Mission and Vision Statements / Wabi-Sabi Aesthetics

I 

 

Unit: Conceptual Art

Theme: Vision & Mission Statements / Wabi-Sabi Aesthetics

 

Introduction

Statements of a school’s vision and mission are important for keeping a school focused on its core purpose. The statements can act as a guiding north star for school administrators who aim to make decisions that live up to the statements. They are also important because they are documents that parents use to see whether the school meets their family’s values.

 

 

II

Learning Objectives

 

• Understand the meaning of a school's vision statement
• Explain the importance of a school's mission statement
• Gain awareness of the role they play in a teacher's decision making 
• Experience the Wadb-Sabi aesthetics and its application withing the context of a school's vision and mission
  

III

Main Lesson

1

Concepts

Mission Statement
It is a formal summary of the aims and values of a school, company, organization, or individual.

Vision Statement 
A vision statement is a declaration of an organization's objectives, intended to guide its internal decision-making. 

 

2

 
Examples of Mission and Vision Statements as they appear in the websites of three schools.

a)
New World School of the Arts 

https://nwsa.mdc.edu/about/

Mission

New World School of the Arts (NWSA) is a Florida Center of Excellence in the Visual and Performing Arts. NWSA provides a comprehensive program of artistic, creative, and academic development through a curriculum that reflects the rich, multicultural State of Florida. The school empowers students to become state, national, and international leaders in the arts by challenging them with innovative ideas as they prepare for professional careers in a global community. These principles guide intensive and rigorous education for talented high school and college arts students

Vision

We are committed to providing educational and artistic excellence for our students.

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 b)

Miami Arts Charter School

https://www.miamiartscharter.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=153154&type=d&pREC_ID=299441

 

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c)

Design and Architecture Senior High School

https://dashschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=509337&type=d&termREC_ID=&pREC_ID=981020&hideMenu=0

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 3

 Wabi-Sabi Aesthetics

• In traditional Japanese aesthetics, wabi-sabi is a world-view centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete."
•  
• Wabi-Sabi refers to the kind of beauty found in asymmetrical, uneven or unbalanced things. The asymmetry of a ceramic bowl is an example of wabi. Sabi is the beauty of aged things and speaks to the impermanence of life through the passage of time. An example of sabi is the lovely patina found on a rusted old metal wall.
•  
• Wabi-sabi is a concept that motions us to constantly search for the beauty in imperfection and accept the more natural cycle of life. It reminds us that all things including us and life itself, are impermanent, incomplete, and imperfect. Perfection, then, is impossible and impermanence is the only way. 
•  
• With roots in Chinese Zen Buddhism, the story of wabi-sabi can be traced back to a 16th-century Japanese legend about Sen no Rikyu and his tea master, Takeeno Joo. The tale tells how, upon his master's request, Rikyu cleaned and raked the garden to perfection. 
•  
•  Zen Buddhists use a round symbol called enso (円相) to express their version of wabi-sabi. This perfect circle of black ink painted with a thick brush is made of infinite motion: always moving, never standing still. Sometimes, a painting will feature a gap in the circle.

4

5 principles for living the wabi-sabi way

1. Get rid. De-clutter your living space and it will help to de-clutter your mind.
2. Head outside. Give yourself time to sit and think in the outdoors, amongst nature.
3. Live seasonally. Observe the seasons as they come and as they pass.
4. Embrace the imperfect. ...
5. Enjoy your emotions.
   

 

Question 1

How can wabi-sabi principles advance your commitment to make the arts part of the general curriculum?

 

 

IV

A Note to Remember

Using simplicity as one of the key principles for organizing the environment brings many benefits to children's well-being and development.

 

 

V

 Case Study

 

 

 

 

 

VI

Discussion Questions

 

 How can wabi-sabi principles advance your commitment to make the arts part of the general curriculum?

 How does the concept of wabi-sabi apply to installation art work?

 

 VII

 

Activities

 

1

Gather in groups and come up with your group's mission and vision statements in accordance to your ideal school.

 

2

Individual Work: Bring nature indoors with flowers, foliage, twigs, bark, grasses, feathers, pebbles, shells, rocks, crystals, pine cones, conkers, nuts and seeds. Use the nature items to reflect the seasons and create interesting provocations through an installation art piece.

 

 VIII

 

Journaling

 

IX

Glossary

 

X

Sources

 

Statements in School.  https://helpfulprofessor.com/school-vision-and-mission-statements/

LINK:  https://www.communityplaythings.co.uk/learning-library/articles/wabi-sabi-keeping-it-simple

Simplicity by Design.  https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/articles/2021/Simplicity-by-Design

 

XI

 Students' Work 

 Mission & Vision

Team 1 

Marina Tischenkel, Alex Fishbone, Ajay Allen, Grace Lopez, Albion Shala

Vision Statement: 

Our school strives to inspire humanity as a whole that utilizing the arts can create leaders within the world. As educators and administrators, we will create an environment for students that allows them to remain curious in a world that doesn't necessarily promote it. Although curious, our students will strive to be global leaders that ensure the high-level of learning they have recieved can be spread throughout communities all across the world. 

Mission Statement: 

- Ensure students are supported within their academic and personal endeavors

- Invest in teachers and administrators that align with the mission and vision of the school

- Have an inclusive and diverse environment that encourages all students to strive for academic excellence while still allowing for exploration into the unknown

- Utilize various forms of art to enhance and support the academic and creative breakthroughs that students will achieve within the classroom

- Create a social culture that all community members feel heard, included and supported throughout their journey at the school

 

Team 2

Lana Nesheiwat, Nick Diambrosio, Benny Feuer, Allie Rodman, Duke Wyler

Mission Statement: 

Our School is dedicated to empowering youth's education through creativity, hands-on experiences, and utilizing art and music to broaden each student's horizons. 

Vision Statement:

As an early educational institution, we hope to facilitate and awaken young minds through the arts, as a stepping stone in their path to higher education. 

Team 3

Abigail Gendel, Olivia Miller, Meghan Warshauer, Luke Tegan, Jake Irrgan

Mission Statement:

: School dedicated to teaching well rounded students from all different backgrounds, striving to make every child feel important. We have a commitment to diversity and inclusion of all students. Teaching our students to become leaders and always pursuing their dreams by fostering creativity and innovation through the arts.

Vision Statement: 

Give students the proper tools to fulfill their academic and personal goals in and out of the classroom.

 

Team 4

Ryan Steinberg, Ellie Karofsky, Ale Diamond, XinYi Nong, Jaleel Skinner

 Mission Statement:

Our mission for our elementary school aims at having a safe and inclusive environment to empower students to allow them to become responsible, enjoy learning, and learn to respect others and themselves. We focus on creativity, critical thinking, and responsibilities our kids should learn at an early age and the importance of helping others. 

Vision Statement:

Our vision for our school is to create an inclusive learning environment where students are able to explore, collaborate, and innovate in order to achieve their full potential. We visualize students who will leave our school being well rounded and strongly educated students. We embrace diversity, curiosity, and embrace a students own personal learning goals.

Team 5

Nydia Kyriakopoulos, Ella Li, Ethan Ruga, Brady Wisdom, Jared  Harrison-Hunte

Mission Statement: 

We are devoted to promoting creativity in the classroom and individuality. Technology will be used to teach students to efficiently complete assignments. We value adding course curriculum such as education in the arts, that specializes towards each student. Through providing mental support to each student, we ensure a safe environment for all to learn. We believe a collaborative environment is essential for children's success. 

Vision Statement:

With the use of the arts, we can promote an innovative learning environment. We plan to have a once a month school trip where students can journal about their experience and help keep our students well rounded and open minded individuals. We plan for the classroom to be a respectful and creative environment that encourages young minds to freely think. 

 

 Team 6

Alex Trombley, Carlota Cardenal, Logan Bright, Antonio Tripp, Sebastian Chin

 Mission Statement: 

 Our mission is to provide a safe, collaborative, inclusive, and uplifting community for all students to be a part of. We strive to foster curiosity in our students and explore non-conventional ways of learning by using the arts to enhance their creativity.  Students will use different mediums to develop not only academic skills, but social skills as well. 

Vision Statement:  

Our vision is for our students to go on as leaders who instill and foster creativity in others. We hope our school continues to be recognized as a leading creative community in where are students are critical thinkers. Our students will go on to use the arts to find innovative and different solutions to real world problems.

Wabi-Sabi

 

Team 1

 

 

Building Blocks

 

Marina Tischenkel, Alex Fishbone, Ajay Allen, Grace Lopez, Albion Shala

 

This piece represents the building blocks of life. Typically, the school you go to sets the foundation for the rest of your life.

 

 

Team 2

 

 

  The Smile

 

Lana Nesheiwat, Nick Diambrosio, Benny Feuer, Allie Rodman, Luke Tegan

 

This piece represents the philosophical statement "Life is all about happiness." It is saying, "Look at the positives."

 Team 3

 

Perfectly Imperfect  

Abigail Gendel, Olivia Miller, Meghan Warshauer, Luke Tegan, Jake Irrgan

Our piece states that "things that are not perfect are pretty too."

 

 

Team 4

 Shadows

Ryan Steinberg, Ellie Karofsky, Ale Diamond, XinYi Nong, Jaleel Skinner

 Our piece shows the image of shadows. The shadow shows the sunlight coming through the gaps of the leaves. There is a relaxing sensation that comes from looking at the way that the shadows move.

Team 5

Balance

 

Nydia Kyriakopoulos, Ella Li, Ethan Ruga, Brady Wisdom, Jared  Harrison-Hunte

In this piece we state that students should strive for a balanced well-rounded lifestyle. 

Team 6

 

 Circle of Life

Alex Trombley, Carlota Cardenal, Logan Bright, Antonio Tripp, Sebastian Chin

Make Up

Garrett Francis

School Mission: Devoted to educating versatile individuals from diverse backgrounds, with the goal of ensuring every child feels valued. We are deeply committed to fostering diversity and inclusion, striving to mold our students into future leaders who relentlessly chase their aspirations. Through a dedication to nurturing creativity and innovation in the arts, we aim to empower students to become leaders and lifelong dream pursuers.

Vision Statement: Equip students with the essential tools to achieve their academic and personal objectives both within and beyond the classroom setting.

 

Joel Keller

 Mission: our school is dedicated to create an environment that encompasses a variety of teaching styles and learning strategies to give each student an opportunity to learn the way they feel most productive.

Vision: As an early education institute, we will spread students through a variety of different programs to find the style of learning they excel in most

 

Nia Bayardelle

 

Wabi-sabi principles can advance commitment to making the arts part of the general curriculum by helping us to remember that there is art in places you might not initially see it. Implementing art does not need to be expensive or technically perfect, because there is beauty and thus art in the ordinary. By keeping these principles in mind it will be easier to make the arts a priority in the school environment.

 

 

 

Title: Rebirth

As the seasons, plants change. The circle represents the cycle through which plants decay, die, and regrow.

 

Rudolph Stonisch

1. The principles of wabi-sabi can advance the commitment to make the arts part of the general curriculum by fostering an environment where imperfection is embraced, encouraging students to value the creative process over the final product, and promoting mindfulness, self-reflection, and sustainability in artistic expression.

2. In the realm of installation art, the concept of wabi-sabi can be applied by embracing the transient and imperfect nature of materials and designs, encouraging artists to create works that reflect the beauty of impermanence, decay, and the natural lifecycle of materials.