Reviews the work of neurobiologist, David Marr, concerning artistic ability and autism. Summarizes Marr's theory of perceptual vision illuminating the relationships among object, observer, perceptual process, and image. Briefly reviews the cases of four autistic people with extraordinary drawing skills. (MJP)

Describes a class project that combines Native American culture, art skills, and cooperative learning. The project involves assigned readings on the history and purpose of the totem pole. Students are then given a set of visuals and work in small groups constructing their own totem poles. (MJP)

Presents an interview with Dr. William R. Detmers, an exhibiting artist and teacher for over 30 years. Dr. Detmers discusses the changing conceptions of both the forms and purposes of art, his own artworks, and the symbiotic relationship between exhibiting and teaching. (MJP)

Explores the value of teaching art criticism and aesthetics to young children. Maintains that critical aesthetic experience reinforces such experiences in art production. Outlines seven methods to develop aesthetic language and shows how art criticism and aesthetics can be used by visiting a gallery or museum. (KM)

Analyzes the research strategies, stimuli, subjects, statistical strategies, and relative variables in 34 empirical studies on children's representation of three-dimensional objects. The studies fell into three categories: children's representation of spatial relationships within an object, between two objects, and studies that included both. (MJP)

This report summarizes and analyzes the impact of a collaborative project joining Conestoga Valley Middle School and Millersville University (Pennsylvania). The project, part of the Keystone Integrated Framework Project, promoted partnerships between local schools and teacher education programs in Pennsylvania. This project was a 7-week, role…

The Ketchikan Mural Project was a community supported program funded in part through CETA, Title III, Summer Program for Economically Disadvantaged Youth. The 120' by 70' mural, located on the Ketchikan Community College campus, is called "Return of the Eagle" or "Return of Supernatural Powers." It was executed by muralist Don…

Studies indicate that arts education improves math learning in early elementary years, promotes significant cognitive gains, supports discovery, and builds knowledge. This conference paper indicates the importance of the arts in early education curriculum and provides an innovative way for teachers to bring constructivism into the classroom. It…

Examines the complex interactive set of conditions that influence artistic production and frame the way interpretations are constructed. Uses a software system to index qualitative material (interview transcripts, field notes, reviews, and commentary) and analyzes this material in terms of emerging themes. Includes comments from the artists. (MJP)

Provides a series of instructional activities and material concerning African art. Includes four color plates of African artwork. Accompanying materials include cultural, historical background information on each piece, as well as, learning activities. Artwork is from Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, and Zaire. (MJP)

This study focuses on behavior associated with young art students' developing artistic talent ("skills and art-making behavior") and creativity ("personal expressions of visual information"). The study examines the role of personal expertise in a student's development of problem finding, domain-specific technical skill,…

THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSION IN CHILDREN FROM MANY COUNTRIES IS TRACED AND ILLUSTRATED. AFTER THE NATURAL DEVELOPMENT OF VISUAL EXPRESSION IN CHILDREN IS REVIEWED, THE FOLLOWING TOPICS ARE CONSIDERED--INDIVIDUAL AND CULTURAL ASPECTS, SUBJECTS AND THEIR REPRESENTATION IN CHILDREN'S ART, SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF ART DEVELOPMENT, AND THE…

Art instruction aims to raise the standard of taste. It includes instruction in seeing and interpreting the beautiful in nature and the arts, in drawing, both free-hand and instrumental, in designing, coloring, and modeling, in manipulating paper, cloth, leather, wood, metal, or other materials, to produce a result having elements of beauty. Art…

The curriculum guide is designed to help high school art teachers develop a course of instruction to enhance student understanding and knowledge of 20th century art and architecture. A major objective of the course is to develop student ability to recognize, compare, and analyze style, form, and expressive content as a means of achieving greater…

This final report describes the activities and outcomes of a 3-year Expressive Arts Outreach project at Western Illinois University to integrate and replicate the Expressive Arts (EA) model based on developmentally appropriate experiences in the expressive arts, with an emphasis on visual arts, into early childhood programs for children (ages 3-8)…