Contemporary Art in the Studio: Educational Applications in Kindergarten
Course Code (in greek): ΚΤ0107
ECTS Units: 5
Semester: 5
Professor: Letsiou Maria
Course Description
This studio art class focuses on creative expression, with the main objective being the experiential exploration in the field of visual arts. The goal is to develop students’ creative and research skills, as well as familiarize them with the design and implementation of art programs for early childhood education. The course examines concepts from contemporary art and artistic creation that emerged after the 1970s and 1980s. Contemporary art differs from modern art in many aspects, including contemporary theoretical approaches to the interpretation of visual arts. Students are introduced to contemporary art practices, which include multisensory artistic experiences (interdisciplinary art), the use of digital media, and community involvement in the creation of artwork (e.g., community-based art—socially engaged art and art interventions). This course seeks to examine the coexistence of digital and traditional artistic media with social engagement and community participation. Students create works using both digital media (video, sound art, digital forms) and traditional materials (ceramics, painting, constructions, collage, clay, plaster, wood, soap) and apply various processes to highlight the conceptual dimensions of their work. Additionally, they implement creative strategies from contemporary art to better understand the artistic thinking of modern artists.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students are expected to:
– Understand the diverse parameters of contemporary art and artistic thinking.
– Use creative tools such as conceptual maps and visual journals in art research.
– Practice generating original creative ideas for problem-solving.
– Develop personal skills in the use of materials, techniques, and artistic processes, both traditional and new technological media, in visual works and artifacts.
– Apply creative strategies from contemporary art (e.g., visual metaphor) in their artwork to understand topics and generate meaning.
– Familiarize themselves with organizing and presenting multisensory, participatory visual projects for preschool settings.
– Reflect critically and evaluate artworks (studio critique).
Assessment:
Regarding course assessment, the process includes:
A) Informal Formative Assessment: Throughout the semester, students are assessed on their abilities and skills in handling artistic processes.
B) Summative Assessment: At the end of the semester, students present their visual artworks and group art projects. Their overall presentation and reflective and critical abilities regarding their work are evaluated.
Attendance is mandatory, and during classes, students experiment with materials, techniques, and artistic processes to create visual works.
Further information (e.g., assessment methods) and course materials are available online on the course platform at https://eclass.uth.gr/main/login_form.php?next=%2Fcourses%2FECE_U_300%2F.
