What is Art?

Dear Middle School Families,

"I think the restless water symbolizes the uncertainty of the events being portrayed in the picture" and “the blurry and unclear style conveyed the message of a chaotic, disruptive scene”. These were two comments from our students as we sat in the Art Museum looking at Edouard Manet's The Battle of Kearsarge and the Alabama. And this was just our second stop on our tour! 

To begin our adventure, our group was asked to consider the painting A Reading from Homer by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema.  When asked to critique the work, our students commented on the composition’s structure, the use of calm color tones, the graffiti written on the top right of the picture, the pathway of the eye, the vanishing point, and the way the artist “captured the folds and textures of the cloths on the figures.” Again, I was impressed with the ability to analyze the composition using precise language and critical thinking skills.

On our third stop, our students were given the opportunity to sketch the painting.  You can see one of the sketches below. It shows the preparation and training our students have received during their art classes both in the Lower School and also during the last two years with Mr. Hanna. 

For those of you who are interested, the painting was Mount Sainte-Vinctoire by Paul Cezanne. 

After deconstructing Picasso’s Man with a Violin, we again were encouraged to draw using this style. I include two more student pieces below.

Our final pieces of art encouraged our students to answer the challenging question "What is art?" While the answers to this thought provoking question are too plentiful to share here, I will leave you with a reflection from one student:

“I really enjoyed the art museum because it was a great way to see different artists I normally would not have looked at. I remember that each artist used a different style to convey his/her thoughts.”

I look forward to witnessing our 8th grade’s growing understanding of art as they progress through their rigorous studies this year.  

Sincerely,

Shane

Dr. Shane Kinsella

Head of Middle School