After breaking free from an “isolated world” ECC’s Assistant Professor of Visual Arts, Daniel Josh, shares his passion for teaching, the importance of Art, community and diversity.

Q: “How did your passion or interest in art develop?”

A: “ I was born with hearing loss… so I  was in a very isolated world…and so Legos were really kind of the building block of how I got started…my dad encouraged me to take different courses and then it just kept growing and growing.”

Q: “What effects has teaching had on your passion for art?”

A: “ I found that my new passion of Art is teaching. I love teaching more than I do making art anymore.”

Q: “Why did you decide to teach here at ECC?”

A: “ It was a lot of hard work to get here, but it wasn’t intentional…I kind of knew but I didn’t really think about it all. My mom and six sisters… every one of them are educators so it’s almost kind of like a bloodline thing… I fit well here.” 

Q: “Why do you think it’s important to teach kids about art at such a young age?”

A: “ I think it’s very important because…it’s kind of a therapy thing for some people.

Q:  “What do you think is important to convey to your students in regards to art?”

A:  “It’s not going to be easy, and if you’re truly passionate about what you’re doing, the good things will come.”

Q: “ Outside of teaching, what are some of your contributions to the Art Industry?”

A: “ …high school and elementary…outreach…internships outside of here.”

Q: “What is your opinion on artists updating famous paintings in order to preserve them?”

A: “ I’m torn… it’s authentically the way it is through time… You see what happens when it weathers through time.”

Q: “ What do you think about the current U.S. president’s plan to dictate what can and can not be taught in schools and displayed in the art and history museums?”

A: “ I think that it’s wrong… once we start controlling what one should think, that can be dangerous…we can’t forget history but we can learn from it.”