Connecting the Adult Learner through the Arts Alice Lai Center for Distance Learning, SUNY Empire State College

Issues and development in the field of Art Education A modernist’s art for art’s sake approach: emphasis in the learning of traditional forms of art, art’s formal quality, and individual expression. Visual Culture Art Education movement: emphasis in a broad range of forms of art and art’s connection to life-centered, social issues and popular culture. A postmodern, critical Multiculturalist approach: recognizing that gender, race, ethnicity, language, sexual orientations, social classes and cultural characteristics are a critical part of the knowledge construction processes.

Teaching about diversity through the arts Representation of Women in The Visual Arts: A learning unit meant to inspire the adult learner to examine the worldview that is disseminated through visual imagery and express issues of diversity they care about through a visual production.

Carrie Mae Weems Lorna Simpson

Student’s Collage work woman as artist woman as mother woman as nurturer woman as professional woman as thinker woman as reader/learner woman in military (woman as protector & server) woman as lover ---Mary M. W.

Student’s Collage work Almost lost within the confines of the machines but able to see and touch the natural world Andy M.

Student’s Collage work Advertising should depict all types of people. Some of my friend look like this Carol B.

Student’s Collage work The color of harmony blue = peace green = prospecting white = purring lamps = light curtains = breeze clean = order layer = kitchen, table around table women meet at the kitchen table like men meet at board room to discuss life issues ---Pat. W

Theme: Wedding

Conclusion Art’s communicative quality can help people express aspects of the world or self that they could not/would not like to express through other means. Adult learner and art