Teaching Art Appreciation

Posted by Jenn Greenleaf Mar 11, 2009

I can’t help wondering if it is impossible to teach a teen who has never ever been exposed to the wonders of the art world any appreciation for this form of creative expression and exploration. I’m speaking about my nephew and our impending venture with homeschooling. As part of the curriculum, I have to teach him about the arts. When it comes to my children, I’m met with enthusiasm continuously because they’ve been exposed to this consistently throughout their lives . . .

. . . . my nephew, on the other hand, has never been really “taught” the exquisiteness of losing oneself in a piece of fiction, the mesmerizing affect poetry can have, or the way art can be the most intense form of therapy . . . .

To him, all of this stuff is boring and stupid. This is a response that is to be expected with all things considered, but is it an impossible situation? I can’t help wondering if there’s a way to break through the barriers. I can’t help wondering if all the bad influences about these talents can be worn off, eventually? It bothers me that he’s been robbed of this aspect of his childhood. I’ve seen so many children’s eyes fill as their imaginations ran wild when a story was told to them. Did he miss out on this? I’ve seen so many children’s expressions change from working furiously to the gratification of accomplishment when completing a particularly challenging piece of art. Has this opportunity been bestowed upon him?

I can’t help wondering . . . .