Creating a Visual Arts Classroom Centered Around Peace (Proposal Abstract) Jodi Tomboulian1, Dr. Alice Arnold, ED. D2* 1Graduate Student–East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA; Art Teacher—The Epiphany School of Global Studies, New Bern, North Carolina, USA 2 Professor of Art—East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
In today’s global society, students are constantly exposed to violent images on the television, through video games, music, magazines, newspaper articles, and the internet. Violence has become commonplace and seemingly accepted; war and conflict viewed as the norm (McMillan, 2015). One way to prepare students for their place in the global economy is to encourage them to investigate topics of global significance, such as the topic of peace (Jackson, p. 3). Throughout this session, we propose that a thematic approach, using the topic of peace, be included in the art curriculum. This session will explore global peace initiatives, share examples of student peace projects, and share an exchange project involving students of different cultures. In the first part of the presentation, we pose four essential questions: 1) What is peace? 2) Why should peace be included as an important theme in the art curriculum? 3) What projects can students do to express themselves concerning their thoughts on peace?4)How can students share their message of peace with others?In the second part, we explore the exchange of student work between diverse cultures centered on the theme of peace.In this exchange we pose the following questions: 1) What kind of places did the students identify as their special place of peace; how did this compare from one culture to the next?2) Did student perceptions of students from other cultures change? Many projects and programs will be presented using the theme of peace. Different options are shown that allow students to participate in peace initiatives and to share their work locally, nationally and internationally. Using peace as a platform for teaching art allows the integration of art history, world history, and current events, while teaching how to use traditional and contemporary methods of creating art. While addressing fundamental human concerns, such as the need for peace, students are given an opportunity to use their art work as an expressive tool--to the realization that their art work can make a powerful statement which could make a difference in the world. Examples of student work will be shared. It is important for students to consider and develop an inner peace before they can make a difference in their community, nation, or globally.It is equally important for students to understand the ideas and perceptions of students from other cultures.The study/exchange project that my students are participating in brings together youth from different countries to communicate ideas, to share and attempt to understand other ways of thinking. Students experience, through writings and visual art works, other perceptions/definitions of peace and messages of peace from diverse cultures.