“As a visual arts teacher at Queen’s College, I am an active vessel who assumes multiple roles. My role as an art teacher is to facilitate students’ introduction into the world of art by encouraging their personal creativity and developing their skills within a safe space conducive to learning. As the essence of creativity flavours the pot of artistic education it is important to realize that learning is not achieved in a vacuum.
Understanding the visual arts position in society therefore becomes pertinent when considering the discourse of art education.
As a practicing artist, it is important for me to stimulate critical thinking within my students by encouraging engaging conversations with them which analyze the dynamics of the society in which we live and in turn the purpose of art within the society.
As it relates to my own art work, I reflect on the words of Cultural Theorists Stuart Hall, who defines the term Representation as “the production of meaning through language.”
Art, as my language, reflects on the history of Barbados and interrogates how social and cultural constructs developed under a colonial regime, have impacted way of life for Barbadians in present day Barbadian society.”