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The hole goes all the way down to space…

Published October 8, 2010 Friday Photos , People , works of art 1 Comment
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Lee Bontecou, Untitled (35), 1961, welded metal and canvas, Dallas Museum of Art, gift of the Meadows Foundation, Incorporated, 1963.92.FA.

We spend a lot of time here in the Education Department thinking about works of art in our collection and how we can engage visitors with them in provocative, meaningful ways.  The fun part comes when we go out into the galleries to talk to visitors about what they see and what artworks mean to them. 

This past Tuesday afternoon, I spent some time in the Center for Creative Connections talking to a few visitors and one staffer about Lee Bontecou’s Untitled (35), an artwork in the new Encountering Space installation.  Next to Untitled (35), we have a metaphor response wall where visitors can leave their thoughts about the artwork, in response to a few prompts.  I asked visitors a variation of one of the prompts:  What words or pictures come to mind when you look at the work of art?  Below are their responses (look for visitors in the slideshow!). 

It looks like a well, an endless well.  It goes down deep in the ground, so deep you can’t see it.  Not even a flashlight would help.  If you keep imagining, the hole goes all the way down to space, you can see stars.
     -Corinthia, 9 years-old

It looks like something’s in it.
      -Kody, 4 years-old

It’s mysterious, and very intriguing.
      -Brittany, Kody’s mom

Upon walking up, it looks like a carpet design coming out at you.  Like it used to be flat, but it’s coming out at you.  I thought it looked like a volcano, too.
      -Victoria

From far away it looks like a stadium, but then I got closer, and it looks like a building.  It reminds me of the movie Inception–how the buildings come apart.
      -Ivan

It looks like it should be in the Nightmare Before Christmas.
     -Jennifer
[slideshow]

Readers, what words or pictures come to mind when you see this artwork?

Amy Copeland
Coordinator of Go van Gogh Outreach

Friday Photo Post: Walk a Mile in Someone Else's Shoes

Published October 1, 2010 Friday Photos Closed
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This morning, I was thinking about the physical action of walking – putting one foot in front of the other and repeating the process until you arrive at your destination.   As I walked around in the galleries, I couldn’t help but think about “walking a mile in someone else’s shoes.”  Here are some shoes/footwear that I found interesting.   Can you figure out the works of art by looking at the feet below?

  

Until next time….


Jenny Marvel
Manager of Programs and Resources for Teachers

Encountering Space

Published September 24, 2010 Friday Photos , Museum Insight , works of art Closed
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One of my favorite things to do is poke around the Museum when exhibitions are being installed.  I like seeing the bare walls pre-installation, and then watching as they get painted, the vitrines begin to appear in the galleries, and objects are brought into the space, bringing it to life.  Usually I only catch glimpses of this process, but I’ve had a fun last few weeks walking through the Center for Creative Connections every day during the construction of the new Encountering Space exhibition.  (My office is at the back of the space–lucky me!). 

Below are pictures from the installation.  They show just a fraction of this incredibly dynamic space, so I hope you’ll come explore it for yourself. 

Opening Day for Encountering Space is tomorrow.  It will be a perfect day to stop by the Museum; performances, art activities, and artist workshops are scheduled throughout the day, and best of all, the Museum will be free.

Amy Copeland
Coordinator of Go van Gogh Outreach 

[slideshow]

Friday Photo: Inside Scoop from New Interns

Published September 17, 2010 Friday Photos Closed

 

Ashley and Karen: 2010-2011 Education Interns

Hello all!  I am Ashley, the new McDermott intern for Programs and Resources for Teachers.  I graduated from SMU with a B.A. in Art History and Advertising Management.   I have a deep-rooted interest in Asia and a passion for everything French, and my area of focus, Asian influence on European art in the 18th and 19th centuries, allows me to explore both simultaneously.  In pursuit of these interests I’ve worked as an intern at the Crow Collection of Asian Art, studied and researched in France, and lived in China.  My ultimate goal is to obtain a Ph.D. in French art history and become a university professor.  I am thrilled to be at the DMA this year working with the Education Department, where I can both utilize and cultivate my skills.

[slideshow]

The first week in the office has been hectic to say the least, with lots of meetings and an overload of information and little details.  That said, I can already tell this is going to be a fabulous environment in which to work.  Every day I feel that I am learning an immense amount about the collection and special exhibition objects by attending docent trainings, gallery talks and sessions with the curators.  I’ve also already attended my first teacher workshop and am excited to participate and take a more active role in those throughout the school year.  I think this will be a fantastic year and look forward to sharing my experiences through the blog!

Hello Everyone!  I am Karen Colbert and I am excited to be the new McDermott Teaching Programs Intern this year. I enjoy visiting museums, dining with friends, reading, and traveling. The best experience I have had traveling is working with students at the Mahenzo Mission School in Kenya, Africa. 

My first week at the Dallas Museum of Art has been exhilarating.  I have had the opportunity to hear Dr. Roslyn Walker, Senior Curator of the Arts of Africa speak about the current African Masks: The Art of Disguise exhibition during docent training and currently working on a text label project for Gail Davitt, Dallas Museum of Art League Director of Education.  As the year progresses, I will have more opportunities to lead tours in the galleries, teach the Go Van Gogh outreach program with partnering school districts, and participate in many other projects. I look forward to this year of discovery and will keep you posted with “A Day in a Life”.

Ashley Bruckbauer, McDermott Intern for Programs and Resources for Teachers
Karen Colbert, McDermott Intern for Teaching Programs

Friday Photos: The Dallas Arts District

Published September 10, 2010 Friday Photos 2 Comments
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Last year, the AT&T Performing Arts Center opened in Downtown Dallas, and everyone celebrated the completion of the Dallas Arts District.  October marks the one-year anniversary of the ATTPAC, and a month-long celebration has been planned throughout the Arts District, including performances, festivals, and more.    Art in October will end on October 31st with a Closing Celebration, including free admission to the DMA.  A complete calendar of events is available online.

Not only is the Arts District a great place to experience art and culture, but it’s also a wonderful place to explore architecture.  Below are some photos that I took between rainstorms this week of some of my favorite sites in the Arts District.  I hope you’ll bring your students down to explore the Arts District, too!

Shannon Karol
Coordinator of Museum Visits

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Friday Photo Post: Art for Asthma

Published September 3, 2010 Creativity , Friday Photos Closed
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It’s time for the second annual Art for Asthma contest.  This fantastic contest, sponsored by Martha Foster Lung Care Center at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, invites children and teens to express through art how it feels to live with asthma.  Students in grades 1-12 are welcome to participate.  Contest guidelines can be accessed here.  Entries will be accepted now through October 8, 2010, and the awards ceremony will be held at the Dallas Museum of Art in early November.    View a few images below from the 2009 Art for Asthma contest.

Nicole Stutzman
Director of Teaching Programs and Partnerships

Artwork by Brenda Costilla, Grade 7

Artwork by Cooper Safford, Grade 11

Artwork by Audrey MBA, Grade 1

Relax, Recharge, Retreat!

Published August 27, 2010 Friday Photos 5 Comments
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Earlier this week, we set aside a few hours for a staff retreat.  Though one goal was to discuss work-related topics, we also wanted to get outside of the Museum and spend time doing something different. 

Luckily, our retreat coincided perfectly with the opening of Oil and Cotton.  Business and creative partners Shannon Driscoll and Kayli House graciously opened their doors to us, despite the fact that they had just moved into their new space days before.  During the first half of our retreat, Shannon and Kayli helped us personalize small books by screenprinting the cover with designs of our choice.

Some of us brought designs to use for their covers, while others drew their cover designs.  First, we traced our designs onto a piece of mesh fabric held taut by an embroidery loop.  Next, we painted all areas of our design that we did not want to print with regular school glue.  The glue was mixed with blue paint so we could see which areas had been covered. Last, we used a small piece of matboard to push acrylic paint through the areas of fabric not coated with glue.

[slideshow]

Melissa Nelson
Manager of Teaching in the Community 

Capturing Nature

Published August 20, 2010 Community Connection , Friday Photos , People , works of art 1 Comment
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Last Saturday some volunteers and I spent the day sketching in the great outdoors as part of the Museum of Nature and Science’s Discover Fine Arts family festival.  The day focused on connecting science and the arts, and our activity invited visitors to be both artists and scientists; exploring their surroundings closely and capturing them in a sketch.  We used oil pastels, charcoal, ebony pencils, and watercolor pencils to draw the trees, flowers, turtles, fish, birds, giant swan boats, and everything else in and around the Museum’s Leonhardt Lagoon.  It was a fun day!

Below are some of the artists we met and their nature-inspired creations.  

Amy Copeland
Coordinator of Go van Gogh Outreach

Friday Photo Post: What I Did on My Summer Vacation

Published August 13, 2010 Friday Photos Closed
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I took a week of vacation in July and spent a few days in San Francisco.  This was my first time to visit this city, so I had to explore some of the museums while I was there.

Topping my list was the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.  I had heard so many great things about their collection, and I have often referred to their teacher resources.  I spent a wonderful morning there, and I can’t wait to visit again.

I also visited the de Young Museum.  I particularly loved their large collections of African art and Oceanic art.
Lastly, I visited the Contemporary Jewish Museum, where I had one of my best museum experiences ever.  I watched a scribe writing a Torah scroll,  participated in the People’s Torah, listened to Jews on Vinyl, and explored an exhibition of works of art by Maira Kalman.
I hope to make it back to San Francisco soon so that I can visit some of the city’s other great museums!
Molly Kysar
Head of Teaching Programs

Friday Photos: African Masks

Published August 6, 2010 Friday Photos Closed
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I am so excited for our upcoming special exhibition African Masks: The Art of Disguise, opening August 22nd.  We will offer Museum Visits and programs for teachers related to African Masks this fall.  We will also have a brand new African Masks themed Go van Gogh program. 

Some of our Teen Docents helped to create sample masks that volunteers can use during the African Masks Go van Gogh program.  I was so impressed with their creativity that I wanted to share their masks with you.  My favorite is the ferocious lion.

We’re currently accepting requests for the African Masks teacher workshop, as well as Museum visits and Go van Gogh –submit your request form today!

Shannon Karol
Coordinator of Museum Visits

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