MANAGING THE ART ROOM

Brynn G., By Flaming Result, grade seven.

Vicki Bailey

Throughout my career, I have asked myself, as I think most art teachers have, how can I enable students to create personally relevant artwork? Each teacher will have a unique answer to this question. I want my students to create work that they are both proud of technically and connect with personally. The best place for students to start is with themselves. I encourage students to mine their memories and experiences in order to tell their story through art.

Prompt Cards
Prompts offer a starting point for students and encourage them to explore personal themes using their own stories as a source of inspiration. Students write short stories based on prompts relating to memories from various points in their lives. These stories can range from significant life events to mundane moments. Students are encouraged to explore and play with a variety of experiences as the basis of their investigations. They start out by following Linda Barry’s X-page method of visualization and relation to a specific prompt like “shoes.” As students get more comfortable with the idea of writing in art class, I incorporate prompt cards that are more open-ended and concept-based.

By creating a classroom culture where students’ voices and experiences are valued, we can provide an avenue for them to explore the world on their own terms.

Making It Visual
Once students have written a story, the challenge is to translate the story into visual imagery. I have students closely re-read their own text to identify specific words or phrases that evoke vivid imagery or sensory details. They can highlight or circle these words to target elements they can incorporate into a visual representation. Mind mapping can help students to further explore the concepts and connect words with images, colors, and textures.

Paola G., Where Weʼve Been, grade six

Layers of Meaning
Text and images enrich and complement one another, creating layered messages and new meaning. The two work together to convey narratives, symbolism, or concepts within an artwork. Viewers can explore connections between language and visual representations. This allows artists to explore complex themes and ideas. The juxtaposition of visual and textual elements can create contradictions and contrasts, adding layers of meaning that challenge viewers’ expectations and encourage deeper thinking.

Raven B., However, grade eight

As I encourage students to dig into personal stories, I am mindful of the difficult emotions that may come up, and I encourage them to explore only topics they are comfortable sharing. By creating a classroom culture where students’ voices, knowledge, and experiences are valued, we can provide an avenue for them to explore the world on their own terms.

Vicki Bailey is an art teacher for the Austin Independent School District in Austin, Texas. victoria.bailey@austinisd.org