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Visual Arts

paint dish and paint brush

 

Gwynedd Mercy Academy Art Department

The art department at Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School follows curriculum standards established by the National Art Education Association. GMAHS’s art curriculum consists of four main components; creating, producing and presenting, responding, and connecting. In addition to following these national core arts standards, the art department participates in selected art contests, attends special art exhibitions, and hosts visiting artists and workshops in our studio. GMAHS’s art department includes a spiritual aspect in the curriculum as well. Several belief principles are part of the art process at GMAHS. Our creativity and inspiration are gifts from God. We give back to God and others by sharing our creativity. When we open ourselves to exploring our creativity, we trust God to guide us in a good artistic direction. We honor God by creating visual art that communicates and shares our ideas, beliefs, and dreams with our community and the world.

Art Department Goals

Gwynedd Mercy students will demonstrate improved critical thinking skills. This will be accomplished through a balanced program of art education that addresses the study of art production, art history, aesthetics, and art criticism. When students produce artwork, they will ask themselves questions about composition, design, form, and color. They will develop their technical skills with a variety of media. They will enhance and question their creativity and challenge themselves to develop a visually expressive voice. This process will lead students into thought about aesthetics, the philosophy of beauty. They will ask themselves “What is art?”. They will develop rational answers that they can logically defend during art critiques. Students will study art criticism and read and write about art and professional artists. They will ponder fundamental questions about art and its role in our society. They will learn how art can be connected to contemporary social, political, moral, and economic issues. Students will also study art history. They will view and discuss important artwork from the past and learn about the historical contexts in which significant art was created. They will learn how art has evolved and changed and how it is connected to contemporary issues. This will challenge students to critically analyze their own art in the context of their own culture and world.