Being an educator at DHC/ART is a constantly evolving experience. We are a small team that works on everything together: brainstorming, research, writing, and so on. During my studies in Art History, I got used to working on my own. Research, writing, presentations – everything was done with a somewhat isolated approach. I was witness to friends in other programs who would complain about the group work they had. There was always Individual X, who didn’t do anything at all; Individual Y, who contributions weren’t quite up to par; and finally, Individual Z, who picked up all of the slack and did the work for everyone. I felt very lucky to be working on my own schedule and with my own standards.

Since working in the Education Department at DHC/ART, however, I see the error of my reasoning. When you find the right group to work with, the results are outstanding. To sit around a table with people who have similar academic backgrounds but different areas of expertise, and to bounce ideas off of each other is a pure joy. It is as if the ideas that are brought to the table turn into living, breathing entities that take on a life of their own and evolve with every new thought. And this is only the beginning! When the ideas are brought to the light of day in the context of a group visit, they are shared with twenty additional people of different backgrounds. They each have their own understanding, and modify the ideas in their own ways. The discussions that result are always different and always equally exciting and invigorating.

Contemporary art, alive and fresh, merits the rich and layered experience that results from group visits. The artwork itself evolves with each visit, as new doors are opened and new stories told. I now feel lucky to work in a group environment with the DHC/ART Education team, and all of the groups that I have the chance to meet.

Amanda Beattie
DHC/ART Education