Some of the earliest records of humanity exist as markings on rocks and cave walls. Art works throughout history have recorded and interpreted events from various points-of-view: the artist's cultural grouping, the church, the monarchy, the working class, the individual. Visual depictions offer many unique perspectives and serve as "windows" to the past.
However, visual art is not valuable only for the sake of history. Visual art experiences involve artist and viewer in a process of thinking about the world and the artist's place in the world today.
It is important for students to experience visual art both as artists and as audience. As artists, they can use the processes and materials of visual art to explore their own ideas, experiences, feelings, cultural identities, observations and imaginations. As audience, they can see how other artists have expressed their ideas about the world and their place in the world we all share. In contemporary art (including painting, print-making, architecture, sculpture, craft, commercial art, film, video, gallery installations, etc.) we see artists' reflections on the world in our own lifetimes. Through visual art, we come to see and know ourselves.
The visual art program provides students with opportunities to:
| Unit One | From Source to Expression |
| Unit Two | What's It All About? |
| Unit Three | Traditions and Innovations |
| Unit Four | Optional Interrelated Unit |
The creative/productive component