I am sure you have heard the saying, “Those who can, do.
Those who can’t, teach”. Well, I do not believe that at all. In order to teach,
you have to be able to “do”. How can you instruct in a subject if you are not
proficient in that subject? It is true that some artists are also great
teachers, able to translate the manual into verbal instructions as well as
demonstrating the how, and that others are not able to translate what they do
into understandable, teachable modes. But I digress just a little.
I have been thinking about the struggle many artists have
with juggling teaching art and making art, the whole time management thing as
well as the mental gymnastics that can ensue when one does both. Some of that
is self-imposed: does teaching art make me less of a “real” artist? Am I a
failure as a working artist if I teach too? I know I struggled with this at one
time, and I know of others who did as well.
My feelings today are different. I have learned just how
much teaching art informs the making of my own art. I learn from my students. I
learn by preparing lessons for my students. I try new things in my own work
because I am teaching new things to my students.
I also teach art history which is a good thing for me.
Having some knowledge of the history of my field increases the pride I feel in
being a part of that history. I am proud and honored to have a place on the
continuum of history that brought us Michelangelo and Rembrandt, Bernini and
Gentileschi, Krasner and Pollock.
It all comes together because to teach is also to learn. To
make art is also to learn. We are here, in large part, to learn.
Speaking of students, I gave my current 3D class a homework
assignment to make a “pop” sculpture, using plastic water or soda bottles. I
honestly thought I would get eighteen water bottles with arms. Did they
surprise me! Mind you these are not art students either, they are all in health
care. The variety of creations and creativity was astounding. I am so proud of
them! Here is one example, created from a plastic root beer bottle:
