Art Criticism: From Classroom to Museum Rachel, Ashley & Matti

Last night I had the strangest dream...

Art Criticism Criticism = Appreciation “What a person is emotionally, intellectually and socially will determine the nature of his or her appreciation.” (example: dream activity) “A goal of criticism is to be able to respond more fully to an artwork and to defend one’s opinion regarding it.”

The Language of Criticism Color Texture Shading Lines Structure Contrast Style Landscape Portrait Still Life Abstract Sculpture Pattern Repetition

Teaching Methods to Develop Critical Skills We want children to see art not just as something pretty that exists, but something that was created by someone for a purpose. “When working with a medium, we become conscious of the problems, needs and goals that have influenced our own expressive acts.” “Critical skills can be developed in close relationship to art activities.” There are 4 stages of the “Critical Act”: description, formal analysis, interpretation, and judgment/informed preference

Working with Language “New critical language also provides the teacher with a way to evaluate learning.” So, by discussing color and mood, you can check understanding based on the students’ appropriate use of these elements in their artwork. Through art, teachers can teach literacy by defining new vocabulary terms that are represented in artwork. Extension: Teachers can further this vocabulary by posting famous paintings to a bulletin board and asking the students to put their vocabulary cards next to what symbolizes the word.

Studio Activity: Draw or paint (using watercolor) a scene that conveys the word on your index card - Don’t peak at your friends’ cards! Be creative and fill up as much of your page as possible! “Happy” should not look like this:

Four Stages of Appreciation 1. Description (What do you see?) 2. Formal Analysis (How are things put together?) 3. Interpretation (What is the artist trying to say?) 4. Informed Preference (What do you think of the work? Why?)

Museum Walk Check out your classmates’ artwork! Think about it as an art critic: color? style? shading? Read the “plaques” next to the drawings and paintings

What did you think? Did anything in the reading surprise you? Were you particularly familiar with any of the topics? Can you remember critiquing art as an elementary student? How did this reading impact you as a future teacher? Can you see yourself using art criticism in an elementary classroom? Did you have any favorite quotes?