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Fall Teacher Workshops

Published August 4, 2010 Art & Teaching , works of art Closed

As we all prepare for the 2010-2011 school year, I wanted to share upcoming opportunities for you to engage with Museum education staff and educators from around the DFW area, and, of course, explore works of art from all times, places, and cultures.

Register now for one or more of the following Teacher Workshops at www.tickets.dallasmuseumofart.org/public/default.asp

Teacher Workshop with Artist Jill Foley
Wednesday, August 11, 2010 from 9:00am – 4:00pm
ONLY A FEW OPENINGS LEFT!

Meet mixed-media artist Jill Foley and contribute to Living Room, her imaginative cardboard environment.   DMA staff and the artist will lead this interactive and creative workshop that includes time in the studio and in the Museum galleries.

 Arts of Mexico 
Saturday, September 11, 2010 from 9:00am – 12:30pm        

Explore the arts of Mexico in the Museum’s collection and the historical significance of artworks and artists in the exhibitions José Guadalupe Posada: The Birth of Mexican Modernism and Tierra y Gente: Modern Mexican Works on Paper. 

African Masks:  The Art of Disguise
Saturday, September 25, 2010 from 9:00am – 12:30pm

Experience the power and wonder of African Masks: The Art of Disguise.   Investigate the functions and meanings of African masks and consider how they are used today.

 French Art 
Saturday, November 13, 2010 from 9:00am – 12:30pm

Explore 18th -20th century French paintings and sculptures, the Reves Collection, and the special exhibition The Mourners: Medieval Tomb Sculptures from the Court of Burgundy.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Until next time….
Jenny Marvel
Manager of Programs and Resources for Teachers

A Sense of Place

Published July 29, 2010 Art & Teaching Closed

Last week, fifteen middle school and high school teachers from around the area participated in the 2010 Museum Forum for Teachers: Modern and Contemporary Art.  During the full day sessions, teachers deepened their understanding of contemporary art and architecture through gallery experiences and discussions with Museum staff, as well as with each other.   Each day was spent at one of five Dallas–Fort Worth institutions: Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Kimbell Art Museum, Dallas Museum of Art, Nasher Sculpture Center, and The Rachofsky House.

There were five themes and ideas that were discussed throughout the week and each institution addressed one or more these through writing, sketching, discussion, or creative responses.

  • A Sense of Place
  • Absence and Presence
  • Memory and Fragmentation
  • Collecting and the Creative Process
  • History as Subject

For me, the thematic connection to “place” was the most thought-provoking and inspiring.   Although a museum is a place that protects works of art and objects, the building itself can be a treasure.  Many of the museum buildings visited during the Forum, like the Kimbell, The Modern, and the Nasher Sculpture Center,  were designed to have a direct relationship with natural light and the outside world.

No space, architecturally, is a space unless it has natural light.    –  Louis Kahn

Place is also communicated through the artwork of Richard Long, Hamish Fulton, and Robert Smithson as they relay their experiences with the natural world through words and materials like sand and stones.  All of these experiences with place, whether I was responding to a work of art or feeling the texture of a wall or column, allowed time for me to look closely and thoughtfully consider my surroundings.

Here are a few images from the 2010 Museum Forum:
Continue reading ‘A Sense of Place’

Coming Soon: The 2010-2011 School Year

Published July 21, 2010 Art & Teaching , Museum Insight Closed
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It’s hard to believe that the summer is almost over.  It seems like just yesterday that Amy and I were blogging about the end of the 2009-2010 school year and now we’re both preparing to schedule Go van Gogh programs and Museum visits for the 2010-2011 school year.

The Museum has an exciting exhibition schedule for the fall, and we will offer a variety of programs, including Teacher Workshops, Go van Gogh programs, and docent-guided visits, inspired by these exhibitions.  You can find more information on our Web site.

I am especially excited to offer the following special exhibition visits for the coming year.  These are topics that will appeal not only to art teachers, but to English and social studies teachers as well:

A complete listing of Teacher Workshops will be available in August, and we will begin taking reservations for Museum visits and Go van Gogh on August 1st (request forms will be available online).  Our calendars fill quickly, so schedule your programs early. We look forward to seeing you and your students at the DMA during the coming year!

Shannon Karol
Coordinator of Museum Visits

DFS + DMA = Summer Film Fun

Published July 9, 2010 Art & Teaching Closed
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Mark Menza teaches sound design for film at the DMA.

The second annual offering of Film Workshops for youth are in full swing this summer at the DMA.  Dallas Film Society is a key partner for these workshops, recruiting film industry professionals from the area to lead workshops at the Museum.  Workshop topics include cinematography, sound design, costuming and set design, animation, acting, and screen writing.

Nicole Stutzman
Director of Teaching Programs and Partnerships

Zombie make-up for these young stars!

Stop-motion animation set

What's Not to Love About Being a Teen Docent?!?

Published July 7, 2010 Art & Teaching , Creativity , Museum Insight , People 4 Comments
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Did you know that we have a group of twenty-seven Teen Docents who lead tours at the DMA each summer?  We are lucky to be the fearless leaders of the Teen Docent program, and we both love working with this talented and enthusiastic group of students.  The Teen Docent program was started because the Museum believes that teens have a unique ability to capture the interest of our youngest visitors and help them to see how works of art relate to their lives.  

Amy and Shannon with some of the Teen Docents

 

Teen Docents are wonderful at sparking imagination in the children they tour, and their enthusiasm in the galleries is contagious.  Some of the teens are new to the program this summer, and some have been with us for three or more years.  The Teen Docents come from a variety of backgrounds, but one thing that they all have in common is their excitement for sharing works of art with children.  

Amy and Shannon with even more Teen Docents

 

We asked some of the teens to reflect on their role at the Museum, and here are their responses: 

  • “If I were able to better someone’s experience at the DMA, and not only mine, it would make being a Teen Docent at the DMA worth every minute of my time.”
  • “I enjoy assisting others in creative ways.  It is wonderful to be around warm smiles and beautiful pieces of art.”
  • “I just want to be able to contribute to the greatness of the museum and in the process learn more about it.  I want to show people how much fun museums are and that it’s not nerdy to love museums.”
  • “I like touring children that have an excitement for the art.  I want to hear their perspectives about certain pieces and try to pass on interesting information they might not know.”
  • “My whole life, I have had an interest in art and I want to continue to feed that interest.  I enjoy learning about different styles of art and artists and what better way than at the museum.  Last year, I enjoyed my time as a Teen Docent enormously and I look forward to making new friends, memories, and continuing my study of art.” 

 

It’s not too late to schedule a visit to the DMA for your group this summer.  Teen Docents will be touring through mid-August, and we would love to welcome your students for a Color My World or A Looking Journey tour.  Email tours@DallasMuseumofArt.org to schedule your visit! 

Amy Copeland and Shannon Karol
Coordinators of Go van Gogh and Museum Visits

Summer Reading

Published June 30, 2010 Art & Teaching 1 Comment
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A couple of years ago, the education staff at the DMA decided to form a monthly reading group to keep up with the many books and articles that relate to teaching and learning, works of art, and art museums.  Since then, we’ve met once a month to discuss a reading over lunch.

Here are a few of my favorite books from which we’ve read.  I hope that you find something interesting to add to your summer reading list!

Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul by Stuart Brown, M.D.

Peak: How Great Companies Get Their Mojo from Maslow by Chip Conley

Art as Experience by John Dewey

Tell Me More: Listening to Learners Explain by Eleanor Duckworth

A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers will Rule the Future by Daniel Pink

The Wisdom of Crowds by James Surowiecki

Evocative Objects: Things We Think With by Sherry Turkle

Molly Kysar
Head of Teaching Programs

Friday Photos: Exploring Creativity

Published June 18, 2010 Art & Teaching , Creativity 1 Comment
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Today is the last day of Summer Seminar, our annual partnership course for teachers with The University of Texas at Dallas.  The topic this year was The Creative Process, and we have spent the week exploring both the theory and the practice of creativity.  Here are a few photos of our experiences this week.

Molly Kysar
Head of Teaching Programs

Mexico 200

Published June 16, 2010 Art & Teaching , works of art Closed
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The Workers, Alfredo Ramos Martinez, 1944-45

The Museum is gearing up to celebrate the bicentennial of Mexico’s Independence with two exciting exhibitions, both opening June 18th.   

José Guadalupe Posada: The Birth of Mexican Modernism showcases the artworks of Posada, a Mexican printmaker whose popular images of social and political satire illustrated broadsheets and leaflets in the early 20th century.

Tierra y Gente: Modern Mexican Works on Paper  highlights the Museum’s stellar collection of mid-20th century Mexican works on paper.  Included in the exhibition are prints, drawings, and photographs that explore how artists captured the people of Mexico in their native land. 

Also highlighted during the Mexico 200 celebration are the Museum’s rich collections of Ancient American, Spanish Colonial, and modern Mexican art, which together span over 2,000 years of art-making by Mexican artists. 

Works from Mexico 200 will be highlighted in this summer’s Go van Gogh library outreach program, Arts of Mexico.  Each summer Go van Gogh volunteers visit Dallas Public library branches to present free, hour-long programs for a drop-in six-to-twelve year-old audience.  Arts of Mexico will introduce students to the artistic styles and cultural ideas and beliefs of Mexican peoples expressed through ancient and modern artworks.  The program will include interactive conversations and art-making activities, a recommended reading lists for learners of all ages, and a free family pass to the Museum for participants. 

Below is a schedule of our upcoming Arts of Mexico library programs.  Please confirm space availability with the library in advance.  We hope to see you at the library (and at the Museum)!

Wednesday, June 23rd @ 2:00p.m.
Highland Hills, 3624 Simpson Stuart Road, 75241

Friday, June 25th @ 2:00p.m.
Kleberg-Rylie, 1301 Edd Road, 75253

Thursday, July 1st @1:00p.m.
Martin Luther King Jr., 2922 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 75215

Tuesday, July 6th @ 2:00p.m.
Lochwood, 11221 Lochwood Boulevard, 75218

Friday, July 9th @ 2:00p.m.
Bachman Lake, 9480 Webb Chapel Rd., 75220

Wednesday, July 14th @ 2:00p.m.
Renner-Frankford, 6400 Frankford Road, 75252

Thursday, July 15th @ 2:00p.m.
Forest Green, 9015 Forest Lane, 75243

Friday, July 16th @ 2:00p.m.
North Oak Cliff, 302 West Tenth Street, 75208

Monday, July 19th @ 10:30a.m.
Arcadia Park, 1302 North Justin Rd., 75211

Tuesday, July 20th @ 2:00p.m.
Timberglen, 18505 Midway Road, 75287

Wednesday, July 21st @ 2:00p.m.
Preston Royal, 5626 Royal Lane, 75229

Wednesday, July 28th @ 2:00p.m.
Paul Laurence Dunbar Lancaster Kiest, 2008 East Kiest Blvd, 75216

Thursday, July 29th @ 2:00p.m.
Oak Lawn, 4100 Cedar Springs Road, 75219

Friday, July 30th @ 10:30a.m.
Fretz Park, 6990 Belt Line Road, 75254

Amy Copeland
Coordinator of Go van Gogh Outreach

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Upcoming Summer Teacher Programs!

Published June 8, 2010 Art & Teaching , Creativity , Museum Insight Closed
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Congratulations to all teachers for the completion of another school year!   My colleagues and I would like to invite you to join us  for great learning experiences with works of art this summer.  Below are a few opportunities for you to engage with Museum education staff and educators from around the DFW area, and, of course, explore works of art from all times, places, and cultures.

Summer Seminar:  Exploring the Creative Process
Tuesday, June 15 – Friday, 18, 2010
9:00 – 4:00 daily
$100 registration fee

Explore both the theory and practice of creativity in sessions led by Dr. Magdalena Grohman from The University of Texas at Dallas and DMA staff.    Sessions will include gallery experiences in the Museum’s collections and Center for Creative Connections, creative thinking workshops, and discussions about classroom applications.

Visit the website for more details and to register. 

ONLY A FEW OPENINGS LEFT!

Museum Forum for Teachers: Modern & Contemporary Art Monday, July 19 – Friday, July 23, 2010
10:00 – 4:00 daily  
$250 includes all instruction, materials, and lunch each day
The Museum Forum is a week-long summer program for middle school and high school teachers of all disciplines.  Participants will spend each day at one of five Dallas–Fort Worth institutions: Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Kimbell Art Museum, Dallas Museum of Art,  Nasher Sculpture Center, and The Rachofsky House.

The application deadline has been extended until July 1.

SAVE THE DATE
Teacher Workshop with artist Jill Foley
Wednesday, August 11, 2010  
Details coming soon at www.DallasMuseumofArt.org/teachers

Join DMA staff and visiting artist, Jill Foley, for an interactive workshop filled with imagination and creativity.   Foley, a Dallas-based artist, describes her work as her consciousness turned tangible.  She creates large scale imaginary-type spaces to host her puppet-like figural sculptures and her paintings and drawings.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Until next time….

Jenny Marvel
Manager of Programs and Resources for Teachers

Saying Goodbye the Only Way I Know How

Published May 21, 2010 Art & Teaching , Friday Photos , People , works of art 2 Comments
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My time as a McDermott Intern at the Dallas Museum of Art is drawing to a close. Along with my seven fellow interns who began at the DMA in September, I will be walking the galleries with the McDermott title for the last time next Friday afternoon. I have had amazing experiences while working at the Museum and getting to know the collection, and even though I will only be moving up the road to UTD as I finish my Master’s degree this summer, I felt a ceremonial goodbye way in order, the best way I knew how. Here are a few of my favorite works of art at the museum and my loving tribute to them!

Emma-O, the Japanese Buddhist Judge of the Dead

Untitled (Perfect Lovers) by Félix González-Torres

Luba Arrow Holder with Head and Three Prongs

Rembrandt Peale's Porthole Portrait of George Washington

Emblem by Sam Francis

Hindu God Shiva Nataraja, Lord of the Dance

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