Going through time and discussing important times in the beginning or Art Education. Important theorist Olivia Gude and others on their impact on Art Education.
History of Art Education
Art ed first started with the Massachusetts Drawing Act of 1870. With this act came more drawing instruction that was then part of the new free education. Learning to draw maps and geometrical drawing becomes part of the regular curriculum.
One of the theorist involved but also a main founder was Friedrich Froebel. Be believed in that children should start engaging in their education way earlier than what they were. He also thought that children should be engaged with tier creative mind. He then came up with the ideas of "gifts" that were materials that students could interact with. When using these gifts, they were too help identify concepts and occupations of the natural world.
Along with Froebel there was another theorist named Elizabeth Peabody. She believed in similar views with Froebel but also thought that the implement of art was necessary to explore and experiment. She later opened her own Kindergarten in 1860.
Due to many superiors finding that the country was behind with design and other forms of culture, drawing instruction was then implemented into classrooms. Here birthed the need for teachers that were qualified to draw. This emerged drawing teachers, which in turn lead to art teachers.
Another important figure is Walter Smith, he was a master from England and he was our first art supervisor; located in Boston in 1871. He had stared the first drawing program to where teachers were then taught to draw. Industrial drawing was seen as an aid to teaching reading and writing. Later a few years after, they had opened up the first Normal School. This is where teachers would be prepared with drawing instruction to teach in their classrooms. Smith was instrumental in the creation of art education.
Theorist of Art Education
After the creation and the understanding of a new education and art education, we see an increase of educatiors and others that find this topic important. One of the theorist that I mention is John Dewey. He was an American philosopher and education reformist. He thought that teachers should understand the psychology and logic and ethics of development. I believe in Dewey because he was the one that thought teachers should immerse themselves in intelligence and skills within their subject. We are tied to learning and developing new ideas ourselves. He was an important voice in Progressive Education.
The most influential theorist in my book is Olivia Gude. She is an American artist born in 1950. She herself has created over 50 public mosaics and murals within a number of communities. she is also a part of many art guilds and groups. She is also nationally known through the National Art Education Association. She has also taught at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. But her writings and theories of Post-Modern Principles were a large interest of mine this semester. Within my other blog post titled Ingredients for Creating I talk more about the elements and principles of design along with Gude's theory of Post-Modern Principles. To me they seem more inclusive when creating, there are more opportunities to explore and other ways to use a medium. And create something that you never thought you could or would create. Gude also heavily focuses on experimentation and play within the classroom. The students are to use these principles to experiment and use art an a form of investigation. It in a way helps to open the eyes of the students and it helps them gain new research and conceptual insights.
Comments