Art Based Inquiry
IN SIDE OUT SIDE IN, 2012
Inside Out, Outside In: Threads of Expression in the History of Arts Education
An Arts Based Research Project
By Nandita Baxi Sheth
Engaging in arts-based research involves weaving together multiple meaning making activities; including: reading, writing, contemplation, and conversation to inform art making. My conceptualization of art education history began with the vision of a garment; a cape which would in both its form and materials symbolize the diversity of historical themes and influences that combine to inform the ever shifting practice of art education. The cape, as a garment, reflects the idea that art educators “wear”, whether knowingly or not, the historical remnants of our profession. The shape of the cape is one size fits all and has no sleeves. It is activated and given shape by each the individual wearer. While the individuals cannot change history, our power lies in decoding, excavating and reconstructing meaning through inquiry; considering what has been written and questioning what may be missing.
The construction of the cape represents ways in which child expression has been theorized by art educators. I used transparent Chinese silk as a base to sew on ephemera that represent different modalities of expression. The fragments are reconstructed to form the fabric of the cape; just as the art educator’s study and practice becomes a curated collection of theories, beliefs, biases, motivations, and ideologies. The inclusions consist of pieces of maps, textbooks, art instruction books, reproductions of famous art works, and advertising images on the outside surface of the cape; and handmade and hand painted papers on the inside of the cape. The images are simultaneously visible and hidden; recognizable and blurry. Seams and threads are visible; hinting at loose ends. The creative self expression stream of art education viewed artistic creations as the result of the natural, untutored, creative spirit of the child, creating art from the inside out. Later educational movements recognized that environmental factors, cultural context and visual images influenced artistic expression from the outside in. The cape’s nontraditional fabric and transparent construction embodies the idea that both the teaching and creation of art is an intensely personal combination of inside and outside influenced forms of expression.
Inside Out, Outside In: Threads of Expression in the History of Arts Education
An Arts Based Research Project
By Nandita Baxi Sheth
Engaging in arts-based research involves weaving together multiple meaning making activities; including: reading, writing, contemplation, and conversation to inform art making. My conceptualization of art education history began with the vision of a garment; a cape which would in both its form and materials symbolize the diversity of historical themes and influences that combine to inform the ever shifting practice of art education. The cape, as a garment, reflects the idea that art educators “wear”, whether knowingly or not, the historical remnants of our profession. The shape of the cape is one size fits all and has no sleeves. It is activated and given shape by each the individual wearer. While the individuals cannot change history, our power lies in decoding, excavating and reconstructing meaning through inquiry; considering what has been written and questioning what may be missing.
The construction of the cape represents ways in which child expression has been theorized by art educators. I used transparent Chinese silk as a base to sew on ephemera that represent different modalities of expression. The fragments are reconstructed to form the fabric of the cape; just as the art educator’s study and practice becomes a curated collection of theories, beliefs, biases, motivations, and ideologies. The inclusions consist of pieces of maps, textbooks, art instruction books, reproductions of famous art works, and advertising images on the outside surface of the cape; and handmade and hand painted papers on the inside of the cape. The images are simultaneously visible and hidden; recognizable and blurry. Seams and threads are visible; hinting at loose ends. The creative self expression stream of art education viewed artistic creations as the result of the natural, untutored, creative spirit of the child, creating art from the inside out. Later educational movements recognized that environmental factors, cultural context and visual images influenced artistic expression from the outside in. The cape’s nontraditional fabric and transparent construction embodies the idea that both the teaching and creation of art is an intensely personal combination of inside and outside influenced forms of expression.