“The goal of art education is not the art itself, or the aesthetic experience, but rather the child who grows up more creatively and sensitively and applies his experience in the arts to whatever life situations may be applicable.’”

- Viktor Lowenfeld, 1958

Children are inherently curious, creative, and full of surprises. As an art educator, it is an absolute joy to help guide students on their journey towards becoming the changemakers and cultural innovators needed for a more peaceful world. My approach to teaching centers the importance of creating a classroom climate where students care for themselves, their classmates, their community, and beyond.

Making art allows students to express themselves in ways that are impossible in other subject matters. It helps them find their voice and share it with the world, building a healthy sense of self and identity. Additionally, creating art has been proven to have numerous mental health benefits, helping students process big emotions, lower stress levels, and imagine a brighter future. A classroom which actively promotes this will decenter the teacher and refocus on the built-in creative drive of the students. This approach is well positioned for the natural development of collaborative art-making, which fosters a sense of community through shared goals and visions.

Building on this, students should see not only themselves reflected in the professional artists presented in class, but artists from a diverse array of backgrounds. Works of art where students can see themselves, are powerful ways of validating and uplifting their identities and lived experiences. Works of art that allow one to see into the lives and perspectives of others, build understanding and empathy across difference.

Presentation and discussion of these artists must go beyond surface-level visual or material connections to provide students with a deep understanding of art and its meaning. These deeper connections are at the root of why we, as a global society, have been making art for millennia. Allowing students to make these connections and inform their own creative process leads to the natural development of 21st century skills which will be vitally important throughout their lives.