Educational project- work in progress - The project Still life with... is a collaborative project between, the Visual Art Education in Mary Immaculate Teacher Education College (MIC)(i), Limerick City Gallery of Art (LCGA) and International artists Anne Cleary and Denis Connolly. The project is based around a reinterpretation of the classical genre of still life painting through contemporary art practice, using new technology and public participation. Like most collaborative projects, Still life with... began as a series of conversations. These conversations revolved around the nature, value, purpose and pleasure of making and looking at art. Collaboration resulted from a shared aspiration of developing potential links and promoting the appreciation of art making, and art meaning. The project offers the parties involved an opportunity to develop their practice/knowledge base within a particular context. The author of the paper will focusing on the educational component of the project and will consider the potential contribution that will be made by MIC staff and students. The project will conclude in the form of an art installation. The installation is to be constructed by visual art elective students in Mary Immaculate College. The students will be involved in the project from the concept stage to completion. Within the project students will have control over the means of production, and the education programes that are devised. Connelly and Cleary will work with the students on the technology that will combine the made art with the interaction elements of the exhibition. The project will have a multidisciplinary approach to teaching and learning supporting linkage and integration across a variety of disciplines and subject areas (topics explored during initial conceptualisation included, Art History in its cultural context, critical thinking, architecture, art in public spaces, fine art and design, the use of multimedia in education, alternative educational programs as well as developing art making and thinking skills) It is envisaged that the outcomes from this collaborative, exploratory educational project will provide the context of developing a model for innovative and progressive pedagogic approaches to teaching and learning within Visual Art Education and digital media within MIC. The project will advocate a student centred approach (active involvement, collaboration, peer learning, reflection) while utilizing a combination of concepts, processes skills and digital Media in art education.
