I strongly believe in the potential of the art experience to develop new perspectives and improve methodologies for capturing the wider societal value of culture in contemporary societies. By stressing these principles my teaching emphasizes the role of art as social action affecting people across cultures and professional arenas. I highly value the importance of critical art education centered around a more socially engaged and dialogic scholarly work and art practices conversant about publics and community spaces. I also believe that collaboration in the classroom is an essential part of the learning process because it provides an atmosphere for the encounter of subjective responses to life experience and intellectual ideas where art becomes a place to understand the world.

Contemporary Art in Latin American

This course critically examines both historic and theoretical issues in art and visual culture of contemporary Latin America. It addresses the role of art in the development of cultural identities in different Latin American countries within social, cultural and intellectual contexts. It also considers the diversity of Latin American cultural production, looking at art practices that involve the social and ideological representations of race, ethnicity, class and gender, revolutionary upheaval, and a colonial past. Relevant issues of nationalism, colonialism, and globalization are also considered. The class is taught in a combined lecture and discussion format, and will consider a wide variety of Latin American artistic production— photography, sculpture, prints, painting, manifestos, magazines, performances, exhibitions and ephemera from the last three decades of the twentieth century up to now—with an special focus on new technologies and global changes that determine how artworks can define, challenge, or help shape Latin American history.

See Latin American Art sample syllabi below

Printmaking

Printmaking I is an introductory course focusing on the basics of relief, screen-printing, and intaglio printmaking techniques, the terminology, and a brief history of these processes. Strong concepts along with a personal exploration of images are a necessary component to good prints. Students will learn about how process is integral to making and developing visual ideas. Printmaking combines both methodological precision with expansive spontaneity and creativity. Research and sketches for both technical and conceptual development are required. Students taking this course can expect a brief overview to the history of each of the processes, and demonstrations as to the technical options for creating and printing an image with the various materials.

See Printmaking sample syllabi below

Studio Art (Drawing, Painting, Advanced Studio)

This course is an introduction to the basic fundamentals of visual thinking and percetual understanding through drawing. Through a series of projects, students acquire a working understanding of single and two-point perspective, compositions, the use of tonal contrast, and the editing process necessary for clear visual communication. Beginning with basic concepts and processes involved in responding objectively to observe subject matter, projects progress to cover compositional and subjective issues. Basic principles and elements of art are explored as methodological strategies for students to experience drawing both as analytical tool and as an expressive language. Media used include graphite, vine and compressed charcoal, and ink. Work is discussed in weekly group critiques. Students are required to work on their studio projects one hour outside the class for every hour scheduled in class. Course fee required.

See Studio Art sample syllabi below