The teaching of plastic arts in different contexts of regulated and non-regulated education still supports many relativizable methodologies in terms of being inoperative. The concept of academic masterclass with hierarchical distances, single speech or one-man demonstration are synonymous with failure. In the subject of the second year of the Bachelor of Fine Arts "Laboratory of Materials Techniques and Pictorial and Sculptural Procedures". Faculty of Fine Arts. University of Barcelona, we evidence the object of knowledge of the subject from the so-called "Teaching Tables". This subject works on the knowledge of the artistic matter by the students. In the case of painting, we learn how to manufacture high-quality paints from raw materials in a domestic way and outside of industrial processes. In the subject we attach great importance to recovering the obsolete and disappeared artistic crafts and relating to the raw materials provided by the territory, all with great respect for sustainability and memory. All this, we are convinced, optimizes and motivates towards a good creative experience with good results.
The new paradigm consists of considering the "Table" as a true teacher and the teacher becoming a mere companion and motivator. The "Teaching Table" is articulated monothematically based on the subject program and its idiosyncrasy and components change daily. This one, under the title of the scheduled session, for example: “Huevo Temple Painting” shows on its surface all those raw and elaborated materials that are part of this material and consequently its technique and procedure. The territory of the table becomes a reasonable cartography, aided by a blackboard in which ad-hoc formulations and concepts appear so that in the holistic table-blackboard have the maximum of information. The table acts as a melting pot, brings the group together, motivates the basic explanation by the accompanying teacher and invites us to “cook”, a very appropriate term in the symbolic because these activities are reminiscent of a cooking course: raw material, procedure, result. The kitchen is nothing other than interacting with the table where everything you need appears, materials, handling and preparation tools (always based on established and controlled safety regulations). The "Teaching Table" is not a single day equal and it will adapt to the program without changing its teaching character. The table explains and invites you to investigate and experiment. The table socializes and enhances cooperative and group learning.
Our communication presents photographically and videographically some “Teaching Tables” and analyzes surveys and results of the participants, categorizing an impact of success in their respective learning with respect to other closed and unidirectional methodologies in this area of knowledge.