Framed by stories of young artists and teaching art, Richard OlsenÕs memoir, Art, Kids, and Institutions, dares to ask: Who are these beings called kids and how do we engage them? What role can art have in their lives? What is the nature of the institutions they find themselves in? Why canÕt learning (and teaching) be liberating and filled with joy? Art, Kids, and Institutions goes beyond a reminiscence of the past. It becomes a polemic for the present.
ÒPoised between sharp social commentary and tender teacher wisdom, Art, Kids, and Institutions embodies its artful subject. In language that is rich and spare, it speaks to the simple artistry of great teachersÑtheir commitment, caring, resilience, and courage.Ó Ð-Jessica Hoffmann Davis, EdD Founder of the Arts in Education Program, Harvard Graduate School of Education