This is a class blog originally intended for use in multiple classes that I have taught at UBC – however, it now lives on and continues to grow. My hope is it will be useful for my current students as well as other seeking inspiration and new content as it includes many terrific resources for visual art and other teachers. It also includes my working artist portfolio – in progress for now. It emphasizes a secondary level in focus and a lean towards photography (my own studio practice and what I have taught for over ten years) but is flexible for other groups/contexts/levels.

From a teacher and teacher educator’s angle, the purpose of engaging spatially here outside of class time/space is for us to have an online forum for sharing resources and dialoguing together on topics discussed or related to the course. The dialogue aspect is in a state of growth and experimentation, as new classes form and voices strengthen/are found. From a qualitative arts-based researcher’s perspective, there are other kinds of resources included – this is with the intention of recognizing significant influences both intellectually and creatively upon the act of teaching and making.

A goal for all of these courses is to think together collaboratively and critically about the pedagogical, practical, creative, and conceptual/theoretical possibilities for the visual arts in classrooms or other educative spaces. This includes important art practices happening outside the classroom in artist teaching studios, community centers, collectives, museums, online, public spaces, etc.). It attempts to be inclusive in scope while retain a shared lens on teaching, learning, and art practice.

By moving back and forth between these ideas while working on students’  own individualized or group projects, my intent is that this motion (theory to practice) benefits the teaching and/or making practices of interested others. Finally, we can learn better through collaboration and shared inquiry, so consider this an imperfect offering of collected materials and teaching tools.

Suggestions for blog improvement or the sharing of related resources that may be useful and inspirational to fellow creatives (artists, teachers, researchers, writers, thinkers, students, communities, learners, leaders, etc.)…are most welcome. The blog is meant to change and grow over time, ideally with its readers contributing their own offerings, where applicable. You can email me suggestions or comments at blakesmith.ubc@gmail.com with ‘awakening’ in the email headline, or post a comment below (currently set for moderation).

The kinds of resources & topics I am collecting:

• Great Art/Photo/Teaching Apps & Information
• Websites, Blogs, Podcasts
• Techniques for Art Making, Art Teaching, & Art Learning
• Software & New Technology Info & Resources
• Lessons & Pedagogical Resources K-12 & Higher Ed
• Artists, Galleries, Exhibitions
• Community Projects & Organizations
• Critical News in our field – Important Research Papers, Calls to Action, etc.
• Books, Articles, Online Tutorials & Courses
• Films, Videos, Music, Other Media, Documentaries
• Art/Photo Therapy
• Arts-based Research
• Information on Writing & Creative Writing
• Other Great Stuff!