the importance of preparing teachers to be culturally competent art educators, addresses the qualities of a culturally competent teacher, delineates Mazrui's seven functions of culture, and explores how to comprehend multicultural practice. Discusses how teachers can acquire cultural knowledge through literature, films and videos, and…

Provides background information on the life and career of muralist John Biggers. Focuses on two of his murals, offering a description and information about each: (1) "Salt Marsh;" and (2) "Nubia, the Origins of Business and Commerce." (CMK)

Presents an instructional resource that explores works of art by African Americans from the U.S. Civil War to the civil rights era (1859-1945). Includes reproductions and background information for each art work and artist along with questions and related art projects. (CMK)

Discusses a ten day workshop for kindergarten and fourth grade students that centered around the art exhibit "Contemporary Chinese Art and the Literary Culture of China" held at the Lehman College Art Gallery (Bronx, New York). Explains that students created accordion books based on Xing Fei's "Red Book." (CMK)