Questions about art education inspire artist

LIMA - There is no right or wrong when it comes to art. One person loves Warhol, another despises his work. One artist likes to work with clay, another prefers watercolors. It's an individual thing.

So, if art has no wrong answers, then how do you teach it? And how do you test what is taught?

Questions like these were part of the inspiration for a new exhibit at ArtSpace/Lima, 65-67 Town Square, called "A Question, Presented by Anita Lehman." Lehman is a retired art teacher for Lima schools and has been involved with ArtSpace/Lima for a long time, according to Vanessa Damschroder, ArtSpace/Lima education director.

The pieces featured in the exhibit are abstract mixed media and incorporate written questions based on how art education works within the educational system's structure and regulations. Lehman last taught kindergarten through fourth-grade students at Unity and Liberty elementary schools.

"In other subjects, we usually assume there is a right answer. In art, the process is the right answer," Lehman said. "It was the idea of ‘how do you teach this ... what is important?'"

Art teachers need the freedom to explore these questions and not be so regulated by "right answers," she said. There are more benefits to learning art then simply scoring well on a test. In her classroom mission statement, Lehman would urge her students to use both their minds and their hands to create art.

"I put minds before hands (because it's) not just a matter of the hand," she said. "It is a way to think and to see, too ... to see with your eyes and your mind. (Art education) does translate to other subjects, and integrates with other subjects. Children participating in learning art can help them in other classes ... with teaching them to think," Lehman said.

WHAT: "A Question, Presented by Anita Lehman"

WHEN: Through Nov. 5; Artist reception 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. today

WHERE: ArtSpace/Lima, 65-67 Town Square, Lima

COST: Free

FOR MORE INFO: 419-222-1721 or www.artspacelima.com