Welcome to the Middle School Art Appreciation page.
Our 7th and 8th grade classes have art appreciation together on Wednesday mornings. We started the year off with a basic definition of what art is. Aristotle stated art was an activity based on knowledge and governed by a set of rules. But as Christians we understand that art also provides a link between mankind and our Lord God. Genesis 1:1 states that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Right from the start, God shows us His nature is to create. Human beings are the only species that produce art simply for the enjoyment of art. Spiders spin beautiful webs, but there is a reason for their deathly beauty. Man’s reason to produce art is also explained by Aristotle when he said, “imitation then is one instinct of our nature.” Every child loves to color and draw, because it is part of our nature as well. We can not create out of nothing as God did, but we can recreate and this provides a link to our Lord God. So for the rest of the school year, we are studying and analyzing amazing works of art based on the artistic time period it was produced. You might be asking…
Why should we study art?
Art is a window into human thought. By studying collective art groups and individual works, our students are receiving a well rounded view of the world, past and present, as well as their own likes and dislikes. Art provides for us:
- A look into past civilizations. What was important to them and what they wanted to communicate.
- Visual descriptions of fashion, architecture, geography, even astronomy and science.
- An outlet to discuss cultural feelings and emotions as well as personal feelings.
- Reflections of the times it was produced in. This allows us to also understand the events of that time, as they were happening.
- Beauty or horror, both of which can bring us in contact with God.
- Rembrandt once said that, “painting is the grandchild of nature. It is related to God.”
Art is a link in which we can worship our Lord God Almighty.
“Where the spirit does not work with the hand there is no art.” Leonardo da Vinci
Class Structure and Information
The art appreciation class is structured around providing exposure for our students to art. Each week we meet and view art works with a class lecture. Students are asked and encouraged to participate in the discussion with questions and comments about the art we are viewing. A workbook assignment is due the very next day that will consist of 10 questions, all based on the discussion during class. Within the 10 questions will always be “what do you think”questions. To appreciate something requires opinions and it is the goal of this class to encourage the students to form and feel free to express these opinions. There is also a handed out homework assignment that is due at the beginning of the next art appreciation class. This homework centers around getting the students to look at and think about art during the week and sometimes is in preparation for our class discussion. It should not require more that 10 to 20 minutes of work and is based on observations the student is making. I want their opinions! From time to time the students are asked to draw or express their thoughts in pictures. These assignments are never graded for artistic content, but for the expression of the ideas they are asked to convey. Below you will find a list of past and present assignments. Should a student miss class for any reason, I will happily provide make-up materials. It is vital for both of these assignments to be turned in. There are approximately ten workbook and ten homework assignments to a grading period. They are the only grades that will make up the students final grade.
Websites of Interest
This site has photos of art work from the 1100's to 1850. This is one of the websites that the students are directed to in order to complete most of the weekly homework assignments. It contains biographies and a very easy search engine to fine just the right artwork.
This site also has a large collection of art work and is easy to search in. This is another one of the websites that the students are directed to in order to complete most of the weekly homework assignments. It contains biographies and art work, but be careful, Olga will try and sell you art as well.
This site is a little hard to move through, but is worth the extra efforts for it contains anything you ever wanted to look at or know about art and artist.
This time line is close to the time line we are using in class. It also links to limited definitions and artist biographies.
This site has quotes, works of art, and biographies of artist.
This site has a list of virtual tour websites listed by country from around the world.
The following three I highly recommend.
This site has a virtual tour of Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
This site has a virtual tour of one of the finest Museum in Paris...Louvre
This site has a wonderful virtual Tour of Pompeii.
“The true work of art is but a shadow of the Divine perfection,” Michelangelo
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