This is an experimental textbook for teaching about the visual arts at the elementary level. The content answers five questions about art: what is art; who makes art; what are the sources for art; why is art important to you; and why is art important to society. At the end of each section of the text is a set of questions and suggestions for…

In past years, teachers without professional training in the arts have often been able to avail themselves of summer institutes that introduced them to specific works of art and followed up with artists in the classroom, performance, or trips to an art museum. But what happens when such support is no longer available and teachers have to function…

Narrative construction is an approach to social research in which data are configured into any of a variety of diachronic, or storied, formats. Having recently gained popularity, this approach is now in danger of marginalization (along with other qualitative and quantitative forms of social research) as a result of politically charged attempts to…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the stages in the development of creative activity considering the distinctive features of all stages and the modes of dynamics of the development of a creative person. Design/methodology/approach: The paper analyses scientific investigations and pedagogical experiences in order to develop the…

When displayed in museums and classrooms, Renaissance-era (1420-1600) painting, architecture, and drawing masterworks are often decontextualized from the social reality of the Academy system under which they were produced. For centuries, the artworks of the Italian Renaissance have seduced viewers with technical mastery, exquisite pigments, and…

In this article, the author shares tips on how to keep students interested in learning about still-life art lessons. She relates that her main goal was to formally introduce students to observational drawing and the element of value. She shares that to prevent her students from losing interest, she keeps her time short, keeps the project simple,…

Narrated by actor Howard Hesseman, this videotape presents arguments for promoting art education in the nation's schools. Interviews with art education leaders, industry leaders, teachers, and principals reveal their convictions that adequate training in critical and creative thinking is necesseary for successful participation in the international…

The dissertation examines approaches to the development of artistically gifted students. Benjamin West's life is used to depict self-training and Thomas Eakins's life to illustrate development through a mentor approach. Evaluation of definitional and identification issues is examined along with changes in educational options for artistically…

An arts festival at Helen J. Stewart School, Las Vegas, Nevada, a public school for students with all ranges of mental retardation, features participatory workshops, performances, and a variety of other "arts happenings." The festival is an outgrowth of a creative arts curriculum which promotes art, music, dance, and drama. Planning is extensive…

Students were given insights into sculpture as space rather than as mass, thereby learning to enjoy contemporary works more easily. (RK)

The pursuit of visual clues in art can illuminate history in a broadening and meaningful way. (Editor)

The National Gallery of Art is today "visiting" schools across the Nation - through programs available free from its Extension Service. (Editor)

Outlines the subject background and professional education needed for a general art and music librarian. (PF)

To determine if there were any consistent tendencies toward the abstract or toward impressionism in the illustration of children's books between the years 1966 and 1986, a study examined the illustrations of Caldecott winners and Honor books. The study replicated John Stewig's study (using his evaluation instrument) of the same topic which covered…

Funded by the Council on Library Resources, this project surveyed thesauri in the fields of art and architecture to seek out existing projects and analyze their content and form. It found that no comprehensive or standardized thesaurus presently exists for art and architecture; rather individual subjects are tailored to meet the needs of a…