Students who take my class should feel comfortable and confident in embracing their creativity. This involves emphasizing process over product creation and working conceptually with contemporary ideas. Because contemporary artwork is part of everyday existence, students in my class learn about contemporary artists and ideas. Their storytelling and creative work are based off of important figures within the art artistic cannon, as well as current figures. Contemporary media is on the table, and students within my class are always encouraged to learn from and take inspiration from current art forms.
Students who take my class will gain a sense of intersectionality. Art serves as an “equalizer,” an opportunity for students to learn from each other and the everyday aspects of life that their classmates encounter. Because of art’s personal nature and its shareability, students within my class are expected to learn about each other’s experiences and listen when students in the class talk about their work. Students within my class are also expected to start conversations about work and consider the thematic ideas that are present in created work, and their lives. In this way students learn from one another and teach each other about current issues.
Students who take my class begin learning to be fearless. Art is about experimentation and trying new things. As such, getting out of the “Masterpiece Mentality” is an important part of students creating art and learning who they are creatively. It is often that artists only get close to “running on all cylinders” when they put their fears behind them and are not afraid to try something new and be bold and daring. Contemporary art is a tool, and as such is not seen as precious or infallible. Contemporary artists move forward boldly and are not afraid to challenge the status quo.