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In my classroom, I strive to create a supportive environment where we actively question, experiment,explore and creatively play with ideas and materials.
We focus on a central concept, enduring thoughts, or Big Ideas through making work, lectures, class discussions, and gallery visits. Big Ideas are complex, ambiguous, and contradictory in nature, such as Freedom and Social Change, Heroes and Leaders, Humans and the Environment, and Identity. We incorporate essential questions into each lesson, sparking dialogue and debate to help students connect with the Big Ideas woven through each project, reading, and lecture. These questions encourage further inquiry and new knowledge and include: What factors shape our values and beliefs? What is art and its function in our lives? How do our personal experiences shape our view of others?
My goal for learners is to develop confidence in creating meaningful works of art rooted in a personal connection. Furthermore, through their experiences in my classroom, I aim for each learner to embrace challenges that foster a growth mindset of curiosity and invention, strengthening their capacity to become cultural producers, community builders, and innovators.
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Gallery show of student work
Zak Ponewash
bas-relief, carved from alder wood
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