In my thesis, I review research on how to integrate multiculturalism into both the art classroom and curriculum. I also discuss the exclusion of art by non-Western artists and artists of color from museums and galleries. Finally, I explain why I chose the cultures and artists for my topic of study. I include research on nine contemporary artists. These non-Western and artists of color have been selected to be used as inspiration for creating art in the middle school art room. Each artist has a unique style and story, both of which contribute to creating a well-rounded curriculum. Finally, I include nine lesson plans that I have created based on my research that includes various contemporary artists. This helped me create a template for the multicultural middle school art curriculum that is presented in the final section.
Several years ago, I enrolled in a graduate course on educational research that focused on closing the achievement gap for African-American children. The course was structured to explore issues, causes and concerns for the achievement gap. Studying different educational outcomes, reading books and articles, we regularly shared our insights about some leading causes. Most importantly, we were instructed to stay within our subject areas when finding any contributions to that gap. In my attempt to complete the assignment of researching possible causes, in my discipline of art education, I found myself frustrated and angry. Why? There were no research studies exploring how art education was a part of the equation leading to solutions in closing the gap. In addition, there were no basic instructions or curricula designed to make connections to the art student to develop critical thinking skills or to incorporate the use of students life experiences for learning. Furthermore, I felt that art education was used as a testing ground in urban schools, like the Chicago Public Schools using Teaching Artists to teach art with no teaching certification or teaching qualifications (Booth, 2003). The purpose of this approach was to use their knowledge and practices of art to influence change in students learning. This kind of experiment branched away from any real effort to integrate art education and truly recognize it as a viable core subject area. While conducting research for the course, I found that researchers defined the achievement gap between white and African-American students solely in terms of the four core subjects of math, science, social studies, and language arts, with no attention given to art education (e.g., Berlak, 2001, Honig, 2001, Limn, 2000, Sacks, 2000). A study by the National Black Caucus entitled Closing the Achievement Gap: Improving Education Outcomes for African American Children (November, 2001) reports: Make improving the literacy skills of students a top priority. Students who cannot read will experience little success in school. Reading is the key to academic achievement in every subject, ranging from math and English to science and history. We must put reading first by finding initiatives and programs designed to strengthen the reading skills of students, particularly low-performing students. Again, there was no mention of art. As both an African-American and an art teacher, I found it very disturbing that the recommendations of many national and local art educational organizations and schools failed to address the importance of teaching art education in African-American urban school settings. My dissertation research ultimately arose from this concern.
Case studies that counter the idea of a transcendent art canon by demonstrating that the content of any and every canon is historically and culturally specific.
Suitable for one-semester courses in Introduction to Non-Western Art, and Far Eastern Art, this book offers an introduction to the indigenous visual traditions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. It uses basic points of history, society, and religion to provide the context for aesthetic consideration of each culture and work of art.
This sampler was designed for art specialists and art museum educators with a basic understanding of teaching discipline-based art education content. The introduction offers a brief history of the Sampler and explains its intended purpose and use. Then 8 unit models with differing methodologies for relating art objectives to the four disciplines: aesthetics, art criticism, art history, and art production, are presented. The sampler consists of two elementary units, two units for middle school, two units intended for required high school art, one high school studio ceramic unit, and a brief unit for art teachers and art museum educators that focuses on visits to art museums. Learning activities, resource material, and learning strategies are given for the units along with a sequence of lessons organized on a theme.
Introduction to Art: Design, Context, and Meaning offers a deep insight and comprehension of the world of Art. Contents: What is Art? The Structure of Art Significance of Materials Used in Art Describing Art - Formal Analysis, Types, and Styles of Art Meaning in Art - Socio-Cultural Contexts, Symbolism, and Iconography Connecting Art to Our Lives Form in Architecture Art and Identity Art and Power Art and Ritual Life - Symbolism of Space and Ritual Objects, Mortality, and Immortality Art and Ethics
"A landmark study addressing the need to focus on the rich heritage of minority ethnic groups, including Black, Hispanic, and Native American, among others. A compilation of 20 chapters on a variety of aspects of art education for students of varied ethnic backgrounds. Topics include the role of the minority family in children's education; portrait of a Black art teacher of preadolescents in the inner city; the art of Northwest Coast peoples; an Eskimo school; teaching art to disadvantaged Black students; and many others"--Http://www.naea-reston.org/publications-list.html.
