Published on 1 April 2025
Description:
This issue focuses on various interpretations of contemporary art and what art means for students today. Young students connect to the natural world and print with leaves, elementary students combine elements from historical and contemporary artworks to create a new work of art, middle-school students explore the large-scale sculptures of Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, high-school students channel contemporary themes into a self-portrait photo composite, and more.
Categories:
Early ChildhoodElementaryMiddle SchoolHigh SchoolK-12AdvocacyAssessmentChoice-BasedClassroom PracticeContemporary ArtEquity, Diversity, and InclusionIdeationInterdisciplinary ConnectionsManaging The Art RoomMedia ArtsMeeting Individual NeedsSocial Emotional LearningSTEAMTherapeutic PracticesCelebrationCollaborationCommunicationCommunityDesignEmotionsHistoryIdentityImaginationMessagesMindfulnessNatureObservationPlacePlayStoriesTransformationAssemblageCeramicsGraphic DesignMixed-MediaPaintingPhotographyPrintmakingSculptureClayDigitalGraphiteInk MarkersNatural ObjectsNon-TraditionalPaintPaperRecycled ObjectsTapeCardboardMedia ArtsSketchbook / Visual Journal43 articles from this collection:
The Contemporary Art Issue, April 2025
Experience Art from Davis
Filled with opportunities to build critical thinking skills and choice, this brand-new middle school art curriculum for grades 7–8 is designed to help students express their ideas and feelings through meaningful artmaking and see themselves as part of the learning process.
L&L Kilns
School-Master Kiln. The Only Kiln Designed Just for K-12 Schools.
Skutt
The #1 kiln used in schools. Download FREE Kiln Management Guide.
Editor's Letter: Contemporary Art
Frank Juárez, SchoolArts editor-in-chief, discusses the impact of contemporary art on students’ lives.
Bailey
Bailey Ceramic Supplies & Pottery Equipment.
Table of Contents
The Contemporary Art Issue, April 2025
Mayco
Mayco Colors is one of the world’s leading producers of quality ceramics products. Founded in 1954, our company has been serving artists of all levels and backgrounds ever since.
Point of View: The Case for Contemporary Art
Art teacher Kimberly Olson shares several key reasons why she teaches with contemporary art.
ClipCard: Symmetrical Monsters
Young students use transfer printing to create monster heads with symmetry.
ClipCard: Clay Islands
Elementary students make clay islands with one organic shape, three types of lines, one body of water, and one type of landform.
ClipCard: Cardboard Pinball Machines
Explore middle school art by creating cardboard pinball machines. Learn about physics, design, and kinetic art in this engaging lesson.
ClipCard: Color Theory Creations
High-school students review color theory and paint-mixing techniques and apply them to original drawings.
The SchoolArts Collection books
In each of the SchoolArts Collection titles, SchoolArts editor Nancy Walkup and the editorial team from Davis Publications compile articles written by experienced art educators sharing their expertise. Each title, focused on a specific topic, is designed to help educators understand and implement lessons about that topic in their own classrooms.
Managing the Art Room: Revisiting the Sketchbook, Part Two: Making Art to Learn
Students use their sketchbooks to research contemporary artists and then use their findings to create an original work of art.
Royal & Langnickel
Royal Brush is proud to offer quality brushes, art materials, free lesson plans, professional development opportunities and more!
Managing the Art Room: Innovative Digital Teaching
Two art teachers discuss the benefits of digital art-making and offer suggestions for combining traditional and digital media.
NAEA National Convention 2026
Registration is open! Secure your spot now for the 2026 NAEA National Convention, taking place March 5-7 in Chicago, Illinois. Engage in premier professional learning and make meaningful connections at NAEA26. Join us and be inspired!
Professional Development from Davis
Davis provides learning that is relevant to contemporary approaches and issues. Presented on-demand, virtually, or in-person by master teachers who are experts in the most current classroom pedagogy and the practical, discipline-specific, targeted application of research-backed content. Learn from educators who are recognized leaders with a plethora of applicable classroom successes.
Masterpiece Mash-ups
Elementary students combine historical and contemporary artworks to create a new work of art in a mash-up of ideas.
Pouches with Purpose
Middle-school students adorn canvas pouches with uplifting designs and positive messages before donating them to a local hospital.
Triple-Take: Contemporary Art through Composite Photography
High-school students channel contemporary themes into a photo composite that is part self-portrait and part cultural commentary.
Contemporary Art in Context: Victor Ekpuk
This month’s contemporary art feature focuses on the unique visual language of multidisciplinary artist Victor Ekpuk.
Sculpting the Everyday
Middle-school students explore the work of sculptors Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen and create their own sculptures based on everyday objects.
The Tree in Me and You
Elementary students collaborate with an artist and community volunteers to create a memorial commemorating loved ones.
The Visual Assemblage of Rhythm and Music
High-school students are challenged to create freestanding sculptures that demonstrate movement and represent music.
Draw the Breath
Elementary students draw a visual representation of their breathing and then transform their line drawings into mixed-media artworks.
Focus In: Walker’s Point Center for the Arts
A Milwaukee-based community art space provides an overview of its art education programs, exhibitions, and artist collaborations.
Kutztown University
Kutztown University’s nationally recognized programs lead the field in art education.
Bard College at Simon's Rock
Follow you passions. Study performing and visual arts at Simon's Rock, where students start college after the 10th or 11th grade and earn their BA degree two years early.
The Masters Artist Soap
The Masters Artist Soap has been used by makers, painters, artists, and crafters since 1979.
Media Arts Intensive from Davis
Get over 14 hours of professional development from wherever you are! This exciting virtual learning opportunity is the Media Arts content you have been looking for! Be inspired by 34 engaging sessions relevant to today’s classrooms. Learn at your own pace with access to all the content for one year.
Square 1 Art
Simple. Creative. Art Fundraiser. Celebrate your child's art on keepsakes and raise funds for you school!
The Visual Experience from Davis
The Visual Experience is the leading visual art curriculum in the country, with more images of student artwork, art by women artists, and contemporary and multicultural art than any comparable high-school art curriculum.
Art Career: Natural Science Illustration
Natural science illustrators use drawing, observation, and scientific concepts to communicate information about the natural world.
Teaching Suggestion: Engaging Early Finishers
It isn’t a problem when students finish projects at varying times as long as you have strategies to deal with the situation.
Kiss-Off® Stain Remover
Kiss-Off® Stain Remover is unique because it needs just water to remove stains. No harmful fumes, no liquid to spill, so it is safe to use at home, office, school, traveling, etc. Its convenient size makes it handy to take along anywhere a stain might find you.
The Mindful Studio from Davis
Throughout The Mindful Studio, you will discover centering practices to begin creative endeavors, mindfulness-based visual arts lessons with reflection questions, and lesson extensions to explore mindfulness in a variety of art modalities. Visit DavisArt.com/MindfulStudio to learn more!
THE SHOP
Products, educational opportunities, and more.
Ethical Decision-Making in Art Education by Davis
Gain a deeper understanding of how beliefs, values, and morals form the cornerstone of ethical decision-making practice in Art Educator’s professional lives. Grounded in ethics research, this book will help readers develop ethical decision-making strategies that are crucial for practitioners.
Davis Monthly Planner: Cover Contest Winners and Honorable Mentions
The Davis Monthly Planner showcases art advocacy through its annual cover contest, highlighting student artwork. Discover the 2025 winners and honorable mentions.
AMACO brent
AMACO (American Art Clay Company, Inc.) continues to be a leader and innovator for ceramics in the areas of art, technology, and education. Get ideas and inspiration for your next Lesson Plan project.
Blick Art Materials
As a leading art supply company, we provide artists, educators, students, and our associates with the tools, assistance, and training needed to grow, innovate, and reach their creative potential. BLICK Art Materials is family-owned and serving artists since 1911.
SchoolArts Magazine
Inspiring Creativity Since 1901