Tuesday the 12th

Today we learned about how to access cool stuff from the UVic library. Some pretty cool journals on Art Education for free there. We talked some more about Art Education in a Visual Culture as a blending of psychology, sociology and fine arts.  Its not medium specific as ideas are more important. We looked at Brian Jungens art and I fell in love with it. Generally I don't love art that has to make political or cultural comments but this was so beautiful. My students would love this. First Nations culture and Nike shoes, their two favorite things!
He also showed us Shawna Dempsey and Lorri Milans work. I have to say I really didn't like it. ( but that's next week!)
Bob showed us the DVD How Art Made the World. We loved it. I will definitely show this and class and use some of the lessons from this website. (Ex i Jesus!)
How Art Made the World | PBS
Stephanie made seagull art as a reflection process for Bob illustrating the nneurological principle known as the peak shift. In essence our brain is hard-wired to focus upon parts of objects with pleasing associations. So if you were an artist, the tendency would be to reproduce human figures with parts that mattered the most to you.  The seagulls red beak was an illustration of how this works in birds.  How thoughtful. We all want seagull imagery in our classrooms now.
We also talked about Peter Londons Second Hand Art article and debated the merits of personal meaning and connection with nature over product in art. Don showed Londons books I think I want to get Drawing Closer To Nature.
http://www.amazon.com/Drawing-Closer-Nature-Dialogue-Natural/dp/1570628548
 As for actual studio work today I worked more on creating values in my painting. I need to bring in a close up photo for Nicks face as it needs to look just like him or I will hate it.