Activist art often elicits a knee-jerk response, and I’ve noticed that many art educators are understandably fearful of navigating controversial topics in their classrooms. Though today’s contentious educational climate can make these conversations difficult, I believe that asking young people what they think about tough subjects is more important today than ever before. Empowering students to interact with complicated social issues via the art-making process can unlock their creative potential, increase their engagement, and help them connect with the world around them.
Art teachers encourage students to investigate their own ideas and make connections to the world around them. High-school students discover that the zine is a powerful medium for self-expression; middle-school students create symbolic artworks to honor teachers and staff members who inspired them; elementary students express solutions to community issues through printmaking; young students design a hat for a friend based on their friend’s preferences; and more.
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