VICTOR D’AMICO-ARTIST, TEACHER, VISIONARY, PIONEER
1904-1987
Victor D’Amico, (dah-mē-cō) was a remarkable artist, teacher, visionary and pioneer of modern art education. He was considered a spokesman for art education in America and was the founding director of the Education Department at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) for more than 30 years (1937-1970). While at MoMA D’Amico created innovative learning environments for people of all ages, as well as outreach programs for the community. He also offered free art classes for any teacher from public schools.
One program he established was called the Children's Art Carnival. It was an elaborate environment of toys, workstations and art materials where children could make paintings, sculptures and collages. In addition to the Carnival, D’Amico added the Children's Art Caravan, a mobile version of the art carnival designed to travel to communities throughout New York City. The Art Carnival still exists today and has “grown into an award winning nationally recognized arts organization… reaching approximately 5,000 youngsters annually” (The Children's Art Carnival, 2015).
In 1960, Victor D’Amico anchored a retired World War I Navy Barge on the eastern end of Long Island and created The Art Barge, a place for art classes, workshops, and teacher training classes. Today, the Barge is open from the beginning of June through the end of September and offers workshops in painting, collage, pastel, watercolor, 3d, drawing, mixed media and photography.
While working at MoMA, D’Amico kept extensive records of his work. These records, called The Victor D'Amico Papers are now available for viewing at MoMA. The collection includes correspondence, audio and videotapes, clippings, and personal documents. They also provide an educational curriculum made specifically for museums, and drafts and completed publications such as his book Experiments in Creative Art Teaching.
The included website connects to a 1969 radio interview between art historian Ruth Bowman and D'Amico. The interview reveals some of D'Amico's philosophies and ideas regarding art education. D'Amico believed that all individuals were created with creative potential and that art education should be based on making art - as opposed to the teaching of repetitious techniques. Copying was not effective. It produced a result without the experience of creation. D’Amico also believed that children, as well as adults, “need the guidance of experienced and sensitive teachers” and stated that "motivation is the key to creation, an art teacher’s magic lies in the way he/she motivates.”
Even though D'Amico passed away in 1987, his work continues to influence artists and art educators today.
Quotes
"The arts are a humanizing force and their major function is to vitalize living."
“Talented is a misused word…all children have a measure of talent.”
“Motivation is the key to creation…an art teacher’s magic lies in the way he/she motivates.”
“Painting is a natural expression of childhood, and one of the best media for stimulating creative response. Its fluid movement and ease of control make it pleasing to most children. It encourages spontaneity and originality in the most stubborn and inhibited nature. With the proper attention and direction, the tense, the academic, and the timid can be reborn through painting into a world of freedom and satisfaction.”
“The art teacher is vital to the education of the individual; his selection and preparation are, therefore, of great importance.”
Other Accomplishments
Victor D’Amico was an active member of Progressive Education Association, chairing the committee that produced The Visual Arts in General Education in 1940, a report on the function of art in secondary education.
In 1943, D’Amico helped establish the National Committee on Art Education as a means to provide leadership for excellence in creative art teaching without making compromises.
He was a prolific author on the subject of art education and received numerous honors and awards, including an honorary doctorate of fine arts at the University of Pennsylvania in 1964.
References
1931-1950 Important Figures. (n.d.). In History of Art Education. Retrieved January 27, 2015, from http://ntieva.unt.edu/HistoryofArtEd/index.html
The Art Barge. (2015). In The Art Barge. Retrieved January 19, 2015, from http://theartbarge.com/barge/
The Children's Art Carnival. (2015). In NYC Service. Retrieved January 26, 2015, from http://www.nycservice.org/organizations/861
Bernstein, S., & Shaw, E. (1969, October 30). Pioneering in Art Education. In The Museum of Modern Art. Retrieved January 24, 2015, from https://www.moma.org/momaorg/shared/pdfs/docs/press_archives/4364/releases/MOMA_1969_July-December_0057_134.pdf?2010
Bowman, R. (1969, November). Views on Art. In WNYC. Retrieved January 19, 2015, from http://www.wnyc.org/story/victor-damico/
D'Amico, V. (2011, September). In Heath Trust Digital Library. Retrieved January 21, 2015, from http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015007229712;view=1up;seq=1
Hartman, C. (2012, December). Victor D’Amico Papers Now Available in the Museum Archives. Inside/Out. Retrieved January 12, 2015, from http://www.moma.org/explore/inside_out/2012/12/06/victor-damico-papers-now-available-in-the-museum-archives
McGill, D. C. (1987, April). Victor D'amico, 82, A Pioneer In Art Education For Children. In The New York Times. Retrieved January 19, 2015, from http://www.nytimes.com/1987/04/03/obituaries/victor-d-amico-82-a-pioneer-in-art-education-for-children.html
Stankiewicz, M. A. (2001). Roots of art education practice. Worcester, MA: Davis Publications.
One program he established was called the Children's Art Carnival. It was an elaborate environment of toys, workstations and art materials where children could make paintings, sculptures and collages. In addition to the Carnival, D’Amico added the Children's Art Caravan, a mobile version of the art carnival designed to travel to communities throughout New York City. The Art Carnival still exists today and has “grown into an award winning nationally recognized arts organization… reaching approximately 5,000 youngsters annually” (The Children's Art Carnival, 2015).
In 1960, Victor D’Amico anchored a retired World War I Navy Barge on the eastern end of Long Island and created The Art Barge, a place for art classes, workshops, and teacher training classes. Today, the Barge is open from the beginning of June through the end of September and offers workshops in painting, collage, pastel, watercolor, 3d, drawing, mixed media and photography.
While working at MoMA, D’Amico kept extensive records of his work. These records, called The Victor D'Amico Papers are now available for viewing at MoMA. The collection includes correspondence, audio and videotapes, clippings, and personal documents. They also provide an educational curriculum made specifically for museums, and drafts and completed publications such as his book Experiments in Creative Art Teaching.
The included website connects to a 1969 radio interview between art historian Ruth Bowman and D'Amico. The interview reveals some of D'Amico's philosophies and ideas regarding art education. D'Amico believed that all individuals were created with creative potential and that art education should be based on making art - as opposed to the teaching of repetitious techniques. Copying was not effective. It produced a result without the experience of creation. D’Amico also believed that children, as well as adults, “need the guidance of experienced and sensitive teachers” and stated that "motivation is the key to creation, an art teacher’s magic lies in the way he/she motivates.”
Even though D'Amico passed away in 1987, his work continues to influence artists and art educators today.
Quotes
"The arts are a humanizing force and their major function is to vitalize living."
“Talented is a misused word…all children have a measure of talent.”
“Motivation is the key to creation…an art teacher’s magic lies in the way he/she motivates.”
“Painting is a natural expression of childhood, and one of the best media for stimulating creative response. Its fluid movement and ease of control make it pleasing to most children. It encourages spontaneity and originality in the most stubborn and inhibited nature. With the proper attention and direction, the tense, the academic, and the timid can be reborn through painting into a world of freedom and satisfaction.”
“The art teacher is vital to the education of the individual; his selection and preparation are, therefore, of great importance.”
Other Accomplishments
Victor D’Amico was an active member of Progressive Education Association, chairing the committee that produced The Visual Arts in General Education in 1940, a report on the function of art in secondary education.
In 1943, D’Amico helped establish the National Committee on Art Education as a means to provide leadership for excellence in creative art teaching without making compromises.
He was a prolific author on the subject of art education and received numerous honors and awards, including an honorary doctorate of fine arts at the University of Pennsylvania in 1964.
References
1931-1950 Important Figures. (n.d.). In History of Art Education. Retrieved January 27, 2015, from http://ntieva.unt.edu/HistoryofArtEd/index.html
The Art Barge. (2015). In The Art Barge. Retrieved January 19, 2015, from http://theartbarge.com/barge/
The Children's Art Carnival. (2015). In NYC Service. Retrieved January 26, 2015, from http://www.nycservice.org/organizations/861
Bernstein, S., & Shaw, E. (1969, October 30). Pioneering in Art Education. In The Museum of Modern Art. Retrieved January 24, 2015, from https://www.moma.org/momaorg/shared/pdfs/docs/press_archives/4364/releases/MOMA_1969_July-December_0057_134.pdf?2010
Bowman, R. (1969, November). Views on Art. In WNYC. Retrieved January 19, 2015, from http://www.wnyc.org/story/victor-damico/
D'Amico, V. (2011, September). In Heath Trust Digital Library. Retrieved January 21, 2015, from http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015007229712;view=1up;seq=1
Hartman, C. (2012, December). Victor D’Amico Papers Now Available in the Museum Archives. Inside/Out. Retrieved January 12, 2015, from http://www.moma.org/explore/inside_out/2012/12/06/victor-damico-papers-now-available-in-the-museum-archives
McGill, D. C. (1987, April). Victor D'amico, 82, A Pioneer In Art Education For Children. In The New York Times. Retrieved January 19, 2015, from http://www.nytimes.com/1987/04/03/obituaries/victor-d-amico-82-a-pioneer-in-art-education-for-children.html
Stankiewicz, M. A. (2001). Roots of art education practice. Worcester, MA: Davis Publications.
