Folk Art Theater History

Art as I see it..

Definition of Visual Arts:

 The aspect of fine arts education in regards to curriculum is visual arts. ”The visual arts are an essential form of communication, indispensable to inquiry and expression”. Visual arts include many different mediums.  “This category may include the traditional fine arts such as drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture; communication and design arts such as film, television, graphics, and product design; architecture and environmental arts such as urban, interior, and landscape; folk arts; and works of art such as ceramics, fibers, jewelry as well as works in wood, paper, and other materials”.

Visual art is in fact one of the most important aspects of fine arts education.  It involves physical and mental skill, both learned and utilized.  Visual arts can be used in all areas of education.

 Importance of Art for children

  When a child creates a work of art, they are not just drawing a picture; they are also creating aspects of self-importance, individuality and engaging in self-expression.  By assisting and encouraging a child’s creativity, you set the stage for endless opportunities for that child’s imagination. A healthy imagination not only creates a resourceful and productive individual, but it also builds self-esteem, which is an important tool that will be used for the rest of that child’s life.

Give freedom of expression to children

   It is through these creative studies that they learn to think independently and solve unexpected problems instead of just robot like repetitive reciting of book facts. Freedom of expression lets them learn to think outside of the mainstream way of seeing things and that is how new inventions and innovative ways are developed and discovered

Importance of art in schools

 Many teachers and educators may disagree about which method is best to teach our children how to read and write, or learn history, science, and even math, but there are no really serious questions about whether these subjects should be taught to all children. They are the core of our academic programs in schools today. In most schools, the other subjects, including the arts, are squeezed in, or they are not even included at all in the education of our children.

When budgets are trimmed these subjects are threatened as if they are not as important in the education of our children. But they are such an important element of life that they must be included among core academic subjects or we will risk losing the opportunity for our children to develop their creativity and express their own unique aspects of themselves.
Most of educators and people in the federal education legislation may agree that the arts are an important part of life, but this does not make them part of the essential core of education and they should be. The arts are everywhere in our lives from graphic arts to music and are essential to adding the necessary dimension and depth to our children’s thought process. The earlier that children experience arts included in their education the better off they will be. There is a direct connection to dramatic play and cognitive thinking that many studies have concluded including Howard Gardner’s project called Project Zero. The purpose of the study is to understand the process of learning at the individual level when it directly includes the arts. This study is being compiled at Harvard where Gardner is a cognitive psychologist. Project Zero was founded at the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 1967 by a philosopher by the name of Nelson Goodman to study and improve education in the arts because he felt that learning the arts should be studied as a serious cognitive activity, but that “zero” had been firmly established about the field which is why the project was given its name.
The importance of this study is immeasurable and the impact of its findings immense. It studies how children develop as a whole person not just in the area of traditional studies. The mission states it all. It is to “understand and enhance learning, thinking, and creativity in the arts, as well as humanistic and scientific disciplines, at the individual and institutional levels.”
There are so many studies that are being conducted within this study, such as Artful Thinking. This is a program designed to explore how works of art can help students empower their thinking in ways that cover the entire curriculum, including critical thinking in math and science. Its focus is to look at art rather then create it. It is a part of Visible Thinking Network with in Project Zero. Its focus is to study and develop the thinking process of students by cultivating curiosity, open-mindedness as well as reasoning.

These are key areas in need of development at a young age in order to fully understand other subjects such as math, history and science. Thinking routines and deposits are developed in the students to create a deeper understanding of any subject that they may study throughout life. Currently the Artful Thinking project is in use by teachers in grades K-8 and has been noted of its great success in helping students develop those important critical thinking skills that are necessary in all aspects of education and life in general.

School Implementation

Visual arts are essential element of fine arts in application to other academics.  It helps with perception, production, knowledge, communication, evaluation, and connection.  “Visual arts education is a multifaceted creative process. It includes the development of perceptual awareness and the ability to use materials expressively. In addition, creative and critical thinking are taught and identified as: generative, imaginative, metaphorical, analytical, synthetic, and collaborative”

Visual arts  include the artistic domains of dance, theater, music, and visual arts.  Each of these disciplines is uniquely different, helping students grasp techniques and knowledge, which can be applied in all areas of life and education.  “All four fine arts curricula do provide opportunities for growth in three common areas of learning [for students]: personal, social, cultural, and historical contexts; knowledge, skills, and techniques; and creating, expressing, perceiving, and responding”.

            As presented in this artical, there are many positive effects, which stem from fine arts education.  Talents and aptitude learned by the students who participate in fine arts classes become better-rounded students in comparison to those who do not.  Learning techniques in the areas of dance, theater/drama, music, and visual arts have proven to be useful in all other academic curriculums.  There are limited reasons why schools hold back from promoting fine arts in education and curriculum.  The only reason some schools hold back from implementation of the fine arts is cost.  Fine arts classes can be pricey, with the need to purchase special equipment such as VCRs, instruments, books, radios/sound systems, computers, etc.  One Maryland school knows just how expensive fine arts education can be, specifically in the music department. The programs in the fine arts curriculum are some of the most expensive courses in education.

Art as I see it is a concept:

It’s a language of emotion, it’s similar to a written document in that it expresses a subject but it also goes further, to depict someone’s moods and feelings. The greatest writers could not express in words the pain expressed in Picasso’s Guernica or a photo of starving children in the Sudan. This is the purpose of art. Art is a visual memory and humans are always most emotionally responsive to visual expressions. This is why I think art should be taught differently in schools.

Art should be appreciated. There are amazingly talented artists and you can only benefit from learning from them. However, art appreciation is different to art. Art is creative: it’s about expressing your own views, not abstracting or alienating yourself from your own emotions.

It’s what the picture means to you and that’s what engages young kids. Art does not take on an objective nature when you’re 14 or 15 years old. It’s subjective and ascetic. It’s not what some man sitting in a museum thinks it’s what you feel! Have you expressed yourself? Do you get gratification from your creation?

It’s like football, yes you appreciate it and analyze it, but it’s the doing, the act of playing, which gets you going. That’s why I feel that the teaching of art should be changed from a focus on extrapolation to a focus on creation. Everyone has something to say, let him or her say it without the badgering or comparing to other artists.

Ok, you could say this won’t help them develop their skills if they aren’t compared or rated. If you give a child the drive to achieve they will develop, guidance is essential, teaching them techniques is essential but giving them a 1000 word essay to write on any personality they will get bored You can only truly appreciate if you create.

So when I got my class of disaffected year 9 they saw a new way of teaching because I didn’t have a lesson plan (out of choice) and I was using alternative methods to produce a small army of talented individuals who worked only to better themselves.
This sounds idealistic I know, but that was one of my goals. The second was to show them art wasn’t a subject they were taught: it must not be for if we allow this to happen the classes will be overrun with students with no passion and who decide to come only because it’s perceived as an easy GCSE. This would in fact be pointless and I will not allow it.

The third aim was simple: the students I had were considered troublemakers and were removed from their timetabled classes because they were not engaging in the lessons and thus misbehaving.
I felt that if I could grab their interest and interact with them positively giving guidance on an individual basis they would start enjoying art more.
I feel that because I treated them as mature students and as equals rather than as students they started appreciating school as a tool for their own use and not as some kind of prison. They quickly started turning up to every lesson rather then bunking off.

Conclusion

    It is an observable fact that art makes people happier, and also that happiness is one of the most important factors in life, even if you only look at bare survival. Just for instance, only unhappy people commit suicide, so it should be clear that being happy is great if you want to live long! Not to mention that happy people are more productive, and production is basic for survival.  

 Overall, fine arts education is extremely essential to the education of our students.  The areas of dance, theater/drama, music, and visual arts promote alternative learning and teaching methods.  Students gain knowledge and experience that can be a fundamental mechanism today’s teachers use.  In conclusion, fine arts are ultimately used in school curriculum to encourage creativity and motivation. 

North Korean ensemble performs for New York Philharmonic

The Van Rensselear Children Portrait 1840 antique oil painting ! Folk art $24,900.00

Antique Pair of Iconic American Folk Art Carved Pine Wood Eagle Sculpture – RARE $20,000.00

Metal Art Sculpture Sculptor for Hire Travel Design fabricate install folk art ! $20,000.00

Mamie Falk Folk Art Oil Painting – Considered Minnesota’s “Grandma Moses” $19,750.00

Yuri Gorbachev ORIGINAL Landscape Oil painting Folk Art $17,500.00

Folk Art wood statue of Grover Cleveland 1894 $9,500.00

Antique Ship Captain Folk Art Carved Coconut Chalice $8,500.00

Original Oil On Canvas Painting by Minni Hines Bayou Scene Folk Art 24×48 $8,495.75

Chinese folk art sculpture carving stone inkstone for painting and handwriting $6,890.00

Chinese handcraft folk art stone sculpture carving inkstone inkslab fly dragon $6,329.00

Banjo Boy/ Pre-Civil War Folk Art on Linen $6,000.00

LARGE Antique Americana Folk Art Painting of Boy -Civil War Col. Orlando H Moore $5,999.99

Yuri Gorbachev Original Oil Painting Russian Art Folk $5,990.00

Chinese handcraft folk art sculpture carving inkstone inkslab—Avalokitesvara $5,590.00

AMERICAN FOLK ART PUPPET THEATRE QUEENS,NY $5,000.00

Clementine Hunter Signed Framed Folk Art Painting Cotton Pickin’ c1977 20×26.25 $5,000.00

vincent van gogh sculpture outsider folk art Dale Teachout assemblage junk $5,000.00

Bessie Harvey Folk Art Found Object Museum Piece!!! $5,000.00

PAIR OF 19TH C FOLK ART PORTRAITS PAINTINGS SIGNED P MARTIN 1886 HUSBAND & WIFE $4,999.99

ANTIQUE 19th CENTURY AMERICAN FOLK ART ETCHED GLASS ALLEGHENY CTY PA GERMAN WOW $4,999.99

ANTIQUE 19th CENTURY AMERICAN FOLK ART FISH HOOK MASSIVE IRON TRADE SIGN $4,999.99

Signed OLD master GESSO FRAME OIL ON CANVAS PORTRAIT NELSON pipe Folk art $4,999.00

Clementine Hunter Folk Art Painting Signed “Picking Cotton” $4,850.00

Chinese folk art sculpture carving stone inkstone double dragon holding the sun $4,690.00

FOLK ART OIL PAINTING PORTRAIT CHILD ICONIC RED DRESS PRINCE CHARLES SPANIEL $4,500.00

Corbels Pair Wood Winged Griffins Victorian Old Paint Architectural Folk Art $4,500.00

FOLK ART PAINTING SULLIVAN COUNTY NEW YORK J R GEROW $4,500.00

Exceptional Folk Art Painting $4,500.00

Johnnie Swearingen! Great Folk Art!!! Peddling Melons $4,500.00

New England Folk Art Portrait on Canvas Ca.1830 $4,500.00

Clementine Hunter Signed Framed Folk Art Painting Wash Day c1977 19.25 x 23.25in $4,500.00

A Outstanding Early Trade Axe,Folk Art Hatchet, $4,500.00

Yuri Gorbachev Original Oil Painting Russian Art Folk $4,490.00

FANTASTIC FOLK ART CHEST $4,200.00

Clementine Hunter Signed Framed Folk Art Painting African Headdress c1977 25.5h $4,000.00

ANTIQUE MINIATURE PRIMITIVE FOLK ART WOOD RURAL SCENE FRAMED 12 1/4″ UNIQUE $3,885.00

*RARE TRAMP / FOLK ART Shoe Shine Box – Brass/Wood-Detailed-Ornate-Exquisite $3,800.00

Antique KNOTTY Tree Root Twig FOLK ART CHAIR Set GOODY KOONCH West Virginia $3,750.00

Original Mexican Folk Art Icons Retablo:18-19th century $3,650.00

Chinese handcraft folk art sculpture carving inkstone-an old man finshing alone $3,590.00

Folk Art Hand Carved Soldier,6ft Tall Pick Up Only $3,532.50

Unique/Exceptional Large Oval Folk Art Santa Claus Wood Carving signed Cobb 98 $3,500.00

Painting Vintage 50s Cowboy Folk Art Levis Jeans Vinicur Little Buckaroo Parade $3,500.00

Advertising Art / Folk Art / Christmas Hooked Rug – 5′x3 1/2′ $3,500.00

Johnnie Swearingen! Great Folk Art!!! $3,500.00

Chinese handcraft folk art sculpture carving inkstone inkslab—Lofty aspiration $3,490.00

Terrazzo Marble Micro Mosaic Latin Ethnic Musicians Mural Folk Fine Art $3,374.99

Original Mexican Folk Art Icons Retablo:18-19th century $3,250.00

FINE 19c EARLY FOLK ART PORTRAIT PAINTING $3,225.00

Israel Jewish Art,Sara Hagay,Israeli Folk Dance “hora”,Oil,Judaica,Framed $3,000.00

mud painting signed jimmy sudduth a real folk art outsider master piece $3,000.00

ANTIQUE AMERICAN FOLK ART WOOD CANE ISLE ROYALE FIRE WW2 D DAY GI ? KENOSHA WI $2,999.99

FRANK WYSO OUTSIDER FOLK ARTIST PENNSYLVANIA COAL MINERS 4 WORKS OF ART $2,999.99

King’s Couch Rare One of a Kind Yard Art from Chicago Folk Hand Made furniture $2,999.99

ANTIQUE 19th AMERICAN FOLK ART NATURALIST BUFFALO SETON STYLE CATLIN PAINTING $2,999.99

Chinese handcraft folk art sculpture carving inkstone inkslab man walk in forest $2,999.00

Chinese handcraft folk art sculpture carving inkstone inkslab a man watch moon $2,999.00

fine Chinese handcraft folk art stone sculpture carving inkstone inkslab scenery $2,890.00

Temperance Movement Folk Art Painting Folk Art Temperance Painting $2,850.00

Anonymous Folk Art Carving Figure with Crown in Skirt with Snake $2,799.99

ANTIQUE OIL PAINTING FOLK ART NEW ENGLAND ‘HUGES’ 1892 $2,750.00

Chinese handcraft folk art stone sculpture carving inkstone inkslab with dragon $2,690.00

FOLK ART Antique Wood Polychrome Carved Asian Figure Sculpture $2,500.00

HUGE 37″ Antique 19th American Folk Art Carved Gilt Wood Eagle Statue Americana $2,500.00

Antique Primitive Folk Art Hand Carved Wooden Dough Bowl $2,500.00

FOLK ART OIL PAINTING OF THE SS “OCEAN” STEAMSHIP $2,475.00

Ca. 1820 American Folk Art Painting Deformed Man $2,450.00

James Harold Jennings Amazing and Colorful Folk Art! $2,400.00

Doris Lee – Folk Art Painting – Signed and Titled – Original Condition $2,400.00

DC: Prison Folk Art Matchstick Ship, HUGE 5′ Length $2,379.00

Amazing ORIGINAL NAUTICAL AMERICAN FOLK ART PAINTING $2,285.00

Early 20th Century Folk Art Sheep Painting/ Inside Barn $2,250.00

FOLK ART COLLAGE/Presidential Stamp Collage $2,250.00

Folk Art Handmade Ceramic Sculpture Plaque Dentist Pulling Tooth Dicker Vintage $2,200.00

ANTIQUE Americana TRADE SIGN IMMIGRATION FOLK ART NYC ICE CREAM PUSH CART $2,200.00

Ohio Pioneer Abraham Betz 1818 HANDWRITTEN LESSON BOOK with FOLK ART $2,150.00

HAITIAN ART: Vibrant PAINTING, SIGNED by Renowned Folk Artist TOUSSAINT AUGUSTE $2,150.00

Philippines National Artist Abdul Imao Brass Sculpture w/ Base Mindanao Folk Art $2,100.00

Ellen Eilers Calico Country Folk Art Woodcut Ornamental Trees Rare Early Work $2,000.00

ANTIQUE 19th CENTURY AMERICAN FOLK ART FRUIT STILL LIFE WATERMELON OIL PAINTING $1,999.99

ANTIQUE AMERICAN FOLK ART WOOD BALEEN CARVED SPERM WHALE GROTESQUE AMERICANA WOW $1,999.99

ANTIQUE AMERICAN FOLK ART SHIP LIGHTHOUSE LARGE OIL PAINTING GERNAND VERMIER $1,999.99

Vtg Rutherford Tubby Brown Xmas 25″Folk Art Santa Claus $1,999.99

AMERICAN FOLK ART GAMEBOARD TABLE WITH SWASTIKAS $1,999.00

Chinese handcraft folk art sculpture carving inkstone peasant work on his land $1,999.00

LAURA SIQUEIROS “POSEIDONS ADVENTURE” FOLK ART PAINTING $1,999.00

Old Folk Art Cinderella pre Disney & Kincade Beautiful $1,995.00

Clyde Connell 1943 Folk Art hooked rug signed LISTED $1,900.00

ANTIQUE AMERICAN FOLK ART WOOD CARVING TOBACCO CIGAR TRADE SIGN ? DISPLAY WOW $1,899.99

Chinese folk art sculpture carving stone inkstone for painting and handwriting $1,890.00

WELSH AMERICAN SIGNED FOLK ART PAINTING JFK PT 109 $1,850.00

ORIGINAL TEXAS ARTIST FERGUSON OIL PAINTING FOLK ART $1,822.50

C Peterson ORIGINAL modern FOLKART sculpture SIGN ART painted OUT of WORK tools $1,817.00

48x48x1.5″█OIL▀PAINTING█ART█LARGE█BIG█PAINTINGS█FINE█RAW█MALE█REALISM█FOLK_POP█A $1,800.00

American Folk Art Painting of Little Girl Circa 1825 $1,800.00

Emma Schrock Folk Art 16″ by 12″ $1,795.00

c1920 Girl Knitting Folk Woman Antique Art Signed Oil Estate Painting $1,795.00

Folk Art Wood Carving Listed Folk Artist Albert Hoffman $1,750.00

Folk Art New England Oil on Canvas Painting/Circa 1860 $1,750.00

HUTCH TABLE WITH FOLK ART 4 SEASON ARTIST PAINTED TOP $1,750.00