WdKA's Academy Gallery BLAAK10 presents the works of five artists, that are participating in the MA course 'Education in Arts' of WdKA's Piet Zwart Institute. Besides being visual artists in their own right, they learn to become excellent art educators as well. And what better than to be able to use your own creative and innovative competencies to teach other people to develop these as well? Said artist Joseph Beuys (1921-1986) in 1969: 'To be a teacher is my greatest work of art'.
In September 2006 Willem de Kooning Academy and Codarts, the Rotterdam Conservatoire and Rotterdam Dance Academy jointly started an MA course 'Education in Arts'. It is a practice-oriented course of one year if studied in full time, or two years if taken part time. A Master of Education in Arts is a specialist in art education. The course's curriculum emphasises the development of competencies for innovation with its participants, and the deepening of their artistic qualities.
The course's module 'Visual Practice' is a visual research projects, in which the participants' daily working environment is placed central stage. It aims at moments where contemporary art and education merge. Participants deepen their understanding of the role and impact of art and design on contemporary educational strategies. Vice versa, attention is paid to the role and impact of educational developments on what's going on in visual art today. Contemporary art may offer refreshing perspectives on education. This module was tutored by visual artist Mirjam van Tilburg.
The presentation 'To be a teacher is my greatest work of art' at BLAAK10 shows the results of this module: visual projects by five artists/art eduactors with 'education' as a point of departure. Participating artists are: Peter Hellemons, René Huitema, Jorinde Jonker, Marleen Rozenbrand and Djon Seedorf.
BLAAK10 PRESENTS: 'To be a teacher is my greatest work of art'. May 9-18, 2008. Academie Gallery BLAAK10, Witte de Withstraat 7/a, Rotterdam. Open: Wed-Sun, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Admission: free. Opening: Thursday May 8, 2008 at 5 p.m.