ArtAppreciationWorkshopPlan

Activity1:IntroductoryDiscussion

Goal:
Thisactivitywillstartouttheworkshopbygettingthegrouptoconfronttheirbias.Even
thoughsomeoftheparticipantsmaydefendthemoreabstractart,thegoalistogetthemto
recognizetheirartisticpreferences.Iftheyidentifywhatpreconceptionsorideasmakethem
thinkthatabstractandminimalartisnotasgoodasrealisticanddetailedart,theycan
activelychallengethemduringthefollowingactivities,andthustheymaycometoagreater
appreciationbytheendoftheworkshop.Thisisagoodopeneractivitybecauseitintroduces
thegrouptowhattheworkshopwillbeabout,anditinformsthemofexactlywhatthegoalsof
theworkshoparesotheywillfeelcomfortable.

Instructions:
Show4worksofartofvaryinglevelsofabstraction,oneatatime,andhavea
discussionaboutwhatthegroupthinksofthem,identifyingwhatthegroupsdefinitionofart
andgoodartis.

Arttoshow:

LeonardodaVinci.
MonaLisa

AugusteRenoir.
PaulKlee.Stadtbild
WomaninaGarden. Knossos.

KazimirMalevich.
BlackSquare.

Facilitation:

Explainthegoaloftheactivity:Tostartoff,wearegoingtolookatafewworksofartand
haveadiscussionaboutwhetheryoulikethemornotandwhy.Thegoalistogetyouto
confrontyourbiassoyoucanfocusonlettingitgoduringtherestoftheworkshop.

MonaLisaAskIsthisart?.Thegroupwillinevitablyansweryes.Isthisgoodart?.They
willsayyesagain.Whatmakesitgoodart?Allowpeopletoraisehandsorspeakopenly.
Aftereachpersonresponds,summarizetheiranswer/rephraseit.Afterafewpeoplerespond,
SummarizewhatthegrouphasconcludedmakestheMonaLisagoodart.

WomaninaGardenIsthisart?.Thegroupwillinevitablysayyes.Isthisgoodart?Yes,
again.Whatmakesitgoodart?Allowdiscussionaftereachpersonresponds,summarize
theiranswer.Intheend,recaptheelementsofgoodartthatthegrouphassuggestedand
comparethemtothosesuggestedwiththeMonaLisa.NotethatWomaninaGardenismore
abstractthanMonaLisa,butitisstillartaccordingtothem.

StadtbildKnossosIsthisart?.Takeashowofhands.Mostlikelyallwillansweryes.If
anyonesaysno,askthemwhytheythinkitisnotart/whatfactorsmakeitnotart.AskIsthis
goodart?Probablymostwillsayyes.AskIsthisartasgoodastheMonaLisaandWoman
inaGarden?,therewillprobablybearangeofopinions.WhatmakesMonaLisaand
WomaninaGardenbetter?Allowresponses,rephrase/summarizeeachresponseand
articulatethegroupconsensusofwhatmakesgoodart.

BlackSquareIsthisart?.Takeashowofhands.Somemaysayno.Ifso,askwhatmakes
thisnotart?.Asktheoppositetotheothers,Whatmakesthisart?,Howcouldyouconvince
someonethatitisart?.ThenaskIsitgoodart,itisasgoodasthelastthreewelookedat?
Gothrougheachone.IsitasgoodastheMonaLisa?....Summarizethediscussionand
assesswhatthegroupsdefinitionofgoodartis.Ifthegrouphastroublecomparingthe
works,askmorespecificquestions:Whichwouldyoupaymoremoneyfor?Whichwould

youstareatlonger?Whichwouldyouhanginyourhouse?andwhy?Continuethe
discussionandadjustthegroupsdefinitionofgoodartasnecessary.

Transitionintotheappreciationteachingactivities.Nowwearegoingtodoafewfun
activitiestohelpyoubetterappreciatelessrealistic,lessdetailedart.Hopefullybytheend,
youllconsiderBlackSquareandStadtbildKnossosasequaltotheMonaLisaandWomanin
aGardeninqualityand[highlightthemainfactorsthatthegroupjudgedtheworksby].

Activity2:ReproducingaWorkofArt

Goal:
Throughthisactivity,theparticipantsoftheworkshopshouldlearntolookcloselyat
theelementsandprinciplesofdesignpresentinart.Theywilllearnhowtodescribethem,to
recognizethequalitiesofcolor,value,texture,shape,space,line,balance,variety,harmony,
emphasis,proportion,movement,andrhythm.Thiswillhelpthemtoappreciateartbecause
theywillbemoreabletorecognizethenuancesandspecificartisticchoicesthatmaketheart
unique.Whentheylookatartgoingforward,theywilllookatartwithbothacomprehensive
andafocusedlensetogetthefullexperience.Breakingartdownbyanalyzingtheprinciples
andelementsofdesignwillbehelpfulforappreciatingtheartinfurthersteps,aswell.

Instructions:
Doaquicklessonontheelementsandprinciplesofdesign,equippingthegroupwith
somevocabularythatwillbeusefulduringtheactivity.
Halfofthegroupwillbeprovidedwithcanvaspaperandacrylicpaint.Theotherhalf
willlookatanimageonacomputerscreenoronaprojector,outofviewoftheothers.They
willworktogethertodescribethearttothosewiththepaintingmaterials,who,inturn,willtry
torecreatetheartbeingdescribedtothem.Thosepaintingmayaskquestionstothose
describingsothatbothgroupsworktogethertolearntomorecloselyexamineart.Those
describingshouldnotbeabletoseethepaintingsbeingmadebecauseitmayinfluencetheir
description.

Oncethepaintingsarefinished,lookatthemtogetherandcomparethemtothe
original.Haveadiscussionaboutthedifferences,andaboutwhatwordscouldhavebeen
usedinthedescriptiontomakethemmoresimilar.

Arttoshow:

JoanMiro.Personage.

AdolphGottlieb.Glow.

Facilitation:

Doaquicklessonontheelementsandprinciplesofdesign.[prepareaslideshow]

Explainthegoaloftheactivity.Thegoalofthisactivityistogetyoutolookmorecloselyat
art,andtoactivelyrecognizetheelementsandprinciplesofdesignintheart.

Splitthegroupintotwoequalgroups.Explaintheinstructions.Imgoingtohaveonehalfof
youcomeuphere,andIwillshowyouaworkofartonthisscreen.Yourchallengeistowork
togethertodescribeitascompletely,accurately,andvividlyaspossibletotheotherhalfof
thegroup.Ifyoucan,trytoaddresstheelementsandprinciplesofdesignandusesomeof
thevocabularywewentoverinthepowerpoint.Theotherhalfofthegroupwillbesittingat
thistable,andyouwontbeabletoseethepaintingthattheyaredescribing.Iwillprovideyou
allwithcanvaspaper,paint,andpaintbrushes,andyourchallengeistopaintwhattheyare
describing.Ifyouareinexperiencedinpainting,dontbeintimidated,theresnopressure,its
onlyanexercise.Thinkofitasifyouareapolicesketchartistandyouaredrawingthefaceof
thecriminalthatawitnessdescribes,butinthiscase,thecriminalisapainting.Youmayask
questionstothepeopledescribingthepainting,andIencourageyouto.Youwillhave15

minutestodothisexerciseandthenthegroupswillswitchsoyouallcangetboth
experiences.Aftertheactivitywewilltakealookatalltheartyouhavemade,andassess
howsuccessfulyouwereincommunicating,andwhatyouhavelearnedaboutappreciating
art.

Splitthegroupintwoandbegintheactivity.

Postactivitydiscussion:Layoutallofthepaintingsandgivethemafewminutestoexamine
eachofthem.Letthemjotdowntheirthoughts.Separatethepaintingsbythosedonebythe
firstgroupandsecondgroup.Placeaprintoutoftheoriginalworknexttothecopies.First
letslookatthepaintingsdonebythefirstgroup.Howaccuratearethey?Whatarethemajor
differencesbetweenthecopiesandtheoriginal?Howcouldthedescriberscouldhave
describeditmore,ordifferentlysothatthecopieswouldlookmoreliketheoriginal?Repeat
fortheothergroupofpaintings.Howaccuratearethey?Whatarethemajordifferences
betweenthecopiesandtheoriginal?Howcouldthedescriberscouldhavedescribeditmore,
ordifferentlysothatthecopieswouldlookmoreliketheoriginal?addthequestionsWhich
groupdidabetterjobofrecreatingtheirpainting?[ifthesecondgroupdidabetterjob,ask:
Doyouthinkthathasanythingtodowiththeordertheywentin?]Arethereanyspecificthings
thatpeoplesaidthatyoufoundparticularlyhelpfulineitherdescribingthepaintingorinquiring
aboutanelementofthepainting?.FinallyWhathaveyoulearnedaboutappreciatingartin
thisactivity?Howcananalyzingtheelementsandprinciplesofdesigninaworkofarthelp
youappreciateit?Whatdoyouthinkisthenextsteptofullyappreciatingaworkofart,any
ideas?

Activity3:PaintinganEmotion/Feeling

Goal:
Thegoalofthisactivityistoputthepeopleintheshoesofanabstractartistsothat
theycanexperiencewhatitisliketointerpretanemotionorabstractconceptvisuallyinan
abstractway.Hopefully,oncetheytrythis,theywillbeabletodoitinreversetolookata
workofartandinterpretitasanabstractconcept,andtoappreciateitforitsmeaningorthe
emotionsitevokes.

Beingchallengedtopaintanabstractconceptshouldforcetheparticipantsto
consciouslypinpointthewaytheythinkoftheabstractconcept/pictureitintheirmind.Once
theycanidentifythefeelingsthatitevokesinthem,theymustalsoidentifyhowtheyrecall
thesefeelingsvisuallywhatcolors,textures,shapesremindthemofthesefeelings.This
challengeshouldinfluencethewaytheylookatart.Whentheyseeanabstractpainting,they
willnowprocesstheartinthereverseorderoftheactivity:theywillidentifytheelementsand
principlesofdesignpresentinthepainting,andthenwhattheybringtomindorwhat
feelings/experiencestheyevoke.Thiswayofthinkingwillhelpthemappreciateabstractart
becauseitwillhelpthemfindaconcretewaytorelate/connecttotheart.

Instructions:
Allparticipantswillbeprovidedwithcanvaspaperandacrylicpaint.Eachpersonwill
randomlybehandedaslipofpaperwithanemotionorfeelingwrittenonit:thisistheirsecret
subjecttopaint.Theywillhave1520minutestocreatetheirpainting.Theyshouldfeelat
easeandfreetoexperimentwithdifferentpaintingstyles,asitisjustaquickexercise.After
theactivity,eachpersonwillholduptheirpaintingoneatatimeandtherestofthegroupwill
guesswhatsubjecttheywerepainting.

Facilitation:

Explainthegoaloftheactivity:Thegoalofthisactivityistoputyouintheshoesofan
abstractartistsoyoucanexperiencewhatitisliketointerpretaworkofabstractartin
reverse.

Explaintheinstructionsoftheactivity:Inthisactivity,Iwillassigneachofyousomeabstract
concept,andyourchallengeistointerpretthisconceptvisually.Iwillprovideyouallwith
canvaspaperandplentyofpaintandbrushes,youwillhave15minutestocreateasmall
painting.Itisonlyanexercise,sothereisnopressuretocreateafinishedpiece.Justpaintas
freelyandcreativelyasyoucan,thinkaboutwhatelementsandprinciplesofdesignremind
youofyouremotionorfeeling,andputitalldownonthepaper.Therearenorules.Afteryou
finishwewillgoaroundandtrytoguesswhateachpersonpainted.

Handoutsuppliesandbeginactivity.Goaroundduringtheactivityandchecktoseeifthey
haveanyquestions.

Oncetheyarefinished,haveeachpersonholduptheirworkoneatatime,andlettheothers
guesswhattheirsubjectis.

Postactivitydiscussion:Wasiteasyordifficulttoidentifywhatotherspainted?Highlightthat
eventhoughtheymaynothaveguessedcorrectlyforsomeofthem,theystillmadeguesses
whichshowsthattheyfoundsomemeaninginit.Nowthatyouvehadtheexperienceof
beinganabstractartist,doyouthinkaboutartdifferently?

Activity4:ConcludingDebate

Goal:
Thisactivitywillserveasarecapoftheentireworkshoptomakesurethegrouphas
absorbedeverythingtaughttothem.Theywillleavewiththeoppositeframeofmindthatthey
cameinwith:theywillappreciateanddefendtheworksofartthattheypreviouslycriticized
andfailedtounderstand.

Instructions:
Showaworkofartontheprojectorandplaytheskeptic,saying"Thatisnotart
because...",or"Thatisbadartbecause...".Thegroupmustcomeupwithargumentsforwhy
itisart,goodart,usingtheeverythingtheyhavelearnedduringtheworkshop.

Arttoshow:

PietMondrian.CompositioninWhite,Black,
andRed.

WillemdeKooning.ATreeinNaples.

Facilitation:

Explaintheinstructionsoftheactivity:Iamgoingtoshowafewworksofartonthescreen,
oneatatime,andIamgoingtoplayaskeptic.Imgoingtoarguethatthepaintingisnotart,
orthatitisbadart,andyourchallengeistoconvincemethatitisart,goodart.drawingfrom
whatyoulearnedfromtheactivitieswevedonetoday.Youmaywanttolookthroughyour
bookletstoremindyourselfofthingsyouhavelearned.

ShowtheMondrian.Thisisnotartbecausethereisnosubjectmatter,itsjustlines!Let
peoplerespondfreely.Ifthegroupishesitantorconfusedbythework,gobroader.Arthasto
havearecognizablesubject,sothisisnotart.Whensomeonedefendstheartwork,sayoh,I
see,soartdoesntneedto,artcanContinue.Oksomaybethisisart,butitisterrible
art!Mostofthepaintingiswhite,whatisthepointofhavingamostlyblankcanvas?Itsjust
straightlines,Icouldhaveprobablymadethatinfiveminutes!whyisisithangingina
museum?Oncethegrouphasofferedaconsiderablenumberorarguments,Iwillcome
aroundandsummarizetheirarguments.Oh,sothis
is
artbecause...anditisgoodart
because

ShowTreeinNaples.Thisisnotartbecausethereisnoskill,itlookslikeatoddlercould
havemadeit.ThetitlesaysitisaTreeinNaples,butthisdoesntlooklikeatreetome.This

guyisaterribleartist!Arthastoberealistic,andthisisnotOksomaybethisisart,butitis
wayworsethanmostart!Whywouldithanginamuseumthatalsohasartasamazingasthe
MonaLisa?Oncethegrouphasofferedaconsiderablenumberorarguments,Iwillcome
aroundandsummarizetheirarguments.Oh,sothis
is
artbecause...anditisgoodart
because