Arts-based and Contemplative Practices in Research and Teaching

by Susan Walsh (Editor), Barbara Bickel (Editor), Carl Leggo (Editor)

This volume presents a scholarly investigation of the ways educators engage in artistic and contemplative practices – and why this matters in education. Arts-based learning and inquiry can function as a powerful catalyst for change by allowing spiritual practices to be present within educational settings, but too often the relationship between art, education and spirituality is ignored. Exploring artistic disciplines such as dance, drama, visual art, music, and writing, and forms such as writing-witnessing, freestyle rap, queer performative autoethnograph, and poetic imagination, this book develops a transformational educational paradigm. Its unique integration of spirituality in and through the arts addresses the contemplative needs of learners and educators in diverse educational and community settings.

214 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2014

Reviews

[Peaches · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the title and thought the chapter on witness consciousness was interesting, but I frankly thought the title was misleading and makes one think it might be far more useful to practicing teachers and arts-based researchers than it is. It's a lot of poetry and not much practical application or work with "students" in some form. I feel the editors and other offers got carried away with themselves and this reader didn't find it compelling.