Ecuador: Teaching Artist Travel Experience
In this graduate-level course for students enrolled in MassArt’s Master of Science in Art Education program, students partner with various artists, artisans, craftspeople, teachers and institutions from Ecuador for a two-week studio/travel experience. Starting in Quito, students experience the urban visual arts and cultural environment through visits to museums, cathedrals, cultural centers, markets and artists’ studios. In addition, students learn about the work of culturally focused non-government organizations (NGO’s) working in Ecuador. Emphasis is on creating with people and organizations since this is a studio course. From Quito students explore the surrounding Andean towns and villages to experience the rural art world of Ecuador working directly with artists, artisans, and craftspeople. Students consider alternative educational models in the different locations and learn how teachers and artists in other countries engage their art and pedagogical practices individually, communally and as a mix of cultures. Upon return to MassArt, student use collected artifacts, photos, artwork, journals, and other visual culture to create artworks in response to the experiences in Ecuador. Students will also create plans of action to use the experiences in their pedagogical roles.Faculty
- Dan Serig
- Dan Serig is an Assistant Professor of Art Education at MassArt. He completed his doctorate at Teachers College, Columbia University where he investigated the conceptual structure of visual metaphors by contemporary artists. As a practicing visual artist, Dan regularly shows at the Pearl Street Gallery in Brooklyn, New York, where he is also Assistant Director. His artwork is in private collections throughout the world. Dan is also a Senior Research Associate with Dr. Rob Horowitz in their work as evaluators of community arts programs. Clients include the Lincoln Center, the National Dance Institute, the Indianapolis Symphony and ArtsConnection of New York City. Dan has taught visual arts to preschool through adult students in both public and private schools in the United States and China. In Shanghai, Dan was a founding faculty member of the Concordia International School and created the visual arts curriculum. Research conducted by Dan is cited in several publications, and he has been published in the journal of the National Art Education Association, Studies in Art Education. His current responsibilities in the Art Education department at MassArt include teaching courses in new and traditional media with undergraduate students, teaching a research course with masters’ students and coordinating the graduate programs.
- John Giordano
- John Giordano is a visual artist and Assistant Professor of Art Education at MassArt. He works with students in the Master of Science in Art Education program on the development of their studio work leading to the thesis exhibition. John also teaches undergraduate interdisciplinary portfolio, museum and community education courses, and co–directs MassArt’s Center for Art and Community Partnerships. Before moving to Boston in 2001, he exhibited his work and taught at various colleges in the Philadelphia area, including the ICA, Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts, Tyler School of Art and Drexel University. In Boston, John has done several art and healing projects with local healthcare partners, as well as numerous school and museum partnership projects including The Boston Public Library, Mission Hill School and New Boston Pilot Middle School. John holds a BS in Studio Art and Art History from Skidmore College and in MFA in Painting from the University of Pennsylvania.