TRAVELING TO ENHANCE AN ARTIST'S WORK          

Artists are always looking for new ideas that they can incorporate into their work. They should remain as knowledgeable as possible to keep their work fresh and exciting. Recently, George Hageman, professor at Sinclair Community College, had the opportunity to visit China for a seven week study and travel program. He brought back with him a wealth of new information that has influenced his work. He has also taken the opportunity to share what he learned with his students.

George recommends traveling as a way of gaining new knowledge in the field of art because of the favorable perks it provides. First hand observation is the best way to explore different ideas and concepts that may be employed elsewhere. Artists may take a novel approach to problem solving that can be studied and adapted to your specific needs. Different materials and technologies may be available that are widely divergent from what is available in your area. Most importantly, observing the living and working atmosphere in a new area gives us new perceptions and the overall multicultural experience helps us grow as artists as well as human beings. George says he learned of the use of pottery and function in China to celebrate life through ritual and ceremony.

Traveling may also give us the opportunity to meet the important people in our field, the movers and shakers whose work and teaching can be an inspiration to our own.

George has utilized what he learned into his own artistic style, and he has shared his information with students in the form of new assignments. His Native American Indian jar project has been a staple of his program for years; now he often adds classic Oriental shapes such as meiping vases and tea bowls to deepen students' multicultural awareness. He also presented a slide demonstration of his travels to students and others to share his experiences.

George also points out that information can be found much more cheaply and easily at home. Both public and college libraries have literally hundreds of books on art and related subjects at our disposal that can be very useful in studying both the art of the past as well as new trends. Visiting museums puts us face to face with important art of other cultures which may prove to be an inspiration in our own work.

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