Teaching

Teaching philosophy, courses and student work.

"In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act."
   -- George Orwell

"Art is the lie that tells the truth."
   -- Pablo Picasso

"And what is good, Phaedrus, and what is not good...
Need we ask anyone to tell us these things?"
   -- Robert M. Persig,
      Epigraph to Zen and the Art of Motorcyle Maintenance,

Statement of Teaching Philosophy

Learning is the process of removing assumptions and seeing the world anew, again. This is the result of curiosity, experimentation, and invention, which I am fortunate enough to share with my students. In the classroom I create a comfortable environment where the students are able to imagine what they have not previously considered, and discover new things about themselves as artists, their work, and its relationship to the rest of the world. It is my job to help the students develop independent and critical thought, as well as a thought process that will allow them to solve problems both in and outside the classroom. Group interaction and collaboration are a significant part of the classroom experience, which reinforces the students learning, and helps them to clearly express and share their ideas verbally.

Through readings, discussions, and assignments, students learn about contemporary issues, as well as realize they are not just sitting in a room of peers, but are active participants in an ongoing art historical tradition.

Each student is at a unique stage of his or her development. It is my goal and expectation that students will work hard to enrich their knowledge of history, strive to improve their craft, and continue to investigate what it means to be a working artist. It is important to me that students realize learning is a life long process, and I strive to instill in them good learning habits. I also believe new technologies are tools to be learned and used in similar ways as traditional media. These tools should support the act of creation, and not distract from the art making process. Regularly scheduled group and individual critiques help students evaluate their development, allowing them to hear insights from myself and fellow students.

An art education is an amazing gift in which everything can become a subject for investigation. Being an artist is more than an activity in a studio, it is about putting a frame around life. As a teacher I try to share my enthusiasm for art and life, and I am amazed at what I learn when it is reflected back at me from my students.