Teaching with Contemporary Art

Thoughts from the classroom on the intersection of art and education

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Art21 William Kentridge: Anything is Possible

Reflecting on Teaching with William Kentridge: Anything Is Possible

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Art21 William Kentridge: Anything is Possible

Reflecting on Teaching with William Kentridge: Anything Is Possible

by Joe Fusaro | Jun 8, 2011

This past Saturday I sat down with a small group of wonderful teachers at the Jacob Burns Film Center’s Media Arts Lab for the second part of a two-part workshop …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Installation in Installments

by Joe Fusaro | Jun 1, 2011

Each year the graduates and upperclassmen I work with look forward to their final project as a way of leaving a stamp on the school itself. Students are asked to …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Glenn Ligon, Ai Weiwei and The Art Cops

by Joe Fusaro | May 25, 2011

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Glenn Ligon, Ai Weiwei and The Art Cops

by Joe Fusaro | May 25, 2011

Three things this week… Maika Pollack recently wrote a wonderful review in The New York Observer about the current Glenn Ligon show at the Whitney Museum. As I visited the …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Under the Influence

by Joe Fusaro | May 18, 2011

Now if anyone happened to dial up the title of this post hoping to see me (or anyone, for that matter) reach down deep and start talking about making art …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Ending in Catharsis, or A New Original

by Joe Fusaro | May 11, 2011

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Ending in Catharsis, or A New Original

by Joe Fusaro | May 11, 2011

Work by Laura Siragusa, Nyack High School, New York Spring is in the air. The end of the school year is upon us, or for those who bob and weave …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Teaching with Contemporary Art: The First Three Years

by Joe Fusaro | May 4, 2011

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Teaching with Contemporary Art: The First Three Years

by Joe Fusaro | May 4, 2011

This week Teaching with Contemporary Art here on the blog turns 3. Frankly, I can’t believe that I’ve been writing this column for three years. At the same time, it …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Art21 William Kentridge: Anything is Possible

Catching Up

by Joe Fusaro | Apr 27, 2011

This week I’d like to share a quick update on some recent Art21 Education news and highlights …. First of all, we are all set to announce our new group …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Teaching with Rochelle Feinstein

by Joe Fusaro | Apr 20, 2011

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Teaching with Rochelle Feinstein

by Joe Fusaro | Apr 20, 2011

This week’s post should really be titled “Rochelle Feinstein Teaching Me” but I’m trying to be consistent… Prior to May 1st, please treat yourself and check out The Estate of …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Rethinking “The Critique”: Possibilities

by Joe Fusaro | Apr 13, 2011

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Rethinking “The Critique”: Possibilities

by Joe Fusaro | Apr 13, 2011

As promised in last week’s column I want to share some possibilities when it comes to facilitating in-progress critiques with students. Critiques that take place as an idea is taking …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Rethinking “The Critique”

by Joe Fusaro | Apr 6, 2011

Like many art students, I couldn’t stand critiques when I was in high school and especially college. I even had a professor in grad school that would survey the finished …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Wrapping Up Art21 at NAEA 2011

by Joe Fusaro | Mar 30, 2011

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Wrapping Up Art21 at NAEA 2011

by Joe Fusaro | Mar 30, 2011

It was suggested that perhaps the TWCA column could provide a a wrap-up of the National Art Education Association’s annual conference in pictures this year, and while I would like …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Lots of Questions and Lots of Coffee: NAEA 2011

by Joe Fusaro | Mar 23, 2011

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Lots of Questions and Lots of Coffee: NAEA 2011

by Joe Fusaro | Mar 23, 2011

As I mentioned last week, Art21’s Education and Public Programs team recently took to Seattle for the National Art Education Association’s annual conference. Over 3,000 educators from across the country …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Art21 William Kentridge: Anything is Possible

See You in Seattle

by Joe Fusaro | Mar 16, 2011

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Art21 William Kentridge: Anything is Possible

See You in Seattle

by Joe Fusaro | Mar 16, 2011

The Art21 Education and Public Programs team is flying to Seattle this Thursday for the annual National Art Education Association conference March 17-20. We will be bringing season 4 artist …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

What I Learned at the Armory Show

by Joe Fusaro | Mar 9, 2011

Teaching with Contemporary Art

What I Learned at the Armory Show

by Joe Fusaro | Mar 9, 2011

A long stroll and purposefully slow visit to the Armory Show last week opened my eyes to quite a bit. In addition to being exposed to new artists (my main …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Absolutely Uncertain

by Joe Fusaro | Mar 2, 2011

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Absolutely Uncertain

by Joe Fusaro | Mar 2, 2011

Since you can’t swing a cat without hitting a picture of Charlie Sheen at this point, I thought I’d choose a classic for today’s column. I mean, Art21 shouldn’t be …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Graffiti in the Classroom

by Joe Fusaro | Feb 23, 2011

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Graffiti in the Classroom

by Joe Fusaro | Feb 23, 2011

Students often have lots of interest and questions about graffiti, graffiti art and street art. My response usually includes the fact that I love graffiti art and street art, especially …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Blue

by Joe Fusaro | Feb 16, 2011

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Blue

by Joe Fusaro | Feb 16, 2011

A few friends and colleagues have suggested that I share some of the stories I tell in class here on the blog. I sometimes forget as I write the column …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Follow-Up (and, To Sir Ken With Love)

by Joe Fusaro | Feb 9, 2011

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Follow-Up (and, To Sir Ken With Love)

by Joe Fusaro | Feb 9, 2011

Two comments from the recent When One Day is Not Enough post inspired me to write a little bit more. Plus, I want to pass along a superb video link …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Nancy Spero and Kiki Smith

by Joe Fusaro | Feb 2, 2011

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Nancy Spero and Kiki Smith

by Joe Fusaro | Feb 2, 2011

It seems like a good time for Nancy Spero and Kiki Smith. Artists whose work incorporate storytelling, pointed statements and using the female body to do so, Nancy Spero and …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

When One Day Is Not Enough

by Joe Fusaro | Jan 26, 2011

Teaching with Contemporary Art

When One Day Is Not Enough

by Joe Fusaro | Jan 26, 2011

With all of the mandatory testing that students must be put through it’s no wonder that most kids, especially in elementary grades, receive classes in visual and performing arts one …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

It Ain’t the Heat, It’s the Stupidity

by Joe Fusaro | Jan 19, 2011

Teaching with Contemporary Art

It Ain’t the Heat, It’s the Stupidity

by Joe Fusaro | Jan 19, 2011

As promised last week, let’s talk about the plight Mr. Curtis Acosta finds himself in. As a public school teacher in Arizona, obviously a state with its share of issues …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Working with Violent Images

by Joe Fusaro | Jan 12, 2011

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Working with Violent Images

by Joe Fusaro | Jan 12, 2011

Only a few days ago I was all set to write a post that highlighted the plight of Curtis Acosta, an Arizona teacher who finds himself in the position of …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Out of Line

by Joe Fusaro | Jan 5, 2011

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Out of Line

by Joe Fusaro | Jan 5, 2011

If you get the opportunity in the next month, take some time to see On Line: Drawing Through the 20th Century at the Museum of Modern Art. And if you …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Ten for ’10

by Joe Fusaro | Dec 29, 2010

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Ten for ’10

by Joe Fusaro | Dec 29, 2010

Looking back over the column this past year, I thought it might be worthwhile to pick the top ten questions generated in a year’s worth of posts. Below are some …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Teaching with David Wojnarowicz (and Not Teaching with the Smithsonian)

by Joe Fusaro | Dec 22, 2010

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Teaching with David Wojnarowicz (and Not Teaching with the Smithsonian)

by Joe Fusaro | Dec 22, 2010

In light of the recent debacle at the Smithsonian involving the removal of David Wojnarowicz’s A Fire in My Belly, I thought it might make sense to suggest some ways …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Mark Bradford: Painter

by Joe Fusaro | Dec 15, 2010

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Mark Bradford: Painter

by Joe Fusaro | Dec 15, 2010

If you live, work, or happen to be traveling through Boston any time soon, make absolutely sure you see Mark Bradford‘s mid-career retrospective at the Institute for Contemporary Art. This …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Need-to-Know (Basics)

by Joe Fusaro | Dec 8, 2010

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Need-to-Know (Basics)

by Joe Fusaro | Dec 8, 2010

On a recent visit to one of Lois Hetland’s classes at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Lois and I were engaged in a discussion about what teachers of …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Teaching About a Day Without…

by Joe Fusaro | Dec 1, 2010

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Teaching About a Day Without…

by Joe Fusaro | Dec 1, 2010

Today marks the observance of Day Without Art, a day when the arts community takes the time to remember and respond to the AIDS crisis and its impact worldwide. Day …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Thankful

by Joe Fusaro | Nov 24, 2010

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Thankful

by Joe Fusaro | Nov 24, 2010

Back on May 7, 2008 I wrote my first column for Art21’s blog. In that initial post I said, “Teaching with Contemporary Art is about the things that happen when …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Art Education and Influence

by Joe Fusaro | Nov 17, 2010

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Art Education and Influence

by Joe Fusaro | Nov 17, 2010

How is art influenced? What role does art education play in how artists form works of art later in their career? Recently, when I posed these questions to colleagues (both …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Art21 William Kentridge: Anything is Possible

Kentridge in the Classroom

by Jessica Hamlin | Nov 11, 2010

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Art21 William Kentridge: Anything is Possible

Kentridge in the Classroom

by Jessica Hamlin | Nov 11, 2010

Support Art21 The William Kentridge: Anything Is Possible BACK TO SCHOOL campaign is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for Art21’s free education programs and resources accompanying William Kentridge: Anything …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Hard Conversations (Exploring Inequality)

by Joe Fusaro | Nov 10, 2010

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Hard Conversations (Exploring Inequality)

by Joe Fusaro | Nov 10, 2010

In the New York Times last week, Nicholas Kristof reported that the richest 1 percent of Americans now take home almost 24 percent of the income, up from 9 percent …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

What More Can We Ask For?

by Joe Fusaro | Nov 3, 2010

Teaching with Contemporary Art

What More Can We Ask For?

by Joe Fusaro | Nov 3, 2010

Students in my Advanced Placement class recently began a work for their portfolio inspired by the theme of loss. We spent a few days at the beginning of the unit …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Skills Worth Teaching

by Joe Fusaro | Oct 27, 2010

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Skills Worth Teaching

by Joe Fusaro | Oct 27, 2010

This past April at the National Art Education Association’s annual conference in Baltimore, Craig Roland hosted and participated in a panel presentation called “What’s Worth Teaching in Art?” But before …