I’ve taught children at many different points in my life. In my teens, twenties, thirties, and now my forties. My children are now in their late teens, so revisiting fourth grade was both an inspiring and exhausting experience. The moment that stood out to me during my BRAINY teaching was watching the children creating their abstract self-portraits. It was not my original idea for the project, but in hindsight I believe it worked out better for everyone. I was amazed at their color, shape, and composition choices. Not a single one looked like another, and they all seemed to resemble the artists in ways I could not have created myself.
I feel like all of us that taught BRAINY designed our tours with predetermined dialogue but knew that it would end up being more of an interpretive and open dialogue situation. My tour plan was very detailed with prompts, facts and questions, which helped me stay on my toes and be more flexible, but in most situations, I had to improvise. The children liked to explore, they asked questions about pieces that were not on my tour plan, and some had a very hard time focusing. I do feel like the questions were the most helpful part of my tour plan. They prompted great conversations that usually ended up in places that I didn’t expect to go.
(In the image above, the students were very curious about how the enormous ceramic pots were carried and what was inside them. Photo Credit: Dr. Claire Chien, February 25th, 2022)
Teaching at the museum was both fun and challenging. The kids were removed from their normal classroom learning environment/structure and placed into a meandering maze full of colors and visual stimulation. In the classroom you are surrounded by all of your art supplies and can teach children by utilizing books, the internet, and demonstrations. I feel deeply that removing the children from that everyday environment, changing their learning perspective, and placing them into an unknown environment really benefits them in a multitude of ways. Some of my best memories were walking the halls of the St. Louis Art Museum as a child. So many places to sit alone and contemplate a different time and place.
(In the image above, we were talking about the idea of "abstract." If you make a self portrait does it have to look like you? Or can you explore new identities and self expression through use of abstraction? Photo Credit: Dr. Claire Chien, February 25th, 2022)
For me, the most challenging part of teaching BRAINY was the children that did not have an interest in art or what the group was doing. The wonderers, as I call them, presented me with many challenges. Do I focus on the wonderers and punish the children that want to learn? Or do I let the wonderers roam and possibly damage the art? In my case it really depended on the individual. Those tough situations did not deter me though. There were many enjoyable parts of teaching BRAINY. I loved watching them draw, interpret the art, make art, and ask questions.
I think that flexibility is an area where I grew and still have some room to grow. Traditionally, I have always been extremely prepared when going in to teach a class. And in a college environment, for the most part, that worked for me. In teaching BRAINY I felt well prepared going in and within five minutes I knew I would not be sharing most of the information I had prepared for them. It felt like I had shown up to a mind yoga class without stretching beforehand and with a headache. Honestly, it was exhausting, but very rewarding. I think If I were to continue giving BRAINY tours I would like to focus on less pieces of art, or maybe let it be choice based, so that the children can choose what pieces they want to learn about.
This week I have added tiny orbs of varying light opacities to represent the curiosities of the children I taught in BRAINY. Some of the children were eager to learn about the art and create some of their own. They are represented by the orbs closest to the light, which represents knowledge. If you look close enough, you will see that some have even started to absorb the lights warmth and color, which is a metaphor for learning. Other children were not as impressed by the art or chose to focus on certain inappropriate aspects. They are represented by the orbs drifting away from the light, off in their own world, floating into the ether.
This experience has altered my path as an educator for the better. I have always known that flexibility is important in all walks of life but have been slow to change. In K-12 art education there is not a choice. I know that it is the only path forward if I want to continue down this road.
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