Foundations
At the foundations level I believe evaluation should be fierce, but always kind– excellence must be established as a rare commodity. Assignments should be multi-faceted and inclusive of both objective challenges and subjective criteria. We should employ at this level the visual tools students are most familiar with cameras and computers then ask students for translations of their more sophisticated use of these tools into primary art medias, strategies and modes.
How has digging a whole changed? Once any person could dig a hole–but what of law? propriety? technology changes this act–this collection of matter, this creation of space, this rupture of site?
The establishment of sustained work habits, sustained inquiry is more foundational to success then any particular skill imparted. formal consideration is the vocabulary of any content. Research and intellectual activity should be present but well balanced with pleasure cerebral or physical. Material should be collected in a manner that builds a shared community of learning.
Can we make something out of paper or cardboard that if left on the table at Burger King the employees will save for you—assuming ‘someone will come back for this’–hoping, ‘better yet they won’t come back and I can keep it’.
duane mcdiarmid 