Celebrating Art, Craft and Computation

Abstract

We often treat art as a fun but ultimately frivolous endeavor. We leverage it to entice kids to learn about the important things--math, science, or computing. But, art plays a uniquely powerful role in the formation of young people's identity, both intellectual and personal. This talk will argue that we should appropriately honor, interrogate, and understand it. I will celebrate the abiding connections between art, craft, and learning in computing. I'll examine the history of these integrations and connect them to the expanding role that computation plays in professional art and design communities. I'll explore the marvelous array of tools that are available for blending art, craft, and computing, and advocate for the explicit recognition of creative expression as central to many, perhaps most, learning experiences in computing.