By Jesse Jimenez, Arts & Entertainment Editor
AP Art is perhaps one of the few, if not the only AP class where students are granted true freedom in the work they do. Art teacher Karen Thomas, just so happens to be the one who teaches the AP Art class at Moreau. In an exclusive interview, we get to learn more about the course, and what it’s like for her to teach it.
Mariner Explorer: What makes AP Art fun for you?
Karen Thomas: “AP Art is a lot of fun because it’s students that really want to be here. They’re not just taking it for one of their electives. They’re not just taking it because they think it’s an easy A. It’s because kids are highly motivated and it’s the one class that allows true and total freedom.
ME: What kind of work is involved in AP Art class?
KT: Unlike any of the other AP classes, there’s no tests to study for, your “test” is a portfolio. However, the portfolio, its imagery, its content is entirely up to you.
You are the artist, you pick what your subject is.” What are you going to experiment with and explore doing?”, and so the students are tasked with the heavy burden of “What’s something I can expand into 15 works of art?” Like, if a gallery wanted to show you, they don’t want to see this, that, and the kitchen sink. They want to see a focus, much like a fashion show wants to see a focus. You’re not going to show bikinis in a winter show, you know stuff like that.
ME: How difficult is the course compared to other AP’s? Considering they are given more freedom.
KT: It’s actually really hard for kids. It’s deceptively hard because they’re used to me telling you an assignment, “This is what we’re gonna do” even though I may allow freedom of imagery, but AP it’s entirely on you. I’m there to help critique, I’m there to help with technical issues that you may have, or experimenting, but I am not here to tell you what to do. That’s why I think it breaks a few kids occasionally, because it is so much freedom. Everyone wants freedom, and then it’s like “Woah!”
ME: Since you mentioned that you don’t necessarily give direction but rather act as a critique, what does student interaction look like for AP Art?
KT:I get to take them on field trips. Like I said, these are kids that WANT to be here, and there’s nothing better than a kid that is really interested in art, that you can geek out with, and sometimes they’re better than you which is awesome. It’s just staggering to see kids who are talented this young.
ME: When did you start to get involved with the AP Art program?
KT: Ever since, I think it was like year three that I got to have AP Art, I’ve never looked back, and it’s such a great program, and so many good kids. It’s the one AP you can take twice, because everytime you take the test you can do a different portfolio with a different subject matter, and it could count twice!
To any Mariner who is interested in this course, definitely talk to Ms. Thomas about it! She is looking for students who are passionate about their work and will make good use of the freedom in AP Art.
About the Author
