Comments on: Helping Hands http://blog.art21.org/2008/06/04/helping-hands/ The Official Blog of Art21, Inc. and the Art in the Twenty-First Century PBS series Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:29:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Joe Fusaro http://blog.art21.org/2008/06/04/helping-hands/#comment-6304 Joe Fusaro Thu, 12 Jun 2008 01:51:47 +0000 http://blog.art21.org/2008/06/04/helping-hands/#comment-6304 <p>I've been excited about this blog since we started!<br /> I also agree that Art21 allows us to teach about more than just materials and technique. Check out the June 11th column on season 4 artists Allora and Calzadilla.</p> I’ve been excited about this blog since we started!
I also agree that Art21 allows us to teach about more than just materials and technique. Check out the June 11th column on season 4 artists Allora and Calzadilla.

]]> By: William Adkins http://blog.art21.org/2008/06/04/helping-hands/#comment-6277 William Adkins Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:36:59 +0000 http://blog.art21.org/2008/06/04/helping-hands/#comment-6277 Well Joe, I think you are right when you say that the only thing clear is that nothing is clear. So, many different teachers are doing so many different things. Also, I suppose that I would be among those that would say the production itself is a conversation. But, if my students are to ever understand that, they must be placed in an environment in which they can understand that art is more than materials and technique. This is what I think Art21 helps me do. I'm really excited to see where Art21 and this blob takes us. Well Joe, I think you are right when you say that the only thing clear is that nothing is clear. So, many different teachers are doing so many different things. Also, I suppose that I would be among those that would say the production itself is a conversation. But, if my students are to ever understand that, they must be placed in an environment in which they can understand that art is more than materials and technique. This is what I think Art21 helps me do. I’m really excited to see where Art21 and this blob takes us.

]]> By: Sue http://blog.art21.org/2008/06/04/helping-hands/#comment-6225 Sue Sat, 07 Jun 2008 15:20:43 +0000 http://blog.art21.org/2008/06/04/helping-hands/#comment-6225 The ART21 DVDs are an integral part of my curriculum. I use them in my classes to introduce assignments and to broaden the student's visions about what they think art is. I also collect books on contemporary art (The ART NOW Series, VITAMIN P, VITAMIN D, ICE CREAM, FRESH CREAM etc...) The students have to write an Artist Review each Quarter from one of the books explaining just what the Artist was trying to say. The ART21 DVDs are an integral part of my curriculum. I use them in my classes to introduce assignments and to broaden the student’s visions about what they think art is. I also collect books on contemporary art (The ART NOW Series, VITAMIN P, VITAMIN D, ICE CREAM, FRESH CREAM etc…) The students have to write an Artist Review each Quarter from one of the books explaining just what the Artist was trying to say.

]]> By: Joe Fusaro http://blog.art21.org/2008/06/04/helping-hands/#comment-6205 Joe Fusaro Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:52:01 +0000 http://blog.art21.org/2008/06/04/helping-hands/#comment-6205 Thank you Nate and Joseph for sharing your thoughts on this so far... So it seems that Tim Hawkinson, Ann Hamilton and Shahzia Sikhander have inspired each of us. Also had an interesting experience this year when we shared the Laurie Simmons segment at a preview screening in October. Students questioned how Ms. Simmons described using the camera as a tool vs. considering herself a photographer. We had a lively conversation about the difference between photographers and artists that incorporate photography, but wouldn't be considered photographers (Oliver Herring, for example). Thank you Nate and Joseph for sharing your thoughts on this so far…
So it seems that Tim Hawkinson, Ann Hamilton and Shahzia Sikhander have inspired each of us. Also had an interesting experience this year when we shared the Laurie Simmons segment at a preview screening in October. Students questioned how Ms. Simmons described using the camera as a tool vs. considering herself a photographer. We had a lively conversation about the difference between photographers and artists that incorporate photography, but wouldn’t be considered photographers (Oliver Herring, for example).

]]> By: Kelly Shindler http://blog.art21.org/2008/06/04/helping-hands/#comment-6167 Kelly Shindler Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:21:12 +0000 http://blog.art21.org/2008/06/04/helping-hands/#comment-6167 Hi Joseph, Thanks so much for sharing this interesting feedback! Congrats on your upcoming exhibition. You must be very excited. Do you have images of your artwork inspired by Shahzia's miniature paintings that you would be willing to share with our blog readers? Or perhaps a link to some photos on Flickr? Hi Joseph,

Thanks so much for sharing this interesting feedback! Congrats on your upcoming exhibition. You must be very excited. Do you have images of your artwork inspired by Shahzia’s miniature paintings that you would be willing to share with our blog readers? Or perhaps a link to some photos on Flickr?

]]> By: Joseph Pine http://blog.art21.org/2008/06/04/helping-hands/#comment-6166 Joseph Pine Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:49:56 +0000 http://blog.art21.org/2008/06/04/helping-hands/#comment-6166 I am a student at Kingston Senior High School, and last year during a painting class we were shown several art:21 videos. One segement which struck me quite deeply was the Shahzia Sikander segment. Her ability to intermingle her spirituality and her artwork inspired me. Her use of such a difficult medium and method to portray images that were truly stunning and heart felt inspired me to attempt making a series of miniature paintings. I succeeded. I found a passion for miniatures whihc had lain untapped inside me for years. I discovered a whole new form of expression for spirituality and mentality. Recently, in fact, I have engaged in a Senior Project whihc will be shown at a local art gallery which utilizes the process of many miniature paintings in a relatively large scale installation. All in all, the Art:21 videos have inspired me to learn how to use different media to explore different ideas and to convey different parts of my being. I am a student at Kingston Senior High School, and last year during a painting class we were shown several art:21 videos. One segement which struck me quite deeply was the Shahzia Sikander segment. Her ability to intermingle her spirituality and her artwork inspired me. Her use of such a difficult medium and method to portray images that were truly stunning and heart felt inspired me to attempt making a series of miniature paintings. I succeeded.
I found a passion for miniatures whihc had lain untapped inside me for years. I discovered a whole new form of expression for spirituality and mentality.
Recently, in fact, I have engaged in a Senior Project whihc will be shown at a local art gallery which utilizes the process of many miniature paintings in a relatively large scale installation. All in all, the Art:21 videos have inspired me to learn how to use different media to explore different ideas and to convey different parts of my being.

]]> By: Nate Morgan http://blog.art21.org/2008/06/04/helping-hands/#comment-6151 Nate Morgan Thu, 05 Jun 2008 01:02:36 +0000 http://blog.art21.org/2008/06/04/helping-hands/#comment-6151 My fourth grade students request that I show them the Tim Hawkinson segment weekly. They can watch it over and over and over again. They fully understand the concept of how a television screen can literally and metaphorically have an effect on your facial expressions and mood. Every week they ask me to show them the video at the end of class. While not featured in the Art21 series, I am currently doing a project with my fourth graders where we study Andy Goldsworthy's work (both his books and videos). The discussions that I have with the students leading up to their producing artwork is the most interesting part of the project, followed in close second by the ending critique. The questions that are generated...Why is that art? If someone else makes it how does he call it his? If the artwork doesn't exist anymore, how is it art? And those questions came from the students, not from anything that the teacher did. That discussion is generated purely from looking at an artists work. I think that is what Contemporary Art can do that Art Historical work can't....it can get students to raise the kinds of questions and thoughts that are generative to our discipline. My fourth grade students request that I show them the Tim Hawkinson segment weekly. They can watch it over and over and over again. They fully understand the concept of how a television screen can literally and metaphorically have an effect on your facial expressions and mood. Every week they ask me to show them the video at the end of class.

While not featured in the Art21 series, I am currently doing a project with my fourth graders where we study Andy Goldsworthy’s work (both his books and videos). The discussions that I have with the students leading up to their producing artwork is the most interesting part of the project, followed in close second by the ending critique. The questions that are generated…Why is that art? If someone else makes it how does he call it his? If the artwork doesn’t exist anymore, how is it art? And those questions came from the students, not from anything that the teacher did. That discussion is generated purely from looking at an artists work. I think that is what Contemporary Art can do that Art Historical work can’t….it can get students to raise the kinds of questions and thoughts that are generative to our discipline.

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