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The most valuable lesson that an art student can learn is to pursue
their own art, defining and refining ideas while developing the material
skills and craft necessary to execute them. Curiosity and confidence
in ideas and process combined with a critical awareness of the context
within which the work operates, enables students to engage in continuous
examination of their world. I attempt to create a challenging but
supportive atmosphere in class. My teaching combines encouragement
of exploration with providing students the conceptual and technical
tools they will need to produce, understand, and improve their work.
I structure my classes in a manner that encourages dialogue in the
context of teaching students necessary formal and critical skills.
In introductory classes, I place a strong emphasis on exposing students
to a range of skills and techniques involved in constructing their
work. For example the first two assignments in my introduction to
three-dimensional intermedia are designed to familiarize the students
with the wood and metal shops. These exercises are complete with demonstrations
of tool usage and shop safety. My goal is not to produce technical
virtuosos but rather to provide the students with enough skills to
begin making work that merits critical discussion. Simultaneously
I introduce other artists and their work and a range of contemporary
ideas through video screenings and slide presentations. In my advanced
classes I expect the students to work more independently. I encourage
students to express themselves as individuals or in collaborative
efforts and to address issues that deeply concern them.
It is essential that students develop critical skills and abilities
to assess their own and others’ art in conjunction with their
production. Reading and understanding art history, theory, philosophy
and other artists’ writings while examining existing art cultivates
critical awareness. I assign readings in all of my classes. I also
incorporate regular individual and group critiques that further
develop the students’ understanding of their own and others
work. I strongly encourage students to participate in these critiques
in order to develop their conceptual skills and the ability to clearly
articulate their ideas. I encourage them to take advantage of as
many exhibition opportunities as possible in order to experience
the challenges and satisfactions that exhibiting brings. My students
regularly exhibit their work at UCSC in the quarterly Open Studios
event, in the annual Irwin Award exhibition and the solo Senior
exhibits. A number of them have gone on to graduate programs at
Yale, Hunter, Cal Arts and Rutgers to continue their art studies
and practice. Others are now practicing artists.
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