Conceptual Art / Creativity: Divergent & Convergent Thinking

 



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I

 

Unit: Art

Theme: Conceptual Art

 

Introduction

 

 Most educational systems all over the world favor or sponsor academic subjects over the arts. This makes practically impossible for teachers to create a creative learning environment in which the arts could be used to teach reading, writing, math and science. However, conceptual art is a genre that allows teachers to expose children to a creative environment with no budget at all. The conceptual nature of conceptual art makes it also a great medium to expand an art lesson into an academic one.


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II

 

Learning Objectives

 

  • Understand the importance of creativity in the learning process 
  • Explain the meaning of conceptual art
  • Gain an awareness of the role that conceptual art can play in teaching other subjects
  • Experience the creation of a conceptual art  piece

 

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III

 

Main Lesson 

 

 

The Creative Process

 According to Huberman

Andrew D. Huberman is an American neuroscientist and tenured associate professor in the department of neurobiology and psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine. He has made contributions to the brain development, brain plasticity, and neural regeneration and repair fields.

In this video Dr. Huberman discusses cannabis (aka marijuana), including the biological mechanisms underlying its effects on the mind and body, its known medical applications, its impact on libido, creativity, hunger, hormones and more. We will focus on creativity since he explains the creative process from a scientific point of view. As the legal landscape for cannabis is rapidly evolving, this episode should interest a wide audience, including former/current cannabis users, those in the medical, sports, law enforcement, and educational communities and, of course, children, teenagers, and parents.

 

 (1:17:00 - 1:25:53)


Question 1

According to Dr. Huberman, what are the factors that make creativity possible?

 

EXAMPLES

 Elon Musk comments on the way his mind works


 (min 24:00 - 25:28)
 

Alma Deutscher, British music prodigy on sitting down and developing the melodies ...


(min 6:0 - 6:15)



2

 Do Schools Kill Creativity? 

Sir Kenneth Robinson 

 

 Sir Ken Robinson (1950 - 2020) was a British author, speaker and international advisor on education in the arts to government, non-profits, education and arts bodies. He was director of the Arts in Schools Project and Professor of Arts Education at the University of Warwick, and Professor Emeritus after leaving the university.

In this video, produced in 2007, Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining and profoundly moving case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity.

 

   https://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity

                                    Min. 3:45 - 6:12 /  8:50 - 9:34 /  11:20 - 12:46 / 15:10 - end 

 

Question 2

According to Robinson, why is creativity important in education?

 

 

 3

 

 Brainstorming: Developing Ideas about your own Creative Classroom


Question 3


Write a brief response about Robinson's talk on Discussion Board.

Discuss your response with the members of your group.

Share with the rest of the class the ideas discussed in your group

 

4

 

Conceptual Art


Conceptual art, also referred to as conceptualism, is art in which the concept or idea involved in the work take precedence over traditional aesthetic, technical, and material concerns.

 

 Question 4

Explain in your own words what is conceptual art.  How does it stimulate creativity?



5


Concept: Conceptual Art  
 
According to Sarah Urist Green
 
Sarah Urist Green is an American art museum curator, author, and creator and host of PBS Digital Studios program The Art Assignment. Green spent seven years curating exhibitions at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, and now freelances as a curator for other institutions.
 
The Art Assignment is an educational video series hosted by Sarah Urist Green. In the series she explores art and art history through the lens of things happening today. In the video below, Urist Green explains how, sometimes, art is paintings, and sometimes it's just a chair. Does, she introduces the concept of  "Conceptual Art," where the idea is more important than the form.





 Question 5

In minute 1:47 - 2:00, the video shows a quote by Sol LeWitt. Explain in your own words what is the main aspect of conceptual art that makes it ideal for teaching and learning?



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 IV
 
A Note to Remember
 
Creativity is an important aspect of learning any subject. The arts are a great medium to stimulate creativity in the classroom. A very affordable way of creating learning projects is using a conceptual art piece. Conceptual art or conceptualism, is art in which the concept or idea involved in the work take precedence over traditional aesthetic, technical, and material concerns. Its conceptual nature allows teachers to design instruction that can include other subjects as well.
 
 
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V
 
Case Study 
 
Julie Tamashiro 
 

As an educator Julie Tamashiro presents her students with different art experiences, cultivating art appreciation. She has found that exposing children to art at an early age is more meaningful, inspiring confidence while their minds and attitudes are still in the initial stages of development.  Julie believes that a huge opportunity exists at this stage, and hopes to inspire the adults of tomorrow to be fearless, take risks, and live out loud.

For over 15 years, Tamashiro has been a multiple-subject elementary school teacher.  From Title 1 to the nation's highest performing schools, Tamashiro has taught every grade level in settings that represent the diversity of our public education system.  Throughout her career, art has been the framework used to facilitate various learning experiences in her classroom.  Her art curriculum has motivated students to tap into their creativity, challenge self-limiting beliefs, problem solve, and express themselves in extraordinary ways.  Through the process of creating their own artwork, her students have learned to find their individual voices and have focus, determination, and courage.

Tamashiro currently teaches at Tulita Elementary School in the Redondo Beach Unified School District. She earned her BA from the University of California, Irvine. She resides in Redondo Beach, CA with her husband and two children. She comes from a family of public educators with her mother, Charlotte, being the most influential of all.

During the 2012-2013 school year, Tamashiro and her students were the subject of the inspiring documentary, Room 19. The documentary followed the students on a journey of learning through art, and captured their unique personal transformations as they moved beyond their own expectations. It has won Best Documentary Short - El Dorado Film Festival, 2014 and Uplifting Short Film Award, Awareness Film Festival, 2014 and also been nominated for Best Documentary Short, The Short Film Awards, 2014 and Best Documentary Short, The Short Film Awards, 2014.

 



 
 
 Question 6

In this video J. Tamashiro shares with the audience her teaching goals. Based on hr own testimony, what goals make Tamashiro's class a safe and creative learning environment?


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VI


Activity
 
Conceptual Art
 
  • Gather with your groups.
  • Use the chairs in the classroom to re-arrange them in a way that changes the perception of the class.
  • Look at it and find the meaning of it.
  • Write a short synopsis of what it means.
  • Give it a title
  • Take a picture or several pictures of your conceptual art piece.
  • Post your pictures, your title and your synopsis on Discussion Board. 
 
 
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VII
 
Glossary 
 
  • dopamine: a chemical released in the brain that makes you feel good. Having the right amount of dopamine is important both for your body and your brain. Dopamine helps nerve cells to send messages to each other
  • convergent thinking: It focuses on reaching one well-defined solution to a problem. This type of thinking is best suited for tasks that involve logic as opposed to creativity, such as answering multiple-choice tests or solving a problem where you know there are no other possible solutions.
  • divergent thinkinga thought process or method used to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions. It typically occurs in a spontaneous, free-flowing, "non-linear" manner, such that many ideas are generated in an emergent cognitive fashion.
  • creativitythe use of the imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work.
  • conceptual art: art for which the idea (or concept) behind the work is more important than the finished art object. It emerged as an art movement in the 1960s and the term usually refers to art made from the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s.
 
 
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VIII 
 
Sources
 
  1. Creativity takes courage -- art In the classroom | Julie Tamashiro | TEDxRedondoBeach. https://youtu.be/omE7qaLzA70
  2. Do schools kill creativity? | Sir Ken Robinson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY

  3. The Case for Conceptual Art. https://youtu.be/VHLs76HLon4

  4. The Effects of Cannabis (Marijuana) on the Brain & Body | Huberman Lab Podcast #92 https://youtu.be/gXvuJu1kt48


 

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IX

 
Students' Work from Fall / 2023
Due to MLK's Day we could not do this activity
 
 
1
 
 Tips on Creating a Safe Classroom
 
  • To continue to keep having a positive outlook and joyful appearance with students. 
  • Once a teacher loses it with a class or student, it takes a long time to rebuild that feeling of safety and trust within those four walls. 
  • Step right outside the door and take a few breaths. It's worth it. Learning doesn't have to always be so serious, nor do we. 
  • The antiquated saying in the teaching profession is wait until Christmas to smile. This is just plain silly. Let the children see those pearly whites often and genuinely. The more smiles we offer to students, the more we will receive. Sometimes, when tensions are high, like during testing or when crazy things are happening out in the world or on campus, we need to laugh together. It's okay.

On Creativity
 
 The process of creativity consists of divergent and convergent thinking, dopamine levels in the brain correlate to these thinking processes. 

Installation Piece

Trapped
 
Alexander Hurtado, Brady Wisdom, Hannah Scherer, Mia Romanach, Carolina Garcia
 
This piece emulates how students are kept in a controlled environment in the school system and are expected to do things in a specific and uniform way. 
 
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2
 

 Tips on Creating a Safe Classroom
 

Take every opportunity to model kindness. Why? Everybody will feel comfortable having an open classroom and you never know what your students or other classmates can be going through so partaking in random acts of kindness can build a safe environment.

 On Creativity

 Divergent thinking is more dopamine related and has array of ideas bouncing off the walls, whereas convergent thinking is more about organizing your ideas more specifically.
 
 Installation Piece
 

 Unity
 
 Nick Robert, Julian Hernadez, Gabriel Gutierrez, Chloe Latessa, Nicole Tortora, Paul Djobet
 
Our piece reflects our motto "together all as one." 
 

 
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Tips on Creating a Safe Classroom
 
 
 Our group thinks that the most important tip for creating a safe environment is to maintain mutual respect between students and teachers. Creating mutual respect will make a safe and comforting environment for the student to be a part of. It will also help the students feel more inclined to participate and be open to learning new material if the student feels respected by their teacher.
 
Installation Piece
 

Centipede Chair

Connor Walsh, Tyler Egan, Rita Grinfeder, Spencer Lidov, Gage Ziehl, Kitty Dowd

Our piece shows the impact of distractions in the classroom.  The focal point of the structure is the centipede on the top chair, even though the creature is miniature in comparison to the size of the chairs.  Distractions, despite the size, can be fatal in a classroom environment.

 

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4

 

 Tips on Creating a Safe Classroom

We think that the most important rule to follow in a classroom is to "use every opportunity to model patience" in the classroom. Having patience can contribute to a more positive and supportive classroom environment. If your students feel like you are giving them the space and time to really grow and learn then they will be more willing to engage in your class. Showcasing patience is the most important rule to set as an educator. To maximize creativity within the classroom, it is important that the students work in a positive environment so that they are happy, but at the same time the teacher must have control.

 

 Installation Piece


 Building Minds

 Antonio Jimenez, Renzo Gonzalez, Michael McLaughlin, Joe Kennedy, and Edua Atu

Our piece represents how when we put our powers of creativity together, we can build strong stable pieces (such as the chairs stacked).

 

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5

 

 Tips on Creating a Safe Classroom


 Keep the vibes good, get to know your students, and sit with your students and build relationships with them.

  On Creativity

Creativity is both convergent and divergent thinking and the right amount of dopamine (the sweet spot) brings you to divergent thinking which is the next step from convergent thinking.

 

 Installation Piece

 
 
The Bridge
 
Olivia Conti, Sydney Hausman, Martina Negro, and Sofia Garcia
 
This piece shows how the classroom is all connected and how it should have a strong foundation. 



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6


Tips on Creating a Safe Classroom
 

Become a friend with the student:- Connecting with the student, being one with the student through relating. Understanding the students background, needs, etc.

 

 On Creativity

Creativity is split into two types, convergent and divergent ; Convergent is bound by ideas, bringing them together, while divergent is without bounds and creativity which you need more dopamine for.

 

Installation Piece
 

Logging Off

Nour Abduljawad, Natasha Pokrajac, Alejandro Barriga , Jason Egre, Vivica Dunlap

 

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