The Element of NON-Design

Yes, I talk a lot about the Elements of Design. Yes, my district’s entire art curriculum is based upon the Elements of Design. However, today I am talking about another Element.

The book “the Element” by Sir Kenneth Robinson”How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything”

I was browsing my local library (yes, I am a library junkie -why pay for books when you can check them out for free?) and I was heading in to check out some other books I had on hold. Well, I came across this book and thought it was fate. You see, I’ve recently showed the following video to my art department at one of our Professional Development sessions.  (remember I am the art department facilitator in my district). Sir Kenneth is internationally recognized in the areas of human potential, innovation,  and creativity. He also has a very famous TED Talk entitled: Why School Kill Creativity.

So, if you spend the time to watch this video, you will see how this relates to teaching art. Our educational system is broken. Lets be honest. Do you ever find the more art is “like math” or “like reading” the more we get recognized, when in fact we should be doing exactly the opposite. We should embrace our discipline for what it is, a creative and problem solving center where kids can be different, can be themselves, and can use skills they WILL use in the future.

I am planning on reading his book.  The book, “The Element” talks about how finding your passion changes everything, and how some of the world’s most successful people were not successful in school (ring a bell to remind you of some of your best art students?). I bet so.  When people arrive  at their “Element” they feel most like themselves, most inspired and achieve at their highest levels.

So… as I read I will start to discover. What is my element?  I’ll keep you posted.

Until then-

A calling is: Where your greatest passion meets the world’s greatest need. What is your calling, your “Element”? I don’t’ have an answer right now, but I sure have some good ideas….  am working toward pinpointing it, because if you don’t know where you are going… You’ll probably end up somewhere else!