What Art Teaches

“What we teach is not how to look or what to look for, but ultimately, the possibilities of what the experience of art may be.”

— Rika Burnham and Elliott Kai-Kee, authors of "Teaching in the Art Museum"

“What is going on in this work of art?” a Gallery Guide asks a group of 4th graders as they sit in front of a painting. 

“I see the monkeys are in a shelter,” a student answers. “They might be in a house,” another student adds. 

“What do you see that makes you say the monkeys are inside of a structure?” the Guide inquires. 

A flurry of responses comes from several eager students. “I see an opening on the side.” “I also noticed a shelf on the back wall.” “I see a flower pot—the kind of flower pot that people might have inside of their homes.”  

 “The different objects and elements in this space give you the idea that this might be an interior space,” the Gallery Guide summarizes. Then she prompts the students to continue to look, “What more can you find?” 

“I think the monkeys are a family,” a student comments. 

“What do you see that makes you say these monkeys are one family?” the Guide asks.  

Students share their observations and analyses. “The monkeys are all touching each other.” “They seem very comfortable together.” “I think the big monkey holding the little monkey could be the father.” “Maybe the one eating the leaf could be the mother, and the other two monkeys to the side are the brother and sister.”   

“Or maybe, the one that’s holding the baby is the mother,” offers one student, considering a different possibility. 

“This could be the father, mother, or even a grandparent that’s holding the baby monkey,” the Guide acknowledges, “And the fact that their bodies are right next to each other in this space—it tells you that this could be a family of monkeys.” 

When students come to the Frye, our Gallery Guides and educators engage them in conversation about artworks using open-ended questions. It’s a form of active learning which allows students to connect with the artwork on a personal level as they explore and investigate. Here is a selection of questions used at the Frye and how these questions support learning. 

What is going on in this work of art?  

During a guided yet open-ended discussion, children are encouraged to carefully look at a work of art and make connections with it without worrying about being right or wrong. Every perspective is valid because everyone brings a different set of knowledge and experiences. How one person relates to an artwork might be completely different than another person. Art provides an opportunity for the mind to wander and the imagination to roam. It helps us think outside of the box. 

What do you see that makes you say that?  

When children talk about an artwork in a safe group environment, they learn to listen and respond to one another. Students examine, consider, and evaluate the different ideas while citing visual evidence in the artwork. Experiencing and talking about art help students strengthen soft skills like creativity, communication, observation, and critical thinking in a facilitated setting. These skills not only support learning in other subject areas but also play a crucial role one’s ability to thrive in today’s workforce. Art teaches a lot more than technical skills or academic knowledge; it can serve as the vehicle for interdisciplinary learning. 

How does this painting make you feel? 

Art also often elicits an emotion from the viewer. In this case, as the students begin to spend time connecting with the artwork, this moment becomes a critical opportunity to build empathy and understanding. A facilitator might ask the students, “If you were the baby monkey, how might you feel being in this space with your family?” Our society today is more divided than ever. Art can help us better understand the feelings and experiences of others; it is a powerful tool to convey emotions and meaning between human beings.  

In recent months, art has once again demonstrated its power to uplift, to galvanize, and to remember. Access to the arts is integral to empowering the next generation. The goal of art education isn’t necessarily to train more art historians or artists. Rather, art education supports each child in a more holistic way of learning while cultivating 21st-century skills that are crucial to one’s success. Here are some simple ways of supporting your child with visual arts at home: 

• Have an open-ended discussion about a piece of art, a photograph, or an illustration with your child. Use these two questions to start your conversation: “What is going on in this picture?” and “What do you see that makes you say that?” 

• Allow your child easy access to basic art materials. These art materials can include, but are not limited to, pencils, crayons, paper, scissors, glue, tape, old magazines, and found objects. 

• Let your child practice photography using an old camera or cell phone. Turn on the camera grid if it’s available, and encourage your child to consider different ways of composing an image. 

• Create stop-motion animations using Stop Motion Studio, a free app that can be downloaded on a tablet or smartphone. Consider creating a story before developing the animations with found objects, clay, or paper puppets.  

• Encourage your child to identify different types of lines, shapes, colors, and textures in your surroundings. This can easily be incorporated into an “I Spy” game. 

• After reading a story or watching a movie, ask your child to create a drawing based on it.  

• When your child shares their artwork with you, encourage them to talk about it by asking open-ended questions like “What’s going on here? Tell me about it.”, “How did you come up with the idea?,” or “How did you create it?”  

• Make art with your child. Demonstrate what flexible thinking, curiosity, perseverance, and problem-solving look like.  

Art is part of our human experience. It is a means for us to make sense of the world even before a child learns to speak. As a parent, we hope that you see the importance of art in developing the whole child.  

National Arts in Education Week takes place annually during the week beginning with the second Sunday of September. This year, it falls on September 13 through 19 and marks the 10th anniversary. It’s a national celebration recognizing the transformative power of the arts in education. Passed by Congress in 2010 through House Resolution 275, the celebration is designated to bring attention to this cause for elected officials and educational decision makers across the country and to support equitable access to the arts for all students. We hope that you are able to celebrate this week and continue to advocate for and support the arts in schools. 

Lynn Chou
Manager, Youth & School Programs