Dallas Museum of Art Uncrated

Archive Page 43

On your mark, get set, Go van Gogh!

Published August 5, 2016 Art & Teaching , works of art 2 Comments
Tags: 2016 Olympics, Friday Photos, Go for the Gold, Go van Gogh summer library program, Hampton Illinois Library, Mixed Doubles, North Oak Cliff Library

The Rio Olympics may just be getting started, but some of us here at the DMA have been going for the gold all summer long. Former Graduate McDermott Intern for Gallery and Community Teaching, Whitney Sirois, wrote this year’s Go van Gogh summer outreach program,”Go for Gold: Art and the Olympic Games.” The program brings together DMA artworks that celebrate everything we love about the games (gleaming prizes for the victorious!, scenes of athletes in action!, an array of incredible uniforms!), and it has definitely gotten us in the Olympic spirit.

We trained for this moment by looking closely at artworks from Ancient Greece. We crowned ourselves victors with golden pipe cleaner wreaths. We tried a toga on for size. We even got our wiggles out in Olympic fashion–stretching and doing some jumping-jacks, just like athletes! (And then we decided it was a good thing that Olympians don’t wear togas anymore–they make jumping-jacks tricky!).

getting a closer look

toga time!

stretching like athletes

The DMA’s Mixed Doubles painting inspired our art projects. We had to look very closely to determine which Olympic sport artist George L. K. Morris painted. Can you find the athlete’s arms and legs, and their sports equipment in the painting below? Using only triangles of construction paper and black markers, we then created our own similarly abstracted collages of a favorite sport. Many of our abstracted masterpieces were about the very Olympic sports we’ll be watching over the next few weeks.

George L. K. Morris, Mixed Doubles, 1948, American, Dallas Museum of Art, gift of David T. Owsley via the Alvin and Lucy Owsley and Alconda-Owsley Foundations

sporty arms

Hampton-Illinois library

Now it’s your turn to look closely at some artworks! Can you pair the Go for Gold collages below to the matching Rio sport pictograms for equestrian, soccer (football, in Olympic-speak!), and archery? What other sports do you see?

swimming

Amy Copeland
Manager of Go van Gogh and Community Teaching Programs

I’m Never Saying Goodbye!

Published August 3, 2016 People 1 Comment
Tags: internship, mayor's intern, teens

Hey everyone, my name is Joshua Berry-Jones. I’m a summer intern here at the Dallas Museum of Art through the Mayor’s Intern Fellows Program. I was chosen out of hundreds of students to come work for the DMA. In total, I interviewed at six different potential jobs. To be honest, I could have landed anywhere, but by fate I ended up here. I have to say, I couldn’t be happier–working at the DMA is the best!

What I’ve experienced at the DMA has exceeded all of my expectations. I’ve done more things than I can count on my fingers AND toes. I mainly worked with the Go van Gogh program, under my supervisor Amy Copeland. This year’s theme was “Go for the Gold.” We would educate children about Ancient Greece and how art tied into the Olympics. When I was not running around in the Go van Gogh van, I was shadowing many programs here at the DMA. One memorable moment would be when I was dressed up as a mummy for the DISD touch tour for children with visual impairment. Another would be when I choreographed a few dance moves with the Dance for PD program.

2016 Mayor’s Intern Fellow Joshua Berry-Jones

I’ve also been given plenty of opportunities to learn and build upon many valuable traits desired in today’s workforce. I was even allowed to completely coordinate a new program for the DMA in partnership with CitySquare, during which we created art with over 100 kids. I was the point of contact for volunteers, DMA staff, and CitySquare employees. I even came up with the art project the kids made. I am so thankful to Amy for giving me the chance to do that.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Out of the few jobs that I’ve had, and the many I will have in the future, the DMA will have a special place in my heart. Every day when I walk in, I feel a welcoming presence. Every person here has a personality that I cannot forget. These eight weeks have flown by so fast, I feel like it’s still my first day. I will never forget the wisdom and guidance that I gained at the DMA, and in the future, I plan to volunteer and/or work here. For me, this was not a job. This was an amusement park with so many different rides to try. To sum it all up, I really don’t want to leave–I’m never saying goodbye!

Joshua Berry-Jones
2016 Mayor’s Intern Fellow

State Pride

Published August 1, 2016 DMA Store Closed
Tags: Dallas Museum of Art, DMA, DMA Store, Shop DMA, Texas

Everyone can admit there is just a certain draw to Texas. We aren’t sure if it’s the Art, Bar-B-Que, or the Cowboys, but we love Texas and we’ve picked our favorite back to school gifts for you to show off your state pride. All are available online and on-site at the DMA Store.

Pegasus Snow Globe – Decorate your desk with this red Pegasus that has come to represent the city since it first flew over the Magnolia Oil Company building in 1934.

Gold Texas Necklace – This custom gold necklace is a delicate way to show your state pride.

This Is Texas by Miroslav Sasek – The stylish, charming illustrations, coupled with Sasek’s witty, playful narrative, make this book a perfect souvenir that will delight both children and adults.

Dallas Home Glass Set – Cheers to loving Dallas! This glass set makes a great addition to any home.

Friday Photos: So Long, Summer!

Published July 29, 2016 Art & Teaching , Friday Photos 1 Comment
Tags: Summer, Summer Art Camp

With only one week of summer camp left, it’s time to say so long to summer! But before we pack up our sunglasses, let’s take a look at some of the brightest moments from our camps this year!

With nineteen different summer camps, campers explored every corner of the DMA’s collection, and learned about art from all around the world.

Of course, this inspired us to make art (lots of art!) of our own!

At the end of each camp, we shared our masterpieces in an exhibition for our families. One exhibition even took the form of a fashion show!

We’re sad to say goodbye to summer camp, but excited for our next adventure!

Emily Wiskera
McDermott Graduate Intern for Family and Access Teaching

Annual Declaration of Awesomeness

Published July 25, 2016 American Art , Collections , Uncategorized 2 Comments
Tags: American art, Artist Birthdays, Realism, Thomas Eakins

Thomas Eakins is overwhelmingly considered one of the most important American artists. The Pennsylvanian would have been a whopping 172 years old today. His art was deeply influenced by his interest in the anatomy of the human form and the study of motion. The realist painter, photographer, and sculptor took to educating aspiring artists later in his career, and he was both admired and admonished for his controversial and progressive teaching methods.

The painting below—like almost all of Eakins’ portraits—is not a commissioned work, but was done out of friendship. The pensive subject is Gertrude Murray, the sister of one of the artist’s most loyal friends and with whom he shared studio space. As is typical of his extraordinarily moving late portraits, Eakins has isolated his sitter against a neutral background, showing her absorbed in thought. He sets up a tension between his sketchy, bold handling of paint and his intensely observed realism.

Cheers to Thomas!

Thomas Eakins, Miss Gertrude Murray, 1895, oil on canvas, Dallas Museum of Art, Foundation for the Arts Collection, gift of Margaret J. and George V. Charlton, Mr. and Mrs. Jake L. Hamon, The Jonsson Foundation, and an anonymous donor, 1975.1.FA

Julie Henley is the Communications and Marketing Coordinator at the DMA.

Friday Photos: The Stewpot Art Program

Published July 22, 2016 Art & Teaching , Community Connection , Friday Photos , People 2 Comments
Tags: Community, Dallas Museum of Art, program, The Stewpot Art Program

Sam sketching in the galleries.

Exploring how different styles of music inspire our practice as artists.

We tried skeching to four different styles if music including Beethoven and Johnny Cash.

One of the many perks of being a museum educator here at the DMA is having the opportunity to connect with amazing people in our North Texas community and beyond. Thanks to Tanya Krueger, one of our superstar volunteer docents, I’ve learned about the important work being done by The Stewpot, a community outreach program dedicated to serving homeless and at-risk populations here in Dallas.

Tanya volunteers for the Stewpot Art Program, a special program that provides class time and art supplies for individuals looking to express themselves creatively, grow as artists, and support themselves through the sale of their work (be sure to check out opportunities to support the program by donating supplies or purchasing artwork – the artist receives 90% of the sale and the remainder goes back into the program for art supplies and field trips for the artists.) The Stewpot artists themselves are a remarkable group of people. Plan a visit to the studio and you’ll be struck by each artist’s individual style, creative drive, and kind spirit.

Together with Cynthia Brannum, Stewpot Art Program Director, we’ve launched a monthly program for the Stewpot artists here at the DMA that includes a gallery discussion and lots of art-making activities. Speaking for myself, working with the Stewpot artists has been one of the highlights of my summer. Take a look at our first two visits!

Making our own scrolls after visiting the Japanese galleries.

A beautiful day to work in the Sculpture Garden.

Two tiger paintings inspired by the DMA’s collection.

Leon and his Zen-inspired landscape.

Tanya sharing the story of Daruma in the galleries.

Lindsay O’Connor
Manager of Docent and Teacher Programs

Beyond the Coloring Book

Published July 20, 2016 Family Fun , Just for Fun Closed
Tags: Art & Games, coloring, DIY projects, drawing, summer fun

Coloring Book 1

Adult coloring books are all the rage right now, and the perfect relaxing activity to take a break from your spreadsheets at work, the laundry piling up at home, or that never-ending to do list. If you don’t really want to share your coloring books with the kids, here are some creative, easy ideas that go beyond the coloring book.

Coloring Book 3

Graph Paper Drawing
A couple years ago, one of the few things on my nephew’s Christmas wish list was graph paper. He was genuinely thrilled to open up a gridded white board, and got to work right away creating all kinds of designs. If a blank piece of paper is too overwhelming for your child, graph paper drawing is a great alternative. The preprinted lines and shapes provide just enough structure while still allowing for open-ended expression. You can download and print your own graph paper in all kinds of designs, from regular squares to triangles, circles, hexagons, and more, here.

Coloring Book 4

Scribble Drawings
Scribble drawings are still one of my very favorite ways to doodle. Simply scribble a line (or two or MANY) on your paper and then fill in the spaces with color for a fun abstract design. Or, step back, take a closer look at your doodle and see if any images materialize. Can you see a face? A tail? Fill in the appropriate spaces to finish out what your imagination sees in the lines.

Coloring Book 5

Back and Forth Drawings
Turn coloring time into together time by playing simple drawing games together. Tangle Art & Drawing Games for Kids has tons of creative ideas. We tried “Horizon Drawings” here in the office. I drew a wacky horizon line on a piece of paper, then handed it off to Jennifer, who turned it into these delightfully kooky characters. Can’t you just imagine the story that is happening here?

Surreal Drawings
Surreal drawings are another imagination-builder. Start off with an everyday object—clip pictures from recycled magazines or print images from the internet. Challenge your child to transform that object into something new by drawing. Characters are an easy place to begin—a carrot turns into a basketball player, an egg beater becomes a charming friend.

Coloring Book 8

Pokemon Go Unplugged
When it’s time to unplug and disconnect, your kids can still burn off their Pokemon Go steam with a little old-fashioned drawing. Have everyone in the family invent and draw their own Pokemon Go character and hide it somewhere in the house or yard. Call “ready, set, go” and race to see who can collect the most characters.

For more great drawing ideas, check out these links:

Fun drawing games at The Artful Parent

All kinds of drawing prompts from TinkerLab

Drawing game using household objects from Craftwhack

And ten more drawing games from Craftwhack

Happy coloring!

Leah Hanson
Manager of Family and Early Learning Programs

Summer Time and the Livin’ is Easy

Published July 18, 2016 Uncategorized Closed

Though summer is typically a break for many, you won’t find our education staff snoozing through these hot months. Among our lineup of summer programs, the DMA offers unique camps June through August that feature different themes, artworks across the Museum’s collection, and new teachers and campers every week. Talk about excitement!

Our campers have traveled through time and space, explored nearly every inch of the Museum, and used anything and everything to fuel their creativity. Have a look at some of the fun we caught on camera—it’s enough to make you wish summer lasted all year round!

Sketching ideas in the galleries. (Passion for Fashion for ages 6-8).

Making art in the studio. (It’s Greek to Me! for ages 9-12)

Making art in the studio. (Out of the Box for ages 9-12)

Teacher Leah Hanson telling the story of artist Gerald Murphy in the galleries. (ABCs of Art for ages 4-5)

Campers editing their film projects. (Vid Kids for ages 9-12)

Exploring art in the galleries. (Time Travel Kids for ages 6-8)

Some silly camp faces! (Time Travel Kids for ages 6-8)

Fun in Fleischner Courtyard. (ABCs of Art for ages 4-5)

Working on art in the studio. (ABCs of Art for ages 4-5)

Exploring music and art in the African Galleries. (Hands-On Art for Children with Autism)

Making art with light. (Sense-sational Art for ages 6-8)

Jennifer Sheppard is a Teaching Specialist at the DMA.

Friday Photos: Summer Art Camp Interns

Published July 15, 2016 Camps and Classes 1 Comment
Tags: Dallas Museum of Art, Friday Photos, Interns, Summer Art Camp, summer camp intern

I’ll be the first to own up to my pretty serious bias, but I think summer camp is the most wonderful time of the year! The DMA offers unique camps throughout the summer which feature different themes, artworks across the Museum’s collection, and new teachers and campers every week. We wouldn’t be able to manage so much change and excitement without our six camp constants: our 2016 Summer Art Camp Interns! It is my pleasure to introduce Kristin Wright, Clare Mills, Annabella Boatwright, Shannon Bentley, Julia Dotter, and Vanessa White.

Each Monday, these all-star interns greet a new group of campers and put their hearts into creating a friendly, fun, and safe environment for our young artists. They support our teachers, plan lunchtime projects, encourage and challenge campers in their art-making, and are the fastest exhibition set-up crew in the west. Take a look at some of the fun they’ve helped make happen!

Shannon shares a story about color.

Kristin and campers make zombie masks in the studio.

Julia and campers go for a walk in the galleries.

Interns are artists too!

Clare and campers take a sketching break at lunch.

Annabella helps a camper make her creative vision a reality.

Shannon and Julia set up for an end of camp art exhibition.

Vanessa and campers take a sketching break at lunch.

Kristin and a camper investigate art in the African Galleries.

Jennifer Sheppard
Teaching Specialist

Let Them Eat Cake!

Published July 13, 2016 Arts District , Dallas , European Art , Late Nights , Uncategorized Closed
Tags: Bastille Day, Dallas Museum of Art, DMA, French Art, French Revolution

Robert Delaunay, Eiffel Tower, 1924, oil on canvas, Dallas Museum of Art, gift of the Meadows Foundation, Incorporated, © L & M Services B. V., Amsterdam, 1981.105

Robert Delaunay, Eiffel Tower, 1924, oil on canvas, Dallas Museum of Art, gift of the Meadows Foundation, Incorporated, 1981. 105, © L & M Services B. V., Amsterdam

Bastille Day is this Thursday, but the revolution will last an extra day as we continue the festivities during our July Late Night.

To help you practice your French numbers, here are some things you can experience that evening:

Un – The number of movies starring Kirsten Dunst that will be screened (spoiler alert: it’s Marie Antoinette).

Deux – The number of people facing off against each other in our fencing and dueling demonstrations.

Trois – The number of hours DJ Wild in the Streets will spin a mix of eclectic French music.

Quatre – The number of tours that will explore the French Revolution, fashion, and portraiture.

Cinq – The number of hours you can hear live French music performed by local musicians.

Six – The time that Late Night starts, so don’t être en retard!

Sept – The start time for our Late Night Talk sharing a quick history of the French Revolution.

Huit – The number of selfies you should take in front of French portraits in our Rosenberg Collection, and then share them on our Instagram with #DMAnights.

Neuf – The number of rogue mimes you might see walking around.

Dix – The number of times DMA staff might yell “vive la DMA!” during the evening.

Jean Antoine Theodore Giroust, The Harp Lesson (La leçon de Harpe), 1791, oil on canvas, Dallas Museum of Art, Foundation for the Arts Collection, Mrs. John B. O'Hara Fund -

Jean Antoine Theodore Giroust, The Harp Lesson, 1791, oil on canvas, Dallas Museum of Art, Foundation for the Arts Collection, Mrs. John B. O’Hara Fund, 2015.10.FA

In addition to our Late Night, Bastille Day Dallas will expand its annual celebration and bring more French culture to the Dallas Arts District with outdoor activities on Flora Street. So put on your beret, grab a baguette, and join us!

Stacey Lizotte is Head of Adult Programming and Multimedia Services at the DMA.

« Previous Page — Next Page »