Lesson Overview:
In this lesson, students develop a proposal for mounting a multi-arts exhibit based on the theme “The Pursuit of Meaning.” They will also investigate spiritual ideas related to the exhibit theme; categorize concepts, themes, symbols, motifs, and leaders; select examples from the arts to illustrate their conclusions and choices; compile and write an exhibit catalog; defend their conclusions and choices.
Length of Lesson:
Five 45-minute class periods
Instructional Objectives:
Students will:
- identify major ways artists have expressed spiritual ideas, such as through concepts, themes, symbols, motifs, leaders.
- attend an arts exhibit or review the recent experience of having attended one.
- identify the role and tasks of an exhibit curator.
- develop a proposal and exhibit catalog for a multi-arts exhibit based on the theme “The Pursuit of Meaning.”
Instructional Plan:
Introduction
Ask students to identify some artists who have created works that express spiritual ideas. Share examples of art works that depict spiritual ideas, e.g., picture of Chartes Cathedral, photography of calligraphy from the Koran, picture of Native Americans engaged in a religious dance, photography of a Buddha or Bodhisattva. The following Web sites should be useful:
In small groups, ask students to discuss what these images have in common. They should identify some motifs, themes, and symbols that express spiritual ideas in visual works of art.
Theorize with the students about these different artistic depictions of spirituality. Foster a discussion about why artists depict spiritual ideas.
Activity
Ask students to share their experience of attending an arts exhibit, and explain to them that they will be creating proposals for art exhibits of their own. Talk about the role of the arts curator in finding appropriate material for a particular theme or genre in an arts exhibit. You may wish to ask a local art curator to talk to your students about the challenges they face in putting together an art exhibit, or have students attend a lecture given by an art curator.
Students will design an arts exhibit around one topic, such as a culture and medium (i.e., Renaissance depictions of the Madonna); one artist; one theme (i.e., Biblical characters); or some other combination of these of the student’s own choosing that has been approved by the teacher. After choosing a topic, the student will then structure their exhibit as if they were an actual arts curator, and their creation will be a "virtual museum" of this exhibit. The Virtual Gallery activity located on the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco Web site will allow students to build their exhibit online.
In preparation for building the exhibit, you may wish to refer students to My Art Gallery from the Seattle Art Museum. This interactive resource introduces students to the five steps curators follow in creating art exhibits. Students can create their own virtual gallery as they learn about each step. Please note, however, that this site requires students to enter a screen name and password.
The student should also write an essay to accompany the exhibit, describing the exhibit and what it is about, and why each of the included images is important.
Closure
Ask students to review their peers’ exhibit proposals and essays. Lead a general evaluation session, in which students evaluate others’ work, and discuss what they like about particular exhibits and why.
Assessment:
In presenting their proposals for arts exhibits, the students should take care to highlight the following details:
- Why did they choose this topic?
- What links the different works of art they chose?
- In what order are the works presented (i.e. chronological, topical, etc.)?
- Are there sufficient historical backgrounds and descriptions of each work of art?
- Is their depth of research apparent?
Sources:
Print:
- Janson, H. W., and A. F. Janson. History of Art. Revised sixth edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 2001.
Authors:
-
ARTSEDGE and DoDDS, Curriculum Partnership
The John F. Kennedy Center
Washington, DC
