The document discusses considerations for 21st century art curriculum. It argues that current curriculum focuses too much on formal elements, techniques, and historical art styles, which does not provide students with tools to understand contemporary art. Instead, curriculum should emphasize media manipulation, experiments, viewer interaction, and various levels of artistic development and realization. It then provides examples of possible curriculum assignments that encourage open-ended exploration rather than restrictive exercises, such as reinterpreting photographs at a large scale, deconstructing canvases, or creating art from found objects.

1. richi kim
curriculum considerations in the 21st century

6. Elements & Principles
Skill-based/Technique-based
Emphasis on Composition
Emphasis on Execution
Measurable/Data
Homogenized, Limited Choices
Restrictions Disguised as “Creative Restraints”

9. Teachers are imaging their curriculum within the style, content, and methods of
their earlier education, rather than reflecting the reality of contemporary art and
their own understandings of contemporary culture.
It made sense in the early 20th century to concentrate on exercises that explored
formal properties of artmaking because this was one of the important ways in
which those artists and critics conceived of their work.
Today’s students regularly complete art programs that are based on elements
and principles, traditional academic techniques, and modern art styles (ISMs) –
none of which give students the tools to understand contemporary art or even a
great deal of modern artwork.
- Ronald Neperud

10. mark dion

11. assume vivid astro focus

12. katharina grosse

13. open-ended and available

14. kara walker william kentridge

15. andy warhol eva hesse joan jonas

16. maintain your
studio practice

20. skill -> method
(get to the root)

29. 21st CENTURY CURRICULUM
CONSIDERATIONS
Image & Object
Media Manipulation
Experiments & Possibilities
Viewer Interaction/Presentation
Level of Development/Realization

31. LARGE SCALE
PHOTOGRAPH
RE-INTERPRETATION

35. LOW. MEDIUM. HIGH.

38. DECONSTRUCTED
CANVAS.

43. BALDESSARI PROMPTS
Imitate Mr. Kim in actions and speech.
You can only spend $1. Make art only out of things you can spend $1 on.
What kind of artworks can be done under the earth?
An art piece that makes you want to smell it.
Take a “roll” of 24 photographs. (Do not preview, edit, or delete any of them).
Put make up on things other than the face.
Create a video called “PIMPLE”.

45. TINY,
INTRICATE

48. TEXT

54. SITE SPECIFIC

57. ART MANIFESTO

61. EVERYDAY ACTION

63. PHYSICAL
OBSTRUCTION

66. ASSUMED
CHARACTER

69. MOTION PICTURE
(title inspired)

71. ARRANGING
NO
MAKING

73. ART CHALLENGE

74. -paint the entire object one color
-break the object in half or in a million little pieces
-wallpaper the object w/ a print
-win a material in the auction
-use only materials within a 5 ft radius outside of the
classroom door
-trade projects with a friend on the 3rd studio day
-make it ugly

80. -9 index cards
-on one index card, think of a [short]
phrase about yourself that is unique and
not generic

81. Your phrase is the title to your piece.
Other than scissors & glue, you may only
use the two media you picked out of the
hat.