To prepare for a field trip to a local art museum, art class members journal their initial reactions to a reproduction of the work they will focus on during their visit. The whole class then considers the artistic elements in the piece and compares them to elements in other works by the same artist. Groups then consider the role of museums in society and how to protect art for future generations.

Concepts

art museums, art analysis, elements of art, historic preservation

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Additional Tags

visual and performing arts

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Instructional Ideas

• Play Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" while projecting the works of the artist they will study at the museum

Classroom Considerations

• The first in a three-lesson unit
• The unit includes a visit to The Getty Museum, but could easily be adapted for a visit to any local art museum
• Requires considerable prep time to gather a reproduction of the work of art class members will examine during their visit and to prepare reproductions of other works by the same artist
• Class members should have prior knowledge of the elements of art (line, shape, form, space, color texture, etc.)

Pros

• Includes links to the elements of art and principles of design handouts

Cons

• No rubric is included for the research porject