Not art in the dark.

Exploring how art historians gather and present information provides the perfect opportunity to thread the visual arts throughout the curriculum. This interdisciplinary lesson demonstrates a way to teach research methods, computer software applications, and oral communication while keeping the visual arts central to learning.

Objectives

* Thoughtfully contemplate an artist and that artist's contributions to art, culture, and history.

* Effectively communicate meaning through visual and oral presentations.

Essential Questions

* How do artists contribute to art, culture, and history?

* How can art historians record and present information that they learn about artists?

Materials

* Books, magazines, and websites

* Power Point[R] or other presentation software

* Optional: worksheet to guide students in locating key information

Introduction/Motivation

Explain to students that they are to act as art historians. As an art historian, students must be thorough and accurate in their research and compelling in their presentation. Note that they will learn to use computer software to present information.

Learning to Research

Encourage students to utilize all available resources for art research. If art vocabulary is introduced, make sure students understand and can explain what the words mean. Provide a worksheet that lists key elements to be discovered such as:

* where and when the artist lived, worked, and died;

* the artists' style and production methods;

* interesting or unusual facts about the artist or why certain artworks are considered significant contributions to a culture or history.

Learning to Use the Software

1. Open the software program and create the first slide. The title of the presentation should include the name of the artist. The name of the student may be written on a byline below.

2. Practice changing and enlarging fonts. Avoid hard-to-read fonts. Before exiting the page, highlight the artist's name and use the copy function.

3. Insert a new slide and paste the artist's name that was copied from the title page. Copying and pasting the title on each page will add unity to the presentation. In addition to the title, the second slide will include the artist's date of birth and death, as well as the places where the artist lived and worked. Artists still living should have a note indicating where they currently reside. Add bullets to set the facts apart from each other.

4. The third slide will contain three important facts about the artist.

5. Repeat this step for the fourth slide. Include at least one fact or anecdote that will capture the audience's attention.

6. Use a fifth slide to show an example of the artist's work. Not all images found online are free of copyright. Contact the web master for permission to use images.

Tips for Creating Clear Visuals

Instruct students how to liven up presentations with color. Demonstrate the proper use of transitions by selecting a few words or lines to be animated. Animation can enliven a presentation.

Presenting to a Group

Art historians share their work through written and oral presentations. Students should rely upon their presentations as outlines rather than text to be read verbatim. Effective oral presentations include use of good posture, voice-volume control, gesturing, and facial expression.

Closure and Assessment

Practice makes perfect. Organize students into groups of two or three. Allow time for group critiques and tweaking of slide shows. Ask students to be alert to whether the slide show demonstrates thoughtful contemplation about an artist and the artist's contributions to art, culture, and history.

WEB LINK

www.gsu.edu/-artwgg/atmos.htm

Pare Stephens is an art specialist in the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District, Hurst, Texas.