Taubman Museum of Art and
the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Summer Institute for Educators
American Vision of Art & Culture, 1778-1950
at the Taubman Museum of Art, 110 Salem Ave., SE Roanoke, VA 24015,
July 31, 2009 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM, $20.00
8:30a.m. Coffee and Registration
9:00 a.m. Welcome and Introductions
9:15 a.m. An American Vision 1800 – 1950 (Lecture)B. Scott Crawford, Deputy Director of Education, Taubman Museum of Art
What makes a work of art truly “American?” This lecture will explore the development of an American vision in painting, sculpture, photography, and film while defining the ways in which art represented the United States not only to the rest of the world but to its own citizens.
10:15a.m. American Portraits Speak (Workshop)
Tanya Gray, Museum Method Educator, Taubman Museum of Art
Following a brief introduction to American portraiture, teachers divide into small groups to work with props and selected background information that relate to American portraits. Each group develops and presents for the larger group a short living-history style presentation designed to bring their assigned American portrait from the Taubman collection to life.
11:15a.m. American Landscape Aesthetic (Lecture)
Jeffrey Allison, Paul Mellon Educator, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Talk to illuminate how the landscape aesthetic in painting led to the great landscape photographers.
12:00 noon Lunch
At Norah’s Café – Free for Institute participants
1:00 Using Art as a Primary Source: The REED-LO Scaffolding Interpretive Matrix
(Lecture)
B. Scott Crawford, Deputy Director of Education, Taubman Museum of Art
This session will explore how to use primary documents and other manipulatives with works of art to find meaning in those works of art.
1:30 Reinventing the Textbook: Bringing the Page to Life (Workshop)
Twyla Kitts, Chair, Teacher and Student Education, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
In this hands-on workshop, teachers use primary sources, images from the Taubman’s and VMFA’s collection of American art, and loads of creativity to create colorful oversized textbook pages on American history topics. This versatile activity becomes an unforgettable learning experience for teachers and students alike.
2:30 Break
2:45 Harlem Renaissance and Writing/Collage Activity
Tanya Gray, Museum Method Educator, Taubman Museum of Art
As artist Jacob Lawrence painted he often abstracted signs of American life in witty, calculated and colorful ways. In this workshop you become a 21st century American collage artist! Each participant will select on iconic American symbol to define, explore, and embellish. Using colored papers and many elements and principles of art and design, such as line shape, color, rhythm, space , and/or balance the room will come alive with large-scale, vibrant and attention-grabbing collages.
4:00 p.m Evaluations and awards of certificates of attendance
Teachers who complete this workshop will receive 5 recertification points.
4:30 p.m. American Architecture Walking Tour
Jeffrey Allison, Paul Mellon Educator, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
B. Scott Crawford, Deputy Director of Education, Taubman Museum of Art
Briefly showcase VMFA’s American Architecture Educational Exhibitions with a focus on Francis Benjamin Johnston and Minds Wide Open. Then, experience the rich and diverse architectural styles existent in the heart of Roanoke including distinct landmarks –historical to current day - all within walking distance of the Taubman Museum of Art.
