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Getty unveils classroom art exercises by acclaimed artists
Los Angeles-based artist Mark Bradford is known for mixed-media works rich in texture and complexity.
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Getty unveils classroom art exercises by acclaimed artists
Getty unveils classroom art exercises by acclaimed artists
The Getty unveiled a new online resource for teachers today that gathers classroom art exercises created by internationally-known visual artists.
The project is called Open Studio, and it’s the brainchild of Los Angeles artist Mark Bradford, a winner of last year’s coveted MacArthur Foundation “genius” award. Bradford says that after he spoke at an arts education conference last year he began to worry that classroom art instruction is out of step with the lives of young people.
"So often times I heard students say, ‘Well I’m not an artist because, oh I can’t draw very well,' or 'I can’t draw that car very well.' And it would be great if students and teachers alike began to not put these strict categories on what does contemporary art look like."
Kara Walker is one of ten artists who’ve contributed exercises. Hers is called “Attend to Your Narrative.” It requires thin brushes, water-based ink, drawing paper, old typewriters, and index cards.
Every day offers a story, she says, and she encourages students to listen to the rhythm of the typewriter so they can tell those tales. All stories are fair game, even dirty jokes or something overheard. Photographer Catherine Opie, conceptual artist Daniel Joseph Martinez and printmaker Xu Bing also contributed the free, downloadable lessons.
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