Objects of material culture have meaning. American flags, worktables, bulletin boards, interactive whiteboards, and large white-faced clocks signify "classroom" while color wheels, cupboards, cabinets, sinks, drawing supplies, and that particular scent that lingers after years of exposure to painting materials even more specifically…

Public art takes many forms, including commemorative sculptures, site-specific works, and collaborative murals. Additionally, public art can beautify an urban environment or raise awareness of social issues. Public works of art are a form of discourse and open conversations and dialogue, helping communities work toward unity and empowerment. Using…

Provides a lesson to familiarize students in grades four-six with the many ways that artists use the technique of collage. Students observe and discuss ways artists make use of materials other than paint on canvas. Examines how the introduction of foreign materials to a surface affects the illusion of space. (LS)

Discussed is how an "art/ad bag"--a collection of materials provided by art publishers and other products packaged for distribution to conference registrants--can help offset the costs of conferences, provide a professional service to suppliers of art materials, and serve the membership of any state art education association. (RM)

Claims that domestic art or hiddenstream art is not referred to in the art classroom because art teachers have difficulty locating resources. Identifies sources for print and nonprint textiles ranging from local community activities to museum collections. Lists resources for Navajo weaving, African-American quilting, and Amish quilting. (KM)

Describes how a teacher can motivate students to be creative by dressing up, performing for them, hiding things, and designing visual experiments. Advocates that art teachers demonstrate that art class is a playful and exciting place to be. Suggests methods to encourage teachers and students to perform. (KM)

Utilizes a 17th-century Italian sculpture and an African fetish figure to illustrate essential qualities and characteristics of figurative sculpture. Points out the extreme differences and the many similarities between the two and offers explanations. Includes a process for leading students through "reading" the sculptures. (MJP)

Examines the nature and future of computer graphics as an art form. Characterizes four basic beliefs about art and considers their relevance to computer graphics. Discusses the special qualities of computer graphics and how they can enrich art instruction. (MJP)

Describes recent educational history in relation to financial support for art education. Provides suggestions for acquiring art materials, teacher training workshops, and other funding sources. Encourages membership in professional associations and political activism to improve funding prospects for art education. (CFR)

Examines how a discipline-based approach to multicultural art augments multicultural education. Focuses on Native American arts. Illustrates how symbols, colors, natural materials, and methods differ among tribes. Suggests teaching activities, including focusing on a particular artist to raise specific questions about specific symbols. Profiles…

Contends that art supplies can be obtained from discarded materials in the school, items from home, and other places. Maintains that students' creative supplies are what they save, what they wish for, and what they play with. Presents suggestions for creating art education supplies from a variety of everyday items. (CFR)

Describes an art project that constructed a realistic model of a frozen prehistoric cadaver including its clothing and tool kit. Originally conceived as a way to introduce students to art materials, ancient history, and different cultures, the project grew to include a traveling exhibit and instructional puppet shows. (MJP)

Provides an introduction and overview of installation art. Installation art challenges the accepted notion of passive viewing and comments on concepts concerning art and the environment by creating spatial environments using natural materials. Describes several student installation art projects and the issues raised by this approach. (MJP)

Discusses the dilemmas posed by limited financial support for art education programs. Recommends four strategies for dealing with these problems. Suggests that discipline-based art education, which includes lessons on art criticism and art history, can be employed to provide quality art education. (CFR)

Recommends asking a basic question "What am I trying to teach?" when considering the use and adaptation of computers in art classes. Suggests testing a system to ascertain possibilities, limitations, and particular characteristics. Maintains that computer art is often simply a starting point for other projects. (MJP)