Teaching Art & Life

Chris Staley’s Teaching Art & Life is a profound exploration of art pedagogy and the intricate connections between art and life. Directed at both art educators and students, this thought-provoking book delves into forty compelling topics, including the delicate balance of vulnerability and self-discovery in the critique process and the transformative role of play and experimentation in fostering creativity. Through vivid anecdotes — like the serendipitous outcomes of a student firing an old bike in a kiln or the magic of “bonus” art created without expectations — Staley illuminates how creativity emerges when fear and self-judgment are set aside. Teaching Art & Life serves as both an inspiration and a practical guide for educators seeking to deepen their teaching impact and nurture the artistic growth of their students.

Anticipated publication date: January 1, 2025

Table of Contents

1) First Day: Why is the first day of class so important?

2) Listening: Why is listening essential to teaching?

3) Autobiographies: How can autobiographies be so important?

4) Critiques: What makes a good critique?

5) Creativity: Can you teach creativity?

6) Caring: Why should caring matter to students?

7) Questions: Why are questions more important than answers?

8) Doubt: How can doubt be beneficial?

9) Personal: What is the value of making it personal?

10) Failure: How can failure be truly meaningful?

11) Competition: How can competition be so unhealthy?

12) Assignments: Why are some assignments so effective?

13) Reading: How can reading enhance teaching?

14) Community: What are simple ways to build community in the classroom?

15) Pottery: Why teach pottery?

16) Quality: What is quality?

17) Metaphors: Why is everything an artist makes a metaphor?

18) Timing: Why is timing everything?

19) Mentors: If advice can be so valuable, why do we often not ask for it?

20) Broke: What can we do to fix education?

21) Wisdom: What’s the difference between information, knowledge, and wisdom?

22) Art: Why is art the most important subject being taught in school?

23) Motivation: Where does motivation come from?

24) Risk: Why is learning both exciting and uncomfortable?

25) Drawing: How can drawing change how we think?

26) Humility: How does sincere humility manifest itself in the classroom?

27) Curiosity: Can you teach curiosity?

28) Vulnerability: Why does being vulnerable matter in the classroom?

29) Collegiality: Why is collegiality so difficult in academia?

30) Boundaries: Why are boundaries so important?

31) Touch: How does pottery challenge the hierarchy of our senses?

32) Round Robin: Why is it important to hear from every student?

33) Social Media: How is social media used?

34) Behavior: How does art relate to emotional intelligence?

35) Fire: What can fire teach the potter about life?

36) Ego: What role does ego play in teaching art?

37) Grades: How do grades influence learning?

38) Social Justice: How do we change inequities in academia?

39) Joys and Sorrows: Why are both important to acknowledge?

40) Last Day: Why are final thoughts important?