Future College Students Explore New Approaches to Art
Bellevue University provides unique educational programs by integrating real-world experiences that students can apply to their lives and careers. An innovative new program, the Summer Interdisciplinary Arts Workshop, gave junior high students a taste of what this could like for them in the future.
Over the course of three days earlier this year, the students learned about the creative process, the importance of exploring unconventional materials and methods, research methods, and building a critique.
Evaluating the Growth of Digital Mediums
During the workshop, Creative Arts Program Director David Thomas worked hands-on with the students. They examined various materials to determine if the use of digital media is an adequate cultural substitute for printed matter.
They worked with cement, pulped paper, and dried chive stalks, and thought outside the status quo to develop a booklet detailing their findings. They even constructed their own paper out of pulp.
“I really loved that we used stuff that I don't think of as ‘art material’ and gave them a new purpose,” said workshop participant Aubrey Ashby. “It was really cool to see all the different stuff that Professor David brought in for us to use.”
The students found that working with the print mediums gave them a freedom that digital mediums cannot, because art can look and feel like anything.
“I enjoyed learning new techniques for art and exploring my interests,” said workshop participant Rayne Goracke. “My favorite project was the printmaking for our book, though, because I like making an abstract piece with meaning behind it. I also liked being able to be messy with it and not being worried about the final product looking bad.”
Applying Lessons to Real Life
The workshop gave students the chance to learn lessons that will help them in life and possibly in future careers.
“The workshop was a fun opportunity to learn more about how there is art in everything,” Ashby said. “I didn't know what to expect when I started...and I didn't know that I would be making concrete blocks and using power tools to cut forms, but it was fun to do it and see how real artists do things like that.”