My teaching style and philosophy engages students to experience and explore hands-on activities, supplemented with the history of that art form. I create opportunities for students to understand the capabilities of materials, to learn different techniques of craft and the meaning associated with media. My slide lectures explore and highlight works outside the scope of Eurocentric art history. Both historical and contemporary, my slide lectures are strategically put together to make history relevant to current events and interesting to my students. I like to teach in a way that brings in critical thinking and art history to complement the medium and techniques the students are learning. Students who learn to think critically, create artwork that is not only aesthetically dynamic but conceptually powerful.
Please reach out for lectures or workshops: garcia.ericj@gmail.com
Soft Power
H42’ x W38.5’ Created with the“Wall Works” summer mini-session course at URN. Collaborated and coordinated with Dept. Chair Kelly Chorpening and Profesor Austin Pratt. Apprentice muralists: Lindsey Aker, Abbey Anderson, Victor Clavel, Sam Clement, Laney Creekbaum, Taylor Ford, Abigail Kermgard, Gabriella Poulsen, Callie Sumsion, and Rachel Weltz. Church Fine Arts Building at the University of Nevada Reno.
Creative Currents
H15‘ x W75’ Collaboration with seven teen mural assistants: Alejandra Carmona, Quela Bruch, Natalie Cruz, Aron Kruchoski, Lizabeth Miscles, Adriana Ortiz and Rosie Thunderchief. Working CLassroom's new building, 423 Atlantic Ave SW Albuquerque, NM 87102. 2011 mural project with Working Classroom and the National Museum of Mexican art.
The Creator and the Destroyer
Acrylic 30’x30’ Collaboration with five teen assistants: Felice Foster, Alyssa Johnson, Juissa Rivera, Michelle Perez, and Angel Pavia. Sponsored by Working Classroom. Abq NM
El Abrazo (phase I)
Collaboration with Katia Perez, Diana Solis, Pilsen community and apprentices: Jocelyn Tlapa, Natalie Alicea, Emmanuel Gomez, and Melissa Vargas. In conjunction with El Paseo Community Garden mural. W115' x H22'
El Abrazo (phase II)
Collaboration with Katia Perez and Diana Solis, Pilsen community and apprentices: Jasmin Martinez, Natalie Alicea, Natalie Aparicio, Jocelyn Tlapa, Yazmin Jimenez In conjunction with El Paseo Community Garden mural. W115' x H22'
The Embrace of La Villita
W21’ x H7’ Acrylic mural. 8th grad graduating class at Corkery Elementary School, in conjunction with the National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago, IL
Exercising Peace
W11’ x H34’ Acrylic mural. 8th grade graduating class at Corkery Elementary School, In conjunction with the National Museum of Mexican Art. Chicago, IL
Two Histories, One School
Design
Detail
Grouting
Completion
W4’ x H12’ Mosaic mural. 8th grad graduating class at Corkery Elementary School, in conjunction with the National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago, IL
Back of the Yards High School Print Workshop
Block printing with high school freshmen Civics class. In conjunction with the National Museum of Mexican Art. Chicago, IL
Bienvenidos
Mosaic mural. 8th grad graduating class at Corkery Elementary School, in conjunction with the National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago, IL
EL RITMO DEL AGUA
5’h x 72’w acrylic mural. Collaboration with six apprenticing teens: Paulina Martinez, Angel Pavia, Katia Perez, Izaiah Ramos, Roman Roberts, and Quentin Williamson. Gateway Park, Corner of Isleta and Bridge, Albuquerque, NM. A collaboration with Working Classroom, Bernalillo County and the National Museum of Mexican Art.