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Joseph Mayer Rice: Art and Humanity
In 1892, Joseph Mayer Rice, a German pediatrician and scholar of pedagogy, spent five months studying American schools. He found the majority of instruction to be rigid and limiting, however, a school in Indianapolis took a different approach: teachers gave students watercolors and a flower, and told them to create a painting and a story. Their works were original, and reflected successful interdisciplinary learning. Rice championed this approach as a way to create more humane schools. -
James Hall, With Brush and Pen
In 1897, James Hall (1869-1917), published his book ‘With Brush and Pen: A Manual of the Newer and More Artistic Phases of Public School Art Instruction’. It delved into his theories on art education, with an emphasis on encouraging individuality and freedom of expression. He also stated students ought be working with brushes and paint as opposed to pencil. Hall is also known for using rectangular frames from cut paper, as well as for establishing a framework for critiques in the classroom. -
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Changing Ideas towards Art Education at the beginning of the 20th Century
The beginning of the twentieth century was marked by a shift away from technical art instruction. Instead, there was an embrace of artistic self expression, with teaching philosophies reflecting ideals of modern art and tenets of progressive social reform. As art educators shifted away from rote learning and towards the international art world, concepts from the progressive movement were evident; there was a greater focus on creating community and emphasis on cultural expression. -
The Greek Painters’ Art: Irene Weir
Irene Weir (1863-1944) was an artist and educator. She emphasized the importance for art educators to make their own work, and was a major proponent for continuing education- she served as Director for multiple art institutions of higher learning. She also encouraged students to draw figures from life, and started to utilize psychology in art education. https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/weir-irene-1862-1944 -
291 Fifth Avenue, Children’s Exhibition
In the spring of 1912, Alfred Steiglitz, prominent NYC gallery owner and promoter of the avant garde, hosted the first critical exhibition of children’s work. He believed children’s innate ability to make art lay in their naivety and ease of natural expression. Didactic, restrictive methods, he argued, didn’t create artists. Works were collected from children ages 2-12, and were presented in the same manner as renowned artists. Additional children’s shows were hosted in 1914 and 1916. -
First Exhibition of Finger Painting, Ruth Faison Shaw
Ruth Faison Shaw (1889-1969) created finger painting in 1931 while running the Roman School for English Speaking Children in Italy. A student cut his finger, and went to the bathroom to put iodine on it. When he failed to return, Faison Shaw found him painting with the iodine on the bathroom walls. She had the school cook prepare a non toxic formula, and finger painting was born as a way for children to freely express themselves. First American exhibit of finger painting work in 1936. -
Establishment of National Committee on Art Education
In 1943 the National Committee on Art Education was established to create leadership standards and promote excellence in the visual arts. Victor D’Amico (1904-1987) assisted in creating the committee. As a teacher, he believed students needed to explore external environments for creative inspiration. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_D%27Amico -
Viktor Lowenfeld, Creation of American Doctoral Program of Art
Viktor Lowenfeld (1993-1960) was an Austrian born art educator that combined his backgrounds in art and child psychology to create a holistic approach to education. His teachings heavily influenced the 1950s, and emphasized the teacher as observer. He believed art education could help students adeptly adapt to social change, as well as increase their autonomy. He founded one of the first American Doctoral programs in Art Education in 1946. -
Publication of ‘The Artist in Each of Us’
Published in 1941, ‘The Artist in Each of Us’ explored Florence Cane’s (1882-1952) approach to art education. She was greatly influenced by the teachings of Jung, as well as her own experiences undergoing psychoanalysis. She combined child psychology with art education, encouraging students to create freely from imagination. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Cane
