ArtQuest Photography

Welcome and Welcome back!

ArtQuest Photography 2021-22 School Year!

Dear Parents and Students,

Welcome (& welcome back) to school and to the SRHS ArtQuest Photography program.

I’m John Sappington and I am the AQ PhotographyTeacher for the 2021-22 school year. - this is my 5th year in the program. I am an artist and educator working primarily in photography and digital media. I graduated with a Bachelors Degree of Fine Arts in Photography from the Kansas City Art Institute and a Masters Degree of Fine Arts in Photography from the San Francisco Art Institute. I hold a California Teaching Credential to teach Art/Digital Media for K-12 as well as a Career Technical Credential in Art, Media and Entertainment. I have 25-30 years teaching experience at the College Level and this will be my 10th year teaching here in ARTQUEST! I came into the program to teach Digital Art in 2011 and they’ve yet to get rid me. My own art work within photography and image making draws from a range of diverse influences including photo history, conceptual art, performance art, film, politics, semiotics, linguistics and sociology. I have worked as a journalist, photographer, artist, educator, curator and computer specialist over the course of my professional career. I am a proud father of two children, Stella and Hugo and we live in Sebastopol. More information regarding my activities as an artist and educator, as well as my portfolio and a formal resume are available via my website https://www.basearts.com/

AQ Theme for 2021-22 is “Brave enough to be it…”

As a cohesive programmatic theme this year we will work with concepts resulting from current socio-cultural events, protests, actions, activities and concerns “Brave enough to be it…” calls on all student artists to take a stand and make art to affect positive change in our world. Without bias or predisposed positions, we will take a look at the human impact on Climate and Culture, investigate contemporary aesthetics and contemporary definitions of the arts role in Activism and Politics, engage in Personal Storytelling and Commercial Graphics.

AQ uses a theme each year to connect the various arts and core-related classes and to create an overarching artistic dialogue throughout the program regarding shared topics, cultural conditions, situations and ideas, some relevant to a particular time or context, some focused on a specific performing or visual art work, some humorously thoughtful about the human condition, and some a serious investigations of political or social issues. Interpreted in a wide array by teachers and students, through projects, events, other activities the outcomes generated have been delightfully surprising. Past AQ themes: Question, Disrupt, Create, Change (2021),From the Inside/Out (2019), Objects In The Mirror Are Closer than They Appear (2018).

IMPORTANT FALL DATES:

• Back to School Night - Thursday, September 9th, 6:30-9pm

• Fall Showcase - Thursday, October 7th, Time TBD “ArtQuest 28th Annual Fall Showcase of Programs”, beginning at 6:30 pm in the Auditorium. This is an evening for prospective students and families, to find out more about the opportunities ArtQuest has to offer, as well as current ArtQuest families to learn more about the program. Please plan to attend and also help us spread the word. Early application is highly recommended due to limited space.

• October TBD to November TBD , “Shadowing”, ArtQuest offers students interested in the ArtQuest program the opportunity to "Shadow" a specialty for a day. Shadowing is by appointment only. Call (707) 535-4842 for more information and to schedule your student. Monday through Thursday.

ArtQuest Application Deadline for Fall 2023 Entry Priority Deadline is TBD

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Parents/Guardians are welcome to call or email me with any questions or concerns.

John Sappington: jsappington@srcs.k12.ca.us, 707-332-0987

Overview

Photography has been the most powerful visual art medium and form of communication since the mid19th century. The purpose of this program is to develop an expressive visual language utilizing the medium of photography and to explore the ways in which photography has impacted our culture, our histories and our personal lives. Questions about what photographs do will be explored as well as how we can make photographs and art that will impact our communities and effect positive change in our worlds. Challenges and assignments are structured to develop a personal vision and to build a working knowledge of photographic materials and methods.

The four artistic processes of the California Visual Art Standards are an integral part of the photography curriculum. The visual arts standards describe expectations for learning in the visual arts regardless of style or genre. The standards impart the breadth and depth of the visual art experience through the art-making process. The standards serve as an impetus for arts educators and administrators to inspire, support, and develop their students in the many facets of visual arts so they are prepared for a lifelong appreciation, understanding, engagement and, if pursued, additional study towards a career in visual arts.

Like the other disciplines, the four artistic processes of visual arts (creating, presenting, responding, and connecting) are addressed linearly in written standards, but are envisioned to occur simultaneously for students in the actual practice of making, viewing and responding to visual art. The concepts embedded in the standards reflect the scope of learning—the knowledge, skills, and understandings—taught through study of the visual arts. An artist imagines, executes, reflects, and refines work before finally completing a personal work (creating), shares or displays the work (presenting), reflects on the completed work (responding), and connects the experience to other contexts of meaning or knowledge or their lives (connecting). Students engaging in the artistic process learn by solving problems, exhibiting their work, and thinking critically about it. They then, continue the process by relating to other ideas, contexts, and meanings, as they define, refine and construct their future work and world view.

Development of content (message or concept), artistic vision and style, critical thinking, judgment skills and technical understanding will all be emphasized. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to meet local fine art and commercial artists, photographers, performers and writers and to interact with, and learn more about the arts as a course of study, life practice or profession. ArtQuest Photography classes will incorporate the visual arts standards at all levels.

It is assumed that students who have applied and have been accepted to the Photography program have a deep interest in Art and Photography.

We will look at art in various forms and from many cultures. We will study and engage with elements and principles of art. We will develop and refine skills utilizing a variety of computer software. We will make artworks on paper and for the screen. We will discuss and make artwork in response to historical and contemporary cultural issues as well as artwork addressing more personal concerns. We will investigate the inter-relationships of art and technology as well as the relationship of art to other aspects of contemporary culture and our world.

2020-21
Question • Disrupt • Create • Change,

a call to action for artist activists.

As a cohesive programmatic theme this year, we have worked with concepts resulting from current socio-cultural events, protests, actions, activities and concerns bubbling up throughout the American Culture. Question • Disrupt • Create • Change is both a call to action for all artists and encapsulates the artistic process we all engage in when making art. AQ uses a theme each year to connect the various arts and core-related classes and to create an overarching artistic dialogue throughout the program regarding shared topics, cultural conditions, situations and ideas, some relevant to a particular time or context, some focused on a specific performing or visual art work, some humorously thoughtful about the human condition, and some a serious investigation of political or social issues. Interpreted in a wide array by teachers and students, through projects, events, and other activities the outcomes generated have been delightfully surprising. Past AQ themes have been: From the Inside/Out…, Objects In The Mirror Are Closer than They Appear, And Still We Rise…, Its not about the Destination, its about the Journey (2015-16), The Other (94-95), The Coexistence of Order & Chaos (95-96), No Theme ? (aka It’s a Mystery!) (96-97), What is Real? Is it Real? (97-98) etc…

We are all called to stand up and contribute to
Question • Disrupt • Create & Change

Spring Showcase 2021 Highlights!

Artsteps Virtual Reality Exhibition - Beginning Level

Artsteps Virtual Reality Exhibition - Intermediate Level

Artsteps Virtual Reality Exhibition - Advanced Level

Individual Portfolios, Coursework and Independent Projects by level

Beginning

Intermediate

Advanced