Preparation is in the form of learning the disciplines of art and the development of our students' artistic skills.
Discipline-Based Art Education
Discipline-Based Art Education is a comprehensive approach that takes advantage of art's special power to educate. Not only does the student experience the four disciplines that contribute to the creation, understanding and appreciation of art, but these disciplines of art provide knowledge, skills and understanding that enable students to have a broad and rich experience with art as well as everyday life situations.
The Four Disciplines:
- making art (art production);
- responding to and making judgments about the properties and qualities that exist in visual forms (art criticism)
- acquiring knowledge about the contributions artists and art makes to culture and society (art history);
- and understanding the nature, meaning and value of art (aesthetics)
Our program not only incorporates painting, drawing, sculpture and ceramics, but also includes crafts, folk arts, weaving and other textile arts, fashion design and photography. Students work with and study a variety of visual images and objects that carry unique meaning for human beings from all cultures and times.
Our program's approach to instruction and learning art exists in many forms to meet the needs of the community in which it is taught. Examples of variations include selecting one or more of the disciplines to help students understand their school work, handle social issues, work with others, handle negative situations, develop life skills, and integrate the arts with other subject areas. Mentoring, helping with homework and a free snack is also included in our program. Parents are also encouraged to work on projects with their child and to volunteer some time at the art center.
