Asian Art & Culture Interest Group (AACIG) Column: Summer 2023

Congratulations to Tom Anderson and Enid Zimmerman, who have been recognized with the second annual AACIG Distinguished Researcher in Asian Art and Culture Education for their contributions to the field of art education and their positive influences on Asian American scholars and researchers (Figures 1 and 2). These two distinguished scholars have shown remarkable commitment to promoting Asian art and culture and have demonstrated excellence throughout their professions.

Tom Anderson, a highly accomplished professor of art education, taught at Florida State University. He is known for his innovative approaches to art criticism and the “Art for Life” model. During his career, he was named Art Educator of the Year by the National Art Education Association in recognition of his outstanding contribution to art education. Anderson mentored about 40 doctoral students and authored numerous books, chapters, reviews, and articles on art education. He has been the featured speaker at many national and international conferences. Together with his coauthor Melody Milbrandt, he wrote the textbook Art for Life, which modeled a holistic approach to the comprehensive art curriculum. It has been widely used in North America and was translated into Japanese, Korean, and Chinese.

Anderson’s book Real Lives: Art Teachers and the Cultures of School provided insightful views into the daily lives of six art teachers. As coeditor of Art Education for Social Justice, Anderson highlighted the role of art educators in shaping curricula that connect students with effective advocacy for social justice issues. It includes his collaborative work with Professor Takuya Kaneda on the International Kids’ Guernica Peace Mural Project.

[[image Anderson "Figure 1. Tom Anderson received the 2023 Asian Art and Culture Interest Group (AACIG), Distinguished Researcher in Asian and Culture Education."]]

Enid Zimmerman has published numerous research articles and chapters on Asian art and culture, including community-based programs; understanding cultures through their arts; creativity and art education; gifted and talented students; and concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion. She has developed research projects on data visualization and multicultural art education. In the book Counternarratives From Asian American Art Educators: Identities, Pedagogies, and Practice Beyond the Western Paradigm, Zimmerman emphasized the importance of cultivating empathy and appreciation for those from different backgrounds:

I am blessed to have been and continue to be involved in the lives of my former students from Asian countries—now my colleagues, some of whom have settled in the United States. I look to a brighter future where we can all focus on improving the world by performing acts of kindness, healing, and social action, by understanding ourselves and others who may come from different backgrounds than our own. (2023, p. 218)

Her dedication to being a guiding light for countless young scholars is evident. She has formed lifelong bonds with many of her former doctoral students and their families. She is considered an honorary member of their families and, in turn, considers them as her own.

[[image Zimmerman "Figure 2. Enid Zimmerman received the 2023 Asian Art and Culture Interest Group (AACIG), Distinguished Researcher in Asian and Culture Education."]]

Anderson and Zimmerman are shining examples of the unwavering dedication and passion required to promote Asian art and culture. They have established themselves as paragons of excellence in their profession, inspiring countless Asian American students to pursue their dreams with vigor and determination. Their innovative teaching and learning practices have promoted cultural understanding and appreciation. Their visionary leadership and deep commitment have left an indelible mark on the field of art education and continue to inspire new generations of educators and students alike.

Reference

Zimmerman, E. (2023). Cross-cultural insights of a non-Asian art educator and her Asian art education experiences. In R. Shin, M. Lim, O. Lee, & S. Han (Eds.), Counternarratives from Asian American art educators: Identities, pedagogies, and practice beyond the Western paradigm (pp. 215–218). Routledge.

Ryan Shin, AACIG Chair