Teaching with Contemporary Art

Thoughts from the classroom on the intersection of art and education

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Transcendent: Vija Celmins and Kimsooja

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Transcendent: Vija Celmins and Kimsooja

by Joe Fusaro | Jan 27, 2010

Recently I was engaged in a little debate about whether contemporary art can truly be transcendent — taking us beyond the range of normal perception to some place else, some …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Wonder-Igniters: An Interview with Abbe Futterman

by Joe Fusaro | Jan 20, 2010

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Wonder-Igniters: An Interview with Abbe Futterman

by Joe Fusaro | Jan 20, 2010

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of visiting The Earth School in New York’s East Village and at one point noticed a science classroom through a small window …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Anything Can Happen

by Joe Fusaro | Jan 13, 2010

Outside of Tyler Green (Modern Art Notes), I am not sure how many contemporary art-lover hockey fans are out there. There may be more, but down deep I think we’re …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Have Kazoo Will Travel

by Joe Fusaro | Jan 6, 2010

To celebrate the New Year and what are now 90 posts for the Teaching with Contemporary Art column here on the Art21 blog, I popped a bottle of champagne, played …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Bringing it Back Home

by Joe Fusaro | Dec 30, 2009

December, January, May, June…. These are popular months for graduates to visit their former high schools because they are either between semesters at college or finished for the school year …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Season’s Treatings

by Joe Fusaro | Dec 23, 2009

Before the holidays hit us, I thought I might suggest a few destinations, dates, and stocking stuffers for those who are as late with the shopping as I am. Below …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Time to Talk

by Joe Fusaro | Dec 16, 2009

Art classrooms are mired in production. Too often the drive to complete work speeds right past the formation of a high quality idea or composition. How often have we ourselves …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

What's Cookin': The Art21ndex

What’s Cookin at the Art21 Blog: A Weekly Index

by Mary Cook | Dec 12, 2009

Teaching with Contemporary Art

What’s Cookin at the Art21 Blog: A Weekly Index

by Mary Cook | Dec 12, 2009

VIDEO EXCLUSIVE — Doris Salcedo | Third World Identity New Guest Blogger: Kelly Rakowski, a graphic designer and Head of the Book Department at Todd Oldham Studio. Check out this …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Confronting History

by Joe Fusaro | Dec 9, 2009

Looking through the interviews and essays featured in Art:21- Art in the Twenty- First Century 5, the companion book to season 5, I keep discovering a ton of words to …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Help Wanted

by Joe Fusaro | Dec 2, 2009

Once in a while teachers are so amazed and proud of the work their students accomplish that they just have to share it, and I’m all about flying in that …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

If the Shoe Fits, Pay For It

by Joe Fusaro | Nov 25, 2009

I taught visual art in New York City for 13 years from 1990-2003. A majority of that time was spent in middle school classrooms and most of us received something …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

What's Cookin': The Art21ndex

What’s Cookin at the Art21 Blog: A Weekly Index

by Mary Cook | Nov 21, 2009

Teaching with Contemporary Art

What’s Cookin at the Art21 Blog: A Weekly Index

by Mary Cook | Nov 21, 2009

It’s a cage that went in search of a bird…Sreshta Rit Premnath explores the ocean as a territory that lies outside the realm of governmentality. Nicole rounds them up! From …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

The Same, But Different

by Joe Fusaro | Nov 18, 2009

About a year ago at this time I was getting ready for Art21 to come in and film me teaching about the theme of power with my freshman Studio in …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Test-Driving the New Season 5 Educator’s Guide

by Joe Fusaro | Nov 11, 2009

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Test-Driving the New Season 5 Educator’s Guide

by Joe Fusaro | Nov 11, 2009

Yesterday I was talking with a two students who attended a recent preview screening that featured Paul McCarthy in the Transformation episode. The students asked me about why McCarthy’s work …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

What's Cookin': The Art21ndex

What’s Cookin at the Art21 Blog: A Weekly Index

by Mary Cook | Nov 8, 2009

Teaching with Contemporary Art

What’s Cookin at the Art21 Blog: A Weekly Index

by Mary Cook | Nov 8, 2009

Water, water, everywhere! Ever-changing and ever-constant, see a glimpse into Roni Horn’s vast exploration of this traveling landscape in this weeks Art:21 Video Exclusive. Her art was suffused with [a] …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Another Kick in the Pants

by Joe Fusaro | Nov 4, 2009

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Another Kick in the Pants

by Joe Fusaro | Nov 4, 2009

I use Art21 for a kick in the pants from time to time, whether it’s to inspire my teaching by watching Carrie Mae Weems or to give my studio practice …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Teamwork

by Joe Fusaro | Oct 28, 2009

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Teamwork

by Joe Fusaro | Oct 28, 2009

In order to create his art, Season 5 artist Allan McCollum incorporates the time-tested strategy of teamwork. Huge installations and projects that no one person could possibly pull off by …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Shaping a Safe Space

by Joe Fusaro | Oct 21, 2009

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Shaping a Safe Space

by Joe Fusaro | Oct 21, 2009

I’ve been lucky enough over the past few years to collaborate and work with some fantastic teachers- both in my home district and around the country. Whenever we get to …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Talking with Janine Antoni, Part Two

by Joe Fusaro | Oct 14, 2009

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Talking with Janine Antoni, Part Two

by Joe Fusaro | Oct 14, 2009

The following is part two of my discussion with Janine Antoni from last week. Be sure to catch her new show at Luhring Augustine Gallery, titled Up Against, through October …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Talking with Janine Antoni, Part One

by Joe Fusaro | Oct 7, 2009

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Talking with Janine Antoni, Part One

by Joe Fusaro | Oct 7, 2009

To say it was a pleasure to be given the opportunity to interview Janine Antoni for this column is a gross understatement. In 2003, Janine Antoni‘s Season 2 segment was …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Ottawa Without a Passport

by Joe Fusaro | Sep 30, 2009

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Ottawa Without a Passport

by Joe Fusaro | Sep 30, 2009

On Monday I had the pleasure of working with 26 teachers from a variety of settings in the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District… located in western Michigan. That’s right, Michigan. …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Word Games

by Joe Fusaro | Sep 23, 2009

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Word Games

by Joe Fusaro | Sep 23, 2009

Friends like to pass along quotes because they know I love them. I hang them on my office door, take them to the studio, use them as bookmarks, and read …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

….and the Not-So-Powerful, Part 2

by Joe Fusaro | Sep 16, 2009

Teaching with Contemporary Art

….and the Not-So-Powerful, Part 2

by Joe Fusaro | Sep 16, 2009

This week I want to continue sharing a few stories in the Not-So-Powerful series about units that didn’t go well and the things that happened as a result… Years ago …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Where Am I?

by Joe Fusaro | Sep 9, 2009

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Where Am I?

by Joe Fusaro | Sep 9, 2009

The beginning of a school year, especially the first days of school, can be beautiful or brutal. I remember as a kid sitting in class after class on the first …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

What Makes Us Human

by Joe Fusaro | Sep 2, 2009

Teaching with Contemporary Art

What Makes Us Human

by Joe Fusaro | Sep 2, 2009

I’m addicted to Harper’s Magazine. I started reading it in 1985 as a freshman in college and have somehow managed, through multiple moves and roommates, to keep every single issue …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

….and the Not-So-Powerful (Part One)

by Joe Fusaro | Aug 26, 2009

Teaching with Contemporary Art

….and the Not-So-Powerful (Part One)

by Joe Fusaro | Aug 26, 2009

Ever since the blog post Jessica Hamlin wrote a few weeks back regarding my “Teaching About Power” unit I’ve been feeling a little guilty. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve gotten …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Dove and O’Keeffe… Get ‘Em While It’s Hot

by Joe Fusaro | Aug 19, 2009

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Dove and O’Keeffe… Get ‘Em While It’s Hot

by Joe Fusaro | Aug 19, 2009

There are many reasons that educators want to visit the Circles of Influence exhibit featuring Arthur Dove and Georgia O’Keeffe at The Clark Art Institute through September 7th, but one …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Dog Days and Banking

by Joe Fusaro | Aug 12, 2009

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Dog Days and Banking

by Joe Fusaro | Aug 12, 2009

Last summer, while working at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, I had the good fortune of being blown away by the Marlene Dumas exhibition, Measuring Your Own …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Avoiding Wallpaper

by Joe Fusaro | Aug 5, 2009

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Avoiding Wallpaper

by Joe Fusaro | Aug 5, 2009

This week I’d like to breathe a blissful sigh after a quiet vacation AND take on the Flashpoints question for August… Does art expand our ability to imagine? My gut …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Stepping Back….

by Joe Fusaro | Jul 29, 2009

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Stepping Back….

by Joe Fusaro | Jul 29, 2009

…. and taking a short vacation after a solid week of work with the Art21 Educators summer institute. Teaching with Contemporary Art will be back with a new column on …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Reflections on the Art21 Educators Institute

by Joe Fusaro | Jul 22, 2009

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Reflections on the Art21 Educators Institute

by Joe Fusaro | Jul 22, 2009

I’m sure everyone has had moments of blissful exhaustion- those times when you pushed yourself over a certain period, gotten to the end and said, “That was outstanding…. and I’m …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Contemporary Art in Contemporary Classrooms: Art21 Educators 2009

by Joe Fusaro | Jul 15, 2009

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Contemporary Art in Contemporary Classrooms: Art21 Educators 2009

by Joe Fusaro | Jul 15, 2009

Starting today, Art21 is pleased to welcome K-12 teachers from across the country to participate in our first summer institute, Art21 Educators. Jessica Hamlin, Marc Mayer, Joy Lai (our amazing …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Straight from the Source

by Kristin Farr | Jul 8, 2009

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Straight from the Source

by Kristin Farr | Jul 8, 2009

New media tools are a rich addition to an art teacher’s toolbox and the Web is overflowing with opportunities to discover new artists and art forms. Here in San Francisco, …

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Wrestling with the Past: A TwCA 2008-2009 Roundup

by Joe Fusaro | Jul 1, 2009

Teaching with Contemporary Art

Wrestling with the Past: A TwCA 2008-2009 Roundup

by Joe Fusaro | Jul 1, 2009

It’s been quite a year. Quite an academic year, that is. Between the country voicing a collective NO to four more years of the same Bushed policies and Bernie Madoff …