Jeremy Flick

My approach to pedagogy comes directly from my own practice and experience as an artist. In all the courses I teach, I emphasize and implement a contemporary approach highlighting the importance of my students’ engaging the issues concerning contemporary art and to seek out and examine current artists, practices, and trends associated with contemporary art. In my lectures and assignments, my primary focus in teaching is aimed at directing student development not only in technical abilities, but also in the shaping and forming of their perceptual and conceptual skills. My teaching promotes high standards and provides students with the confidence to strive toward the creation of challenging works. I also try to transmit to my students the concept of developing a broader awareness of their practice in terms of historical and contemporary ideas.  I encourage my students to explore a mixed-media approach to their practice, encouraging them to examine hybrids and the intersections of media. I also introduce students to artists and ideas--both the historical and contemporary--to enable them and hone their skills, making them more adroit at researching, developing, executing and speaking about their ideas. The ability to formulate ideas is enhanced through practical assignments such as researching artists, social and artistic movements, and ideas as well as through exhibition reviews, which enable the students’ broader understanding of the historical, social and political contexts of art and visual culture--and to develop in their ability to think critically. I have also recently begun utilizing web and Web 2.0 (social networking) technologies to develop a blog and web-based social media outlets for my advanced-level courses to better facilitate and encourage the advanced students’ engagement with current ideas and concepts through research and practice that they can further explore in their independent studio work.