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william turner

September 12, 2017 1 Comment

Exploring Works of Art with the Five Senses

Exploring Art with the 5 Art Senses Pin

Inside: Hone your art senses! These multisensory artworks can be explored through the lens of the five senses. Use this free art worksheet to analyze these artworks with your students.

Have you ever completely lost yourself in a painting? Last year, I was at the Art Institute of Chicago when El Greco’s The Feast in the House of Simon engulfed me. It was one of those times where an artwork grabs me and doesn’t let me go.

Cindy at Museum - art senses

When an artwork captivates me, I like to reflect later on what it was that got me–the color, the emotion, the lines, and the scale. In addition to swimming in El Greco’s unmistakable style, I think it was the overall feeling of this place that drew me in–the sights, the sounds, and the atmosphere.

Art can take us away and help us experience new places. Students can experience this journey to new places and work on their descriptive language skills at the same time through close observation and exploration of a work of art.

I have chosen five artworks that you could use to help transport you and your students to a new place through your art senses–whether it is a landscape to experience or an artwork that uses a multisensory approach.

Exploring Art with the 5 Art Senses Pin

Develop your Art Senses

Take these artworks, and use the “Exploring Place: The 5 Senses” from my free printable art worksheet bundle. The worksheet has students imagine they have entered the artwork and describe what they might experience through the 5 senses plus a bonus question about how would it feel to be in this place.

Click here to get my free printable art worksheet bundle which includes the exploring art through the five senses worksheet!

Ann Hamilton’s The Event of a Thread

Exploring art through the five senses a natural fit for installation art. The artist’s goal is to create an experience for the “viewer,” and artists usually always address most of the five senses to do this.

In Ann Hamilton’s The Event of a Thread, large swings hang from the tall ceiling of Manhattan’s Park Avenue Armory. The swings are connected to the top of an enormous and billowing white fabric. As people swing, they directly impact the flow of the fabric.

Records play discordant singing and speaking, spotlights shine down on the swing, bells ring, and the voices of viewers echo in the large chamber.

Visit Ann Hamilton’s website for a longer video of the installation without the interviews.

In the middle under the cloth, I knew it would be a really wonderful place to stand–to have the kind of turbulence and the liquidity of the cloth fall around you. But I was totally unprepared for the fact that people would lay down on the floor and stay horizontal for a long, long time. — Ann Hamilton

Ann Hamilton says one family stayed in the space for three hours to experience it.

Felix Gonzalez-Torres’ Untitled (Portrait of Ross in L.A.)

A huge pile of colorfully crinkled, wrapped candy sits in the corner of the museum floor. Visitors are invited to take and eat a piece of candy if they wish.

Exploring Art with the 5 Senses - Untitled (Portrait of Ross in L.A.) by Felix Gonzalez-Torres Photo Credit henskechristine.jpg
Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Untitled (Portrait of Ross in L.A.), 1991, Photo Credit: henskechristine.jpg

The candy equals the ideal weight of the artist’s partner, Ross, who died of an AIDS-related illness in 1991. As museum-goers take pieces of candy from the installation, it mimics the weight loss that Ross suffered because of his illness. The artist instructed the museum to resupply the candy regularly so that it continually gives life back to Ross.

The taste connection is obvious, but you can also think about the crinkly sound of the candy wrapper, the bright colors, the way it would feel if you were to stick your hand into the pile, and exploring the emotions that come from knowing you were eating away the weight of a sick person.

Extend your discussion further and look at these Instagram posts of the artwork. How does the goofiness of some of the photos fit in with the seriousness of the work?

J.M.W. Turner’s The Slave Ship

JMW Turner, The Slave Ship, 1840 - 5 senses art
J.M.W. Turner, The Slave Ship, 1840

This painting has all of the senses covered–the taste of the salty air and water, the smell of blood and fish, the sound of the roaring storm, the feel of the sharp waves, the sight of the beautiful sunset mirrored in the red blood in the water. It’s a total powerhouse of a painting.

I use this painting in my color lesson to discuss how artists use color to create mood.

Terese Agnew’s Portrait of a Textile Worker

Terese Agnew, Portrait of a Textile Worker, 2005 - five senses paintings
Terese Agnew, Portrait of a Textile Worker, 2005

This 8’x9’ artwork is a construction of 30,000 clothing labels stitched together to make a portrait of a textile worker in Bangladesh (original photo taken undercover by Charles Kernaghan, the Director of the National Labor Committee).

The artist created the artwork in response to an interview she heard about “the appalling treatment of these garment at a plant in Nicaragua where the women were forced to work 14 to 16 hours a day 6 and 7 days a week.”

Students can consider the conditions in these factories by looking closely at this artwork and imagining what it must be like to be in that environment. In addition to analyzing the setting of the artwork, students can also connect with the character and her emotions as well. What can they tell about how they would feel in this space based on the emotions of the woman depicted?

This artwork can also be explored through the sense of touch. If we were allowed to touch this artwork, it would connect us with the 30,000 people across the world who had a hand in making these labels and the clothing they were attached to as well as the thousands of women who hand-cut these labels from their clothing.

Rirkrit Tiravanija’s Untitled (Free)

In 1992, Rirkrit Tiravanija created an art experience in the 303 Gallery in New York City. In the exhibit space, he set up a kitchen, cooked rice and Thai curry, and offered it for free for exhibition visitors. 20 years later, the MOMA recreated the exhibit to scale in its own galleries.

Invite students to explore the taste and smell of the food and the sound of the kitchen alongside the sound of the people talking.

You aren’t looking at the art, but are part of it—and are, in fact, making the art as you eat curry and talk with friends or new acquaintances. — Rebecca Stokes

As an extension, use this artwork in a discussion about aesthetics. Is this art? Why or why not?

Shen Zhou’s Poet on a Mountaintop

Shen Zhou, Poet on a Mountain Top, 1496 - art and the senses
Shen Zhou, Poet on a Mountain Top, c. 1496

Of course, I have to include one of my favorite paintings of all time, Shen Zhou’s Poet on a Mountaintop. As a staunch introvert, this is my dream painting. It is perfect for imagining setting–the quiet nature sounds, the vastness of the landscape, and the smell of morning dew, maybe the faint tinkle of the temple sounds in the background.

As you can see, you can use the five sense worksheet with a variety of types of artworks–from installation art to exploring landscapes to connecting with real people.

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Get the Full Lesson!

This Lesson is in The Curated Connections Library!

Find the full lesson from this post along with hundreds of other art teaching resources and trainings in the Curated Connections Library. Click here for more information about how to join or enter your email below for a free SPARKworks lesson from the membership!

Continue Exploring Art with the Five Senses

Intrigued by the idea of connecting the senses with art? Check out this exhibit from the Tate Gallery that helps visitors explore art through the five senses.

Filed Under: Art Connection Activities
Tagged With: ann hamilton, best of art class curator, felix gonzalez-torres, rirkrit tiravanija, shen zhou, terese agnew, william turner

 

January 6, 2015 19 Comments

A Year of Art Appreciation for Kids: 52 Artworks your Child Should Know

I have compiled for you a massive list of artworks for you to look at with your kids this year. I picked one artwork for each week of the year, and I tried to pick the best of the best. If you haven’t been showing art to your kids, this is a great list to start with! Just sit down and talk about a new artwork each week for a few minutes.

Please note, this post includes Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

How to Talk about Art with Your Kids

Here are some posts from Art Class Curator for tips at looking at art with your kids.

  • How to Look at Art with your Children
  • How to Look at Art with Toddlers and Preschoolers
  • Charlotte Mason Picture Study: An Easy Way to Introduce Art to your Kids

Art Appreciation for Kids

Instead of dividing by week, I divided by time period. Regrettably, this list does not include non-western art or contemporary art. For more awesome non-western art, check out my Art Around the World series. Each entry below includes a link to find the picture.

the Art Curator for Kids - Art Appreciation for Kids - Ancient to Classical Art

Ancient to Classical Art

  • Prehistoric, Nude Woman (Venus of Willendorf), c. 28,000-25,000 B.C.E (On ACFK, 5 Artworks to Promote Introspection) (Buy replica on Amazon)
  • Sumer, the Standard of Ur, about 2600-2400 B.C.E. (Book about this artwork)
  • The Law Code of Hammurabi, King of Babylon, c. 1750 B.C.E (Book about Hammurabi’s Code)
  • Ancient Egyptian, Palette of King Narmer, c. 3000-2920 B.C.E.
  • Myron (Ancient Greek), Discus-thrower (Discobolus), Roman copy of a bronze original of the 5th century BC (Book about this artwork)
  • Hellenistic Greek, Laocoön and His Sons, early first century C.E.
  • Ancient Roman, Augustus of Primaporta, first century, C.E.
  • Ancient Roman, The Alexander Mosaic, ca. 100 BC (Poster of this artwork)

the Art Curator for Kids - Art Appreciation for Kids - Medieval to Renaissance Art

Medieval and Renaissance Art

  • Byzantine, Justinian and his Attendants, Basilica di San Vitale, 547 C.E
  • Gothic, Chartres Cathedral (Book about Chartres)
  • Jan and Hubert van Eyk, Adoration of the Mystic Lamb (Ghent Altarpiece), 1432 (Book about the Nazi theft of this artwork)
  • Sandro Botticelli, The Birth of Venus, 1482-85 (Poster of this artwork)
  • Leonardo da Vinci, Last Supper, 1498 (Print of this artwork on wood)
  • Michelangelo Buonarroti, Sistene Chapel Ceiling, 1508-12 (Jigsaw puzzle of this artwork)
  • Raphael, School of Athens, 1509-11 (Coffee mug of this artwork)
  • Michelangelo Buonarroti, Slaves or Prisoners, ca. 1520-23



the Art Curator for Kids - Art Appreciation for Kids - 17th-18th Century Art

17th-18th Century Art

  • Artemisia Gentileschi, Judith Beheading Holofernes, 1614-20 (On ACFK, Masterpiece Monday) (Novel about the Artist)
  • Gianlorenzo Bernini, Apollo and Daphne, 1622-25 (Replica of this sculpture)
  • Judith Leyster, Self-Portrait, c. 1630
  • Rembrandt, Officers and Men of the Company of Captain Frans Banning Cocq and Lieutenant Wilhelm van Ruytenburgh, known as the Night Watch, 1642 (Canvas print of this artwork)
  • Diego Velázquez, Las Meninas, 1656 (On ACFK, 20 Great Artworks to Look at with Young Kids) (Poster of this artwork)
  • Jean-Honoré Fragonard, The Swing, 1767 (Poster of this artwork)
  • Jacques-Louis David, Oath of the Horatii, 1785 (Poster of this artwork)

the Art Curator for Kids - Art Appreciation for Kids - 19th Century Art

19th-Century Art

  • Francisco Goya, Third of May, 1808 (Mouse pad of this artwork)
  • Eugène Delacroix, July 28: Liberty Leading the People, 1830 (Poster of this artwork)
  • William Turner, Slave Ship (Slavers Throwing Overboard the Dead and Dying, Typhoon Coming On), 1840 (Poster of this artwork)
  • Claude Monet, Les Nymphéas (The Water Lilies), 1840-1926 (Monet magnets)
  • Jean-François Millet, L’Angélus, c. 1857-1859
  • Georges Seurat, A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, 1884 (Coffee mug of this artwork)
  • Auguste Rodin, The Burghers of Calais, 1884-95 (Coffee mug of this artwork)
  • Paul Gauguin, Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?, 1897-98
  • Vincent van Gogh, The Starry Night, 1889 (On ACFK, 5 Exciting Art History Projects for Kids that Made me Say “WOW!”) (Umbrella of this artwork)

the Art Curator for Kids - Art Appreciation for Kids - Modern Art

Modern and Contemporary Art

  • Henri Matisse, Harmony in Red/La Desserte, 1908 (Jigsaw puzzle of this artwork)
  • Edvard Munch, The Scream, 1910 (Inflatable Scream Doll)
  • Franz Marc, Fate of the Animals, 1913 (On ACFK, Art Spotlight: Franz Marc’s Fate of the Animals)
  • Marc Chagall, I and the Village, 1911 (On ACFK, 5 Artworks Your Children will Love) (Poster of this artwork)
  • Wassily Kandinsky, Panel for Edwin R. Campbell No. 4, 1914
  • Salvador Dali, The Persistence of Memory, 1931 (Melting clock)
  • Pablo Picasso, Guernica, 1937 (Jigsaw puzzle of this artwork)
  • Frida Kahlo, The Two Fridas, 1939 (On ACFK, 5 Artworks to Intrigue Your High Schooler) (Poster of this artwork)
  • Jackson Pollock, One: Number 31, 1950, 1950 (Book about this artwork)
  • Francis Bacon, Study after Velazquez’s Portrait of Pope Innocent X, 1953 (On ACFK, Art Around the World in 30 Days – Ireland)
  • Andy Warhol, Campbell’s Soup Cans, 1962 (Converse shoes of this artwork)
  • Robert Rauschenberg, Skyway, 1964
  • Andy Goldsworthy, Fall Leaves (On ACFK, 5 Exciting Art History Projects for Kids that Made me Say “WOW!”) (Book about this artist)

the Art Curator for Kids - Art Appreciation for Kids - American

American Art

  • John Singleton Copley, Watson and the Shark, 1778  (On ACFK: Charlotte Mason Picture Study: John Singleton Copley)
  • Thomas Moran, The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, 1872 (Jigsaw puzzle of this artwork)
  • John Singer Sargent, El Jaleo, 1882 (Poster of this artwork)
  • Frederic Remington, A Dash for the Timber, 1889 (Poster of this artwork)
  • Grant Wood, American Gothic, 1930 (Children’s book about this artist)
  • Jacob Lawrence, The Migration Series, 1940-41 (Children’s book about this series)
  • Edward Hopper, Nighthawks, 1942 (Poster of this artwork)

Whew! This is quite a list. It was hard to choose, and I know I left out some great artworks. Keep reading on Art Class Curator to learn more about teaching art to kids.

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Filed Under: Art Connection Activities
Tagged With: andy goldsworthy, andy warhol, artemisia gentileschi, auguste rodin, claude monet, diego velazquez, edvard munch, edward hopper, eugene delacroix, francis bacon, francisco goya, franz marc, frederic remington, frida kahlo, georges seurat, gian lorenzo bernini, grant wood, henri matisse, jackson pollock, jacob lawrence, jacques-louis david, jan van eyck, jean-francois millet, jean-honore fragonard, john singer sargent, john singleton copley, judith leyster, leonardo da vinci, marc chagall, michelangelo, pablo picasso, paul gauguin, raphael, rembrandt, robert rauschenberg, salvador dali, sandro botticelli, thomas moran, vincent van gogh, wassily kandinsky, william turner

 

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