"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once s/he grows up." --Pablo Picasso

To teach children appreciation and history has been something of a bete noire in art education. We all have our own unspectacular memories of a university art history course; a monotonous voice in a darkened room, mercilessly recounting names and dates to the drone of a projector.  This introduction can be disastrous, particularly for young learners.

Art education can be integrated into both the secular and Judaic programs-and is.  It is one thing to be told about Egyptian painting and sarcophagus; quite another to paint it yourself! We make friends with art history through slides, reproductions, children’s books, guest artists’ lively discussion as well as doing or ‘making art’.

Art is not graded per se, but the effort and enthusiasm with which students participate is examined.  After we’ve become ‘art smart’ after seven years in Talmud Torah, we’ll know quite a bit about art first hand and will say with confidence, “We know what we like, and we like what we know.”  With this comes the invitation to a lifelong membership and enjoyment of art.  From the compelling art of the Stone Age, to the delicate water lilies of Monet and the Impressionists; from Christo wrapping buildings to the grace and strength of Georgia O’Keefe; from contemporary and traditional First Nation’s artists to the Greek carotids, the past is there. The more we investigate our history, the greater are our chances to contributing to it.

Colette Leisen is our Art Specialist for Grades 1-7.