Teaching from Contemporary Asian Art: Student-Centered Engagement Strategies

What does an image tell us about the artist’s point of view? How do contemporary Asian artists integrate cultural histories into their practices? How can educators encourage students to share their perspectives, as well as connect art to issues that affect their families and communities?

In partnership with the Seattle Art Museum (SAM), this virtual workshop focuses on facilitation skills to deepen student connection to contemporary Asian artists, their work, and their stories. Participants will learn how close-looking strategies foster an inclusive space for students to share their ideas. In conjunction, SAM and EARC educators will introduce works of contemporary Asian art that explore relevant themes of protest, migration, and identity. In small groups, participants will practice these skills together and collaborate on classroom applications.

Featured in the Seattle Asian Art Museum’s Be/longing exhibition, the highlighted artworks can be integrated in Social Studies, Visual Art, English Language Arts, and a range of other curricula across grade levels. This program is designed for K–12 classroom teachers as an introduction to using art in the classroom. All are welcome.