My art making has been put on hold for the last couple years. In that time I have screen printed for other artists, coordinated art workshops and events, played music out and about, put together this website, helped a couple friends develop their websites, and I guess I did paint a mural... But lately, I have been getting into the public school system doing some student teaching. I am trying to get a feel for it and see if it is something I might want to make into a career. So far this is where I am at...
Art is important because it is distinctly human. It is what separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom. It is important because the art language crosses all verbal language barriers. Although it can be referred to as a language all its own, there is no one word answer in art. In fact there is no right or wrong. Or at least that is how it should be taught. It is the one class where kids are finally free from all worksheets and monotony. For these reasons art is a much more difficult subject. It is not meant to be structured in the same way the rest of classes are structured. Art class is meant to get people to think with a different side of their brain. Art is tapping into creative parts of the brain that simply cannot be entered in other classes and curriculums. It takes more courage to do art and to make art because it forces a student to put themselves out there. To make a piece of art to to reveal a piece of yourself. In many ways this reflects real life. I would like to teach students to face this fear, take a risk, and see what happens.
One thing I am not going to be is a bitter art instructor who only teaches because his dreams of becoming an artist have been completely shattered. I have to make a decision if I become an educator to do it because I want to teach and not because I want to make art. If I want to make art then I will look at my values, make certain sacrifices, and make my art. I am not going to teach art so that I can make it. If I am to pursue this I am going to do it passionately and whole heartedly. My creative energies will then be applied to the classroom. My art will become the art of teaching. If and when I make that decision, everything else will fall into place. If I do it for the wrong reasons my life will be a struggle.