Archive Journeys: Reise | Biography | Teaching

I believe that the teaching of Art History can nurture in college students a new perspective on human history, a sense of non-verbal communication, an awareness of the tremendous variety of human creativity, and an appreciation of Greatness.

Barbara Reise's CV

Barbara taught at Coventry College of Art and Design between 1968 and 1970. Emphasis focused on giving the students the basic visual and mental tools to create opinions based on structured fact. Students were encouraged to examine paintings both as separate visual entities to the creator, and on a basis of relationships between theory and known facts pertaining to the artists and movements.

Barbara Reise, Proposal for structure of 5-term core project in fine arts,
Coventry College of Art, 1969-70
© Tate Archive 2003

Barbara Reise's notes on the structure of the first term of the 2nd year Fine Art / History course 1970
© Tate Archive 2003

In keeping with her own research methods, Barbara encouraged her students to always question the source material, strive to locate original work, and place oneself in the centre of the art. Barbara was acutely aware of the problems faced by British students interested in contemporary American art in that art schools in England tended to concentrate on the academic teachings of European art. In a letter to 'Bill' from 1968, she expressed her disappointment at the 'meagre collection' of twentieth-century American art books in Coventry's library.

I'm learning a great deal about the limitations of British Art education. It's solid, but very academic or very free - with not much dialogue on either side.

Barbara Reise

The attraction of working as a part-time Associate Professor at Coventry was that Barbara was afforded carte-blanche in the arrangement and structure of the course, whilst allowing time for her to pursue her studies, lecture and write articles for publication. It is important to mention the climate in art colleges around 1968, as strikes and sit-ins by students and lecturers forced many institutions to change their approach to teaching and curriculum.

Following on from her successful lecture at the Midland Group Gallery in 1966, Barbara continued to speak on a diverse range of subjects to students, enthusiasts and critics throughout the UK, in locations such as the Courtauld Institute, the Art Union in Oxford, and even Coventry Cathedral. She had lectured in the US too; at the Eventorium Gallery in New York and Bennington College in Vermont, among others.

Letter from Barbara Reise to Alan Daiches, Gardner Centre for the Arts, 4 November 1970

Barbara's requirements for lectures were laid out in strict terms and presented to the venues with good warning, although this letter shows that Barbara could be demanding in the arrangements. Although she lacked the articulate and fluent style as a speaker that she displayed in her writings, Barbara was always well prepared, enthusiastic and engaging, and keen to strike up a two-way discourse between herself and the audience.

Letter from the Director of the
Midland Group Gallery to Barbara Reise 10 November 1966
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