Art Education and Teaching by Berdien Nieuwenhuizen
Art Education
Besides my work as a visual artist I work as a museum teacher in the Hermitage for Children and the Rembrandt House (both in Amsterdam) and give art education workshops. The target groups for my cursuses vary from primary and secondary school to college students. Workshops are possible on location, at the respective educational institutions, but I can also accommodate a limited number of students in my own studio in Amsterdam. The thematic scope of my workshops are close to my own art work and themes I am working on at that moment. I always make sure that my workshops match to the daily life experiences of children and young people. For children I like to link the workshops to stories. For older children I look for themes that can support their search for their own identity or place in the world. In addition, I have coached elementary school teachers in giving lessons in visual education. I also help them organizing these lessons and provide advice on how to find the right assignments, techniques and materials. Through my years of experience in the Hermitage for Children and my work in the Rembrandthuis I have been trained in looking at art with children, but also with adults and (demented) elderly people. To be able to develop as a child into a free, autonomous and mature individual, it is important to work freely. Becoming free can mean: freeing yourself from fear, insecurity or embarrassment. But a creative process is not always easy. Obstacles can arise along the way which have to be overcome. Creation often forces you to (self-)research, analysis and reflection. By investigating and creating something, children discover their own (hidden) power. They become aware of themselves. They exercise their perseverance, they learn to concentrate and see that they are able to realize their dreams. Playing and experimenting with all kinds of materials and techniques, they come up with their own ideas and possible solutions to overcome (sometimes very practical) problems. In the creative process and in the concentration on creating, the children find peace. They are not seduced or distracted for a moment in a world in which people are constantly exposed to a bombardment of all kinds of, for instance digital, impressions. There is finally room for learning, experiencing, reflecting, associating. Creating something that is entirely yours offers the possibility of mirroring yourself in the environment. You can show it to someone and talk about it. This creates attention, involvement, openness, interaction and passion. Creating something that belongs to you and that is unique also means freeing yourself from the things that make us dependent. Something you have done gives pleasure and strengthens self-confidence. Creating makes someone human: we become who we are. Creation sets us free.
