Artist-in-Residence at the University of Kentucky's School of Art and Visual Studies

 Artist-in-Residence at the University of Kentucky's School of Art and Visual Studies

Sept 2023



I recently undertook an artist-in-residence at the University of Kentucky’s School of Art and Visual Studies, where I led a graduate seminar on creative problem solving, delivered on Art’s Social Impact and Sustainable Development Goals, and created 8 editions of prints. 




Graduate Seminar on Problem-solving



For this graduate seminar, I combined the critical thinking skills of problem-solving with the creative practice of producing ideas. I focused on teaching interpretations of Luciano Garbati's sculpture Medusa with the Head of Perseus (2008), which challenges the oppressive depiction of women and dominant cultural narratives in Western aesthetics. I used Garbati's sculpture as an example to show students a step-by-step process of problem-solving and producing ideas. The students completed two practical exercises that asked them to identify a problem unique to their work, or an issue important to them, i.e. racial equity, gender equality, or the climate crisis.
 

Lecture on Art's Social Impact and Sustainable Development Goals 



For this lecture, I combined research conducted on the Social Impact of the Arts with the UN Sustainable Development Goals to further illustrate the problem-solving and idea-producing techniques I introduced in the seminar. I explained to the students how art functions to deliver social impact and connected these functions to seeking out solutions for sustainable issues. I intended to inspire them to find ways of working that address the problems they face and connect these to the global problems we all face. 

Studio Work

I spent most of the week working on a series of prints on paper and canvas. For prices and edition information, contact me here. 


















 





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Art and Environmental Justice: How Art Can Promote a Sustainable Future

Image
 Art and Environmental Justice: How Art Can Promote a Sustainable Future By Dr Joshua Y’Barbo (7 May 2024) Earth's Day (Hurt, Sad, Upset) (2023) by Joshua Y'Barbo Colour pencil, sticker, and pen on paper. 210 mm x 297 mm. Introduction As an artist-in-residence for the TEAM LEWIS Foundation , I research important social and sustainability issues within art and culture at the  intersections of the creative and communication industries . Last month, I hosted Earth Day , which inspired me to write about how art can promote a more sustainable future.  Art has been a powerful tool for advocacy throughout history, particularly in global challenges we’ve faced over recent decades. In more recent years, art projects have become a means of promoting environmental justice.  Art has the capacity to raise awareness, to engage creativity for addressing complex problems, and may also support transformation to sustainability ( Dieleman 2017 ). However, the impact and outcome of a g...
Read more

Art Lesson for Earth Day: Using Art to Promote Environmental Justice

Image
 Art Lesson for Earth Day: Using Art to Promote Environmental Justice Created by Joshua Y'Barbo on 13 May 2024 via https://5minutelessonplan.co.uk/ As an artist for the TEAM LEWIS Foundation , I constantly research the intersection of the creative and communication industries and significant global, sustainable concerns. Last month, I explored the connections between art and Earth Day. After finishing an article highlighting art and environmental justice, I created a lesson plan for those interested in teaching how art can promote a sustainable future. Big Picture This lesson explores how art can be used to advocate for environmental justice, raise awareness about climate issues, and inspire action. Students will engage in various art forms to visually represent and tell stories about environmental challenges and solutions. Objectives • Understand the role of art in promoting environmental justice • Learn how art can raise awareness and inspire action on climate issues • Eng...
Read more

Participatory Art and Labour: Exploring Creative Collaboration and Advocacy

Image
Participatory Art and Labour: Exploring Creative Collaboration and Advocacy Dr Joshua Y'Barbo   Wash Your Memory Inflation (2023) by  Choeun Kim.  Digital Print. As an artist-in-residence for the TEAM LEWIS Foundation , I research intersections between art and communication, which involves writing about important social and sustainability issues within art and culture. Last month, we celebrated May Day , a historically significant day in the labour movement, marking the global recognition of workers' contributions and the achievements of the international labour movement. This meaningful occasion, deeply rooted in the struggle for workers' rights, serves as a fitting time to acknowledge the role of participatory, socially engaged art in advocating for workers' rights and social change. These art forms have been instrumental in engaging communities, expressing the struggles and triumphs of the working class, and highlighting social justice and inequality issues. Through...
Read more