|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
| Movements in art continually
develop and innovate the ways we see, understand, and appreciate
visual imagery. Two radically different, yet complimentary traditions
within representation are abstraction and realism. These terms
are used not only used to describe and interpret visual art, but
also to illustrate language, concepts, and attitudes. Both terms
employ notions of accuracy and likeness in their definitions. Abstraction
and realism allow us to look critically at how we construct meaning
about people, places, and things through visual art forms—such
as portraits and cartoons—but also in other descriptive systems—such
as historical and fictional texts. |
|
|
|
|
|
describing
the real
Subject Area:
Language Arts
Artists: Antin,
Ford, Herrera, Kelley, McElheny, Murray, Osorio, Pettibon, Puryear,
Ritchie, Rothenberg, Sugimoto, Walker
How do the terms abstraction and realism relate to the literary
terms fact and fiction? Contemporary artists commonly draw inspiration
from past eras, mass media, and the world around them to assert
their own particular points of view. This lesson will look at how
historic events or facts are reconceived and recontextualized through
point of view. The non-fiction essay, memoir, epic will be explored
through the visual counterparts of the self-portrait and the tradition
of history painting. (Updated for Season
Three!) |
|
|
|
|
cartoon commentary
Subject Area: Social Studies
Artists: Ford, Marshall,
Pettibon, Walker
In Cartoon Commentary, the medium of political cartoons is used to explore the
way symbolic systems incorporate both realistic representations and abstract
imagery and language to convey ideas. Students will research the history and
technique of political cartoons and create their own cartoons that convey political
or social issues of their time. The contemporary artists in this lesson explore
the cartoon genre, incorporating elements of satire, allegory, and epic narrative
in their work. |
|
|
|
|
looking at likeness
Subject Area: Visual & Performng Arts
Artists: Antin, Hamilton,
Hancock, Hawkinson, Marshall, Walker
Looking at the practice of portraiture, this lesson looks at how ‘likeness’ is
defined and portrayed, as well as the intersections between real events and fictional
imagery in the work of contemporary artists. Students will convey their own ideas
about self-representation through realistic and abstract portraits in a variety
of media including photography, painting, collage, and cut-paper sillhouettes. |
|
|
|
|
“In my work I’m
trying to bring together the history of Abstract Expressionism
with comic book narrative.”
— Trenton
Doyle Hancock
“Everything I’m doing is trying to skirt the
line between fiction and reality.”
— Kara
Walker
“You're confronted when you are
looking at a painting where you don't have specific images to efface
or a figure or a
landscape. You're confronted with something that you are challenged
to resolve and unify...”
— Elizabeth Murray
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
