Art

The purpose of the visual arts program is to prepare  students for college entrance into the various disciples that are contained within the art field. The visual arts area has over two hundred professional careers, most of them demanding Bachelor degrees and many requiring Masters and PhD degrees. The arts are just as demanding as the sciences and just as professionally viable. For students who will enter other disciplines, the arts at grade school level are an integral part of a well rounded education. It is important to note that  art develops and demands the highest level problem solving and abstract thinking skills, which is of value to any future career area. Studio art develops hand/eye coordination, utilizes the right side of the brain to promote holistic brain development, creates self-confidence, and develops creative thinking and expression.

The visual arts program utilizes the teaching methodology of Discipline Based Art Education, an academic based approach to teaching art that complies with both state and national standards in art education. Students receive formal instruction in the academics of studio production through learning design and the application of media and techniques. They gain experience in critical analysis of art and also study various areas of art history. Students are required to do research, write essays, and will have written exams, as well as hands on studio production with academic evaluation of their work. This program can be just as demanding as any other course at the Charter Academy.

Heather Ketchum
hketchum @cdacharter.org