Art, Culture, and Education

REVISED

Fall 2011 and Winter 2012 quarters

Faculty

Hirsh Diamant visual, expressive and media arts including arts of self cultivation, cultural and Chinese studies, human development, education

Fields of Study

cultural studies, education and visual arts

Preparatory for studies or careers in

arts, education, cultural studies

Description

Human societies and cultures express their values in education and art.  Art is the earliest and most enduring expression of humanity.  For community and the individual, art can be a practice of education and self-cultivation.  In today's global community it is important to understand art and values of other cultures and by so doing to awaken art within oneself while learning to understand the "other."

All children naturally understand the importance of art and are creating art constantly in their play.  All children are artists and all can paint, play, sing, and dance.  Children also have an instinctive sense of right and wrong.  In the modern, industrial world these natural abilities often become suppressed and lost.  Modern educators need to be confident in their own artistic abilities and grounded in their own moral core; they need to be trained in communication across cultures and able to support children's healthy development.

The students in this half-time, interdisciplinary program will immerse themselves in study and practice of art and in cultural experiences that are vastly different from the Western dominant culture by studying Native American, Muslim, Hebrew, and Chinese cultures.  Students will make art, study myths and world religions as they have been shaped by cultures and landscapes of the past, and examine cultural and ethical norms.  Students will also examine cultural influences and pressures of today's global society and will investigate the importance of preserving and developing cultural, artistic, and ethical traditions.  Students will engage in traditional academic study such as reading, writing, and seminars and will also engage in art making, meditation, community events, and the practice of Tai Ji.  Students will learn about child and human development, will learn about alternative education systems, and will cultivate their own spiritual, meditative, ethical, and artistic life.  In addition to classroom study, students will participate in retreats and will go on field trips to explore educational, art, and cultural resources in the community.

In winter quarter students will be able to work on community service projects, in schools, and on Native American reservations.

Advertised Schedule

9a-5p Sunday (fall: Oct. 2, 9, 23, Nov. 6, 20, Dec. 4, 11; winter: Jan. 15, 22, Feb. 26, March 18); in fall, there is an overnight retreat Oct. 26-27; in winter there is a 3 day Tai Ji workshop 7-9p Friday, 10a-4p Saturday and Sunday (Jan 27-29); in winter there also is an overnight retreat March 7-8

Location

Olympia

Online Learning

Enhanced Online Learning

Books

Greener Store

Required Fees

$60 in fall and $50 in winter for field trips and supplies

Offered During

Weekend

Program Revisions