October 11, 2012
Simply Learning, Simply Folk
By K. Rossbach
Selecting themes as a way to move through educational material is certainly not a new idea. It does not change basic concepts we want children to learn from year to year nor does it alter the content of specific disciplines or curriculums.
What they can do is give us a framework to refresh our approach and experience new content in way that makes better connections with the world around us. They can provide for parallel learning by helping children find ways to apply and connect new concepts to their own life experiences and/or to a more representational context.
In Lower School the art and music teacher have been selecting a different theme each year to help provide this kind of framework and to help students with knowledge transfer between the two disciplines. This year our lower school students will be learning a bit more about folk arts along side basic art and music concepts as we illustrate our theme, “Simply folk”
Exactly what is folk art and how does it differ from fine art or craft?
Ezinearticles.com (2012) defines:
Folk art is not art as most people would think. You would not find it in the galleries of New York. You find it in people’s homes, garages, and attics. The best way to describe folk art is to say it is the craftsmanship of people from a local area which depicts the everyday life and times they shared. From the weather vane on the barn to the handcrafted rag dolls the children played with. This (art) was not created by a named artist but by ordinary people who needed certain things. These items were used everyday. They were created to make life simpler or more enjoyable. The people who created them would never have dreamed of selling them at some upscale auction house. The items were passed out to family and friends. There was no price tag.
We all most likely have a piece of folk art in our homes. Something handed down from our families, a piece or souvenir we brought home from a vacation, or perhaps a painting completed by our great grandmother who was never took an art class. Some more traditional forms of folk art can be seen in quilts, Ukrainian stencil designs, Amish furniture, pottery, woven baskets, early toys and even fishing and hunting decoys. These pieces of art or craft can be a valuable expression of who we are and what we value in our families and communities. They can give us context for cultural differences and celebrating those differences.
Folk art represents the traditions and practices of closely connected groups, preserving cultural and community identity through artistic expressions such as music, dance, art, and craft. (Introducing Your Child to the Arts: Folk Arts, https://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref).
They suggest Folk arts can enrich our lives by:
– fostering a sense of group belonging;
– giving us similar experiences as a basis for meaningful communication;
– helping us reflect on basic life questions and concerns;
– making life interesting by creating beauty and fun in unexpected places; and
– upholding creativity as an important value, often by utilizing existing (sometimes taken for granted) resources in unique ways.
This same article goes on to say, Children comprehend their world and the cultural significance of events by witnessing and participating in celebrations and ceremonies, creating objects, singing, dancing, and sharing stories with family and community. In this way, children learn from these practices, develop self-awareness, and form relationships with others. As parents and teachers, we can help our children explore connections between their own life experiences and artistic expressions. We can also help them observe and respect their own cultural traditions and those of other people.
We look forward to learning about more about folk art and music this year along side learning basic art and music curriculum concepts. We will enjoy creating some of our own expressions based on both traditional and contemporary forms of folk art and will enjoy sharing them with you at our spring art and music extravaganza.
