PROPOSAL TYPE
Traditional Panel
SEEKING
- Seeking General Feedback and Interest
- Seeking Additional Presenters
RELATED TOPICS
- Archives
- Public Engagement
- Teaching and Training
ABSTRACT
Archival materials are often values primarily for their evidential value – proof that some action happened and was recorded in the annals of history. Historians, political scientists, journalists, and other scholars rely on archives to tell help them make arguments about the past and how it shapes the present and future. But archives can also inspire! In this panel, we will discuss methods and present case study examples for how to integrate primary sources into Art and Art History curricula. As a profession, it’s time to build collaborative partnerships with the creative arts akin to what we’ve built with historians – the possibilities are endless, and To Be Determined!
DESCRIPTION
I am looking to present information about my experiences integrating primary source materials into Art and Art History classes as the Public Services Archivist at UT Arlington Special Collections. My colleague in the Libraries, Morgan Chivers, would be a co-Presenter. He taught a class in the Fall of 2021 that used primary sources to inspire students in their creative processes. I would present the Archives/Public History side, and he would present his experiences as an instructor.
I would love to collaborate with one or two more presenter groups of this nature. My idea is to keep this focused on how primary source materials aren’t just for use in “traditional” classes (history, english, etc), but can be of great use in Art and Art History classes as well. I am open to suggestions for expanding or focusing the topic, and appreciate any input you can provide.
If you have a direct offer of assistance, sensitive criticism, or wish to pass along someone’s contact information confidentially, please get in contact directly: Evan Spencer, University of Texas at Arlington, [email protected]
ALL FEEDBACK AND OFFERS OF ASSISTANCE SHOULD BE SUBMITTED BY JULY 7, 2022. If you have general ideas or feedback to share, please feel free to use the comments feature below.
Dear Evan, very interesting topic. It reminds me of Fred Wilson’s (Mining the Museum) and how sculptures are used at the Whitney Plantation to express historical emotions. Our team here has collaborated with an artist and residents to collaboratively represent historical emotions on a wall-painting. I will for sure listen to your panel if selected. Good luck.
The relationship between public history and art (or public art) is of tremendous interest to me, and I think this will be broadly interesting to many NCPH folks. I have two ideas for people who may be interested and I will email you directly.
Hi Evan,
This is beyond the scope of what you’re proposing regarding using archival materials in Art and Art History courses, but your proposal made me think of a recent installation at History Colorado’s Fort Garland Museum and Cultural Center, called Unsilenced:
https://www.historycolorado.org/unsilenced
Artist jetsonorama used historical photos and records to create a really powerful site-specific art installation. I’ll follow up via email with more details.
This is wonderful! I think finding someone with experience in getting K-12 teachers and students to use primary sources more creatively is a good way to go. Special Collections staff at the University of Georgia are particularly strong in this area.
It is a fascinating topic! It would be good to provide some general guiding questions that would frame the discussion within the panel. I guess the people will present their experiences, but perhaps even at this initial stage of designing the panel it is possible to identify common problems or achievements, or recommendations, or suggestions for further research.
I think this is great topic and may be a great place to pull in a museum professional or museum studies faculty member as a co-panelist. Someone who works in museum education or even curatorial areas of the museum could round this panel out, giving our attendees a fuller picture for the application of your idea. Lots of teaching and programmatic implications here.