Art advocacy and multiculturalism. (Teacher Talk).

SchoolArts: Araxey, why do you teach what you do?

Araxey Barsamian: As an art educator with twenty-eight years of experience, I have always stressed and emphasized the importance of teaching multicultural art. I have done so because I truly believe this approach is good advocacy for advancing the role of art in education.

Multicultural art lessons teach students important attitudes and concepts for living in today's world. They teach students to understand, accept, and respect their own cultural heritage and the cultural heritage of others. The multicultural approach promotes a positive and nurturing environment for all children.

SA: So what does your multicultural program look like?

AB: In my elementary schools, students are from many cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. In our classrooms, we find African, Russian, Polish, German, Jewish, Chinese, Korean, Greek, Indian, Mexican, Chaldean, Arabic, and Albanian children working together. Most are American citizens, but some are here in Michigan only for a few years.

Thus, while teaching basic skills and important, somewhat universal art concepts, using basic art media and techniques, I cover the art of many cultures, many lands, and many hands. Near the end of each school year, I collect, mount, and display the students' artwork for an "International Night--Taste of Nations" exhibition.

SA: What sort of things would one see in this exhibition?

AB: Well, it might vary from year to year, but last spring some of the student works on display were: Southwest Indian clay masks, Woodland Indian paper moccasins, Northwest Indian thunderbird designs, Cuna Indian molas, Mexican weaving, Aztec sun god designs, Russian wooden dolls, Greek amphora vases, African Khamsas designs, Ukranian/Pysanky decorated eggs, Korean fans, and much, much more.

The students and parents are pleased and delighted with the cultural awareness this program brings to our community. And the exhibit serves to advocate the value and importance of art education for life.

Araxey Barsamian is an elementary art consultant for the Farmington Public Schools in Farmington, Michigan.