As a teacher and artist, I often think about creative thinking and how best to interact with the budding artist. At first my focus is to pretend as though our coordinator is standing behind me ready to guide my thoughts towards the MYP Arts Guide. Artistic intention, alternative perspectives, exploring ideas and moving from point A to point B, are the topics swirling in air. Very quickly, my reflective and instinctive mind takes over. I drift back in time and remember my favorite teachers and how personality strolls right in the door behind each and every one to deliver instruction. For me, it is humor and “tid bits” of genuine experiences I have had while engaging in the creative process that usually generates a smile. Sometimes that smile turns upwards and eyes begin to squint as the thinker applies my words in a visual means. That is when questions usually begin to burst onto the stage. The climate, if the magic happens, delivers conversation rich in flavor that eases most of the students towards alternative thought. Our ideas bounce off of each other like a pin ball hitting a bumper or, the glass if the excitement is too exaggerated. A cup of coffee, instrumental music on low volume, and words that spring from the pages of my journal usually help me to settle in behind the camera or an easel. I find that I need to jump at the right moment from one medium for expression to another if my creative efforts are to flow onto the screen or canvas. It is the job of every student to think and write an artistic statement and with every subject including art, each assignment should begin with discussion and a clear idea for approach. In the Visual Arts, it is referred to as an Artistic Intention. Even the Abstract or non-representation piece begins with an idea, regardless of how complex, that somehow bounces out of the mind and into our visual world. Very recently I approached a few students from the MYP3 class, and asked them questions related to Creativity. Akshat, Anjali, MyungChan, and Prithika had much to share and plenty of thoughtful words that will make you think. At the start of one MYP3 single art lesson I asked, “Raise hand if you often engage in the Visual Arts outside of school.” Immediately three hands shot up. Those enthusiastic hands were attached to MyungChan Kim, Prithika Rathi, Akshat Chattaraj, and Anjali Kumaran.
By Mr. Joseph w/Interviewees MyungChan Kim, Prithika Rathi, Akshat Chattaraj, and Anjali Kumaran.
