Raghava KK

 

Untitled 1 (2008)

22x30in

watercolour on paper

Untitled 3 (2008)

30x22in

watercolour on paper

"Education is great. It really teaches us who we are and helps us contextualize ourselves in the world...but it's really my creativity that has taught me that I can be much more than what my education told me I am. I'd like to make the argument that creativity is the most important tool we have. It lets us create who we are and curate what is to come."

-Raghava KK

to see more work, go here

never sorry

Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry OFFICIAL TRAILER from Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry on Vimeo.

my father had this theory when I was growing up that he wouldn't hide things from me, he would expose me to everything he could in the world so that when I was confronted with those things on my own I would have an idea what to do.  so that I could say yes or no, so that I would have a tiny little understanding of the fact that my world wasn't the world. 


dear future students,

In the process of learning how to be a teacher, I have been extensively forewarned that my main job is to protect you.  I will continue to receive background checks before being allowed in the same building as you, I will pee in many cups for you, I will cover my tattoo for you, I will take out piercings that exceed one hole in each earlobe for you.  I will dress appropriately for you, use proper language, and try to be an example of a 'good citizen'.


however, I will not refrain from teaching you what I think is important for you to be exposed to. if Ai Weiwei says "fuck you, motherland"...you're going to understand the implications of that act politically in his country and personally for him and you're not going to say fuck in my classroom.  I want to share with you things that are meaningful and important and that have an impact on the world we live in...and the world we live in doesn't always meet dress code standards.  I'm willing to go there, I want to take the chance and have these conversations with you, but you've got to be on board with me.  


i don't want to just send pretty stuff home.  it's thoroughly un fulfilling on my end and honestly, it's not doing much good for you either.  the majority of you do not care about art and will do nothing with art when you grow up, so I am certain that we need to use art to cover a whole lot more in our time together.

a great day of teaching

Shared Andy Goldsworthy with the kiddos today…and restored my excitement about teaching art!  First try at getting them to talk about art, to lead them in a direction and let them come upon their own answers.  We started with some brainstorming about what materials you can use to make art, where those materials come from, who they belong  to…and then into how long we expect those materials  to last, the ways in which we protect completed artwork, why we protect it…

And then a little art crit activity to introduce them to Goldsworthy’s work.  Still have not come up with a great alternative to deal with working without a projector or large-scale reproductions.  Taped 7 or 8 of Goldsworthy’s works all around the room today and had everyone get up and walk around to look at them all, then choose the one that is their favorite, the one they want to take home, and the one they think is a good idea.  

And then we were little Goldsworthys…working in groups to gather the stones that are outside the studio and create artworks on the tables.  After a photo they had to scoop up their artwork and return it outside…nothing tangible to take home!?!  How could I!

weeks 2 & 3...wait no almost 7...

some important things I've gathered from camp so far:

1. most of it is about confidence. if I am unsure, uneasy, or at all questioning my ability to lead / impart knowledge / create a happy time for all...they'll know it and we'll all suffer.  

2. some projects just don't work out...and that's all right.  sending home pretty artwork is a nice thing to do, but when it comes down to it I believe it's about the experience (so make it good.  when the kids are frustrated and nothing is working as it should, this is when it's most important to lead by staying calm, listening, and taking note not to do that project again!)

3. planning is as difficult as you make it.  aka, don't wait until the last minute...but also catch yourself when planning activities in the mindset of just filling time.  it's easy to forget that the time I have with the kids is precious, so the artists and projects and activities that I share with them should have meaning and importance!  which leads to...

4.  get inspired!  just like you can not make art without looking at art, you can not teach art without being inspired by things that you see.  I have once again dropped the ball on remembering to extensively use my eyes, but luckily it's an easy thing to resume.  with that, here's what I'm getting excited for and inspired by and thinking of sharing for camp next week...

 Sycamore leaves/stitched together with stalks/hung from a tree, Pollok Park, Glasgow (1986)

Andy Goldsworthy 

Pebbles around a hole, Kinagashima-Cho, Japan (1987)

Andy Goldsworthy

Early morning calm, Knotweed stalks, pushed into lake bottom, 

made complete by their own reflections (1988)

Andy Goldsworthy