Art Journal #6: Special Topic
#inspirethefuture

Art has many dimensions and purposes. Art stretches across many fields and topics and has use that goes way beyond the aesthetic pleasure. In art history, we looked at Ai Wei Wei, an activist artist whos unavoidable pieces bring conversation and awareness to harsh political realities of a broken China Republic and the Western tendency to look the other way. Art has the power to start important conversations and it has to power to inspire; to create future generations of fighters and of change makers. 

The introduction to the peer teaching project where we looked at specific artist examples and works was a really cool experience. I think it will hit a little deeper when I get to experience being the student. However, it is still impactful seeing how artists are tackling these huge issues and how available and approachable their works are. I feel that growing up, I kinda got the feel that my teachers would try to avoid "touchy" subjects or conversations on what was going on around us. While Beowulf is important in its own way, I don't have many useful connections to the world around me with it. I feel this is something a TAB classroom is able to tackle better. Students are hyper-aware of the world around them as they try to figure out where they stand in it. They have so many thoughts and questions they want to sort out and allowing them to pursue them in their own way and connect to the world around them through their art is incredibly meaningful. This is why, as a future educator, I want to be aware of the boundaries in a classroom, but also not be afriad to have these tough conversations and encourage the students to comment on what they're seeing in the world around them.

My art activity is somewhat of an idea for a future lesson as well. I want students to learn print making and design posters for a specific cause or social issue they feel drawn to. I did not have printmaking materials, but I used pen and ink, as well as acrylic and kept it in the same style as stamping and print making. My poster is about the future generations being the ones to create change and how we as educators, are in charge of giving them the most opportunity to work together and build the future they wish to see.