P S Art 2016 Exhibition Schedule www.nyc.gov/schools/artseducation

Nightmares
Jack Adam
Grade: 11
School: NYC iSchool Manhattan
Art Teacher: Gretel Smith
Colored print from a digital photograph
STUDENT: I see how light can dance on
walls, and I think about big things,
such as space. Being an artist has
changed the way that I see and think.
Art has pushed me to relentlessly
ask questions. I am a surrealist, a
conceptual artist, and someone who
believes that artistic expression and
creativity are necessary for a functional
society. Ms. Smith strives to make art
a tangible, unifying force, from the
community that has developed in our
art room to the artwork in the hallways.
She has shown me the value of finding
consonance between what we already
know how to do, and what we desire to
learn. To create this piece I had to allow
myself to be vulnerable. I enjoy creating
self-portraits in solitude, and showing
these pieces to my peers became quite
rewarding. It made me more confident
in my abilities as an artist.
TEACHER: Nightmares was the product
of an art course on critical thinking.
The class is offered for juniors to
enable them to advance the level
of their thinking and their visions.
The particular lesson focused on
how artists develop a personal vision
through the creation of their artwork.
We discussed works of Georgia
O’Keeffe, Remedios Varo, Nan Goldin,
Daehyun Kim, and Frida Kahlo. There
were no restrictions on medium. Jack,
an incredibly ambitious student,
chose to create a photography series
for his personal vision project. His
project was a surreal discussion of his
nightmares. His peers were engaged
by his presentation.
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