The Pensacola Museum of Art is hosting Youth Art Focus from January 10 to February 11. It is a display of artwork from public schools in Escambia County. It is also the time of year when the art museum is giving tours to students.
Before a teacher or parent takes children to the museum, it is a good idea to teach them how to look at art. One way to do this is to set up a mock museum of your own. A mock museum is also a way of “going” to a museum when an actual field trip just isn’t possible.
All you need for a mock museum is a variety of art. Posters, pictures from magazines, or art books can be set up around a room or area. Include any type of art you have.
Introduce the activity by saying that the group will pretend to be on a field trip to a museum. Ask them if they’ve ever been to the museum of art.
Begin by going over the rules about not touching anything. Some items can break, and fingers can be dirty. It’s a good idea to stand an arm’s length away from the artwork, both to avoid touching it, and because it’s easier to see everything in the picture. It is best to walk, not run, in a public building so that you don’t trip and knock something over. Talking is OK, but it should be done quietly so that it doesn’t disturb other people.
Allow the students to walk around and look at the various art items for a while, and then draw them back into a group. If walking isn’t possible, ask them to pass the prints around the room. Ask them to discuss their opinions. Opinions are not right or wrong, they are just valid or unjustified. As long as the child has a reason or fact to support their view, then the opinion is valid. In other words, the only wrong answer about why they have an opinion is “I don’t know”.
Some of the questions the teacher or parent might ask include which style of painting do you like the most? Which do you think is the most expensive? What painting would you like to own? Which one do you think took the most time to create? Which one has the most emotion? Which one is your least favorite? Which one makes you feel good when you look at it?
Discuss the history or movement of a particular piece of art. Did hearing about the history of the painting, or the artist help you form an opinion? If their answer is yes, then ask what they can do to make a field trip more meaningful to you? (read the information on the wall, recall what you learned in school, ask questions, or listen to a tour.)
Art appreciation, deciding what you like and don’t like, is important because someday you will own a home, and will have to choose works of art to decorate your home. Art appreciation shows children that some questions have more than one “right” answer. It is one way to teach decision making skills that can be used in other ways throughout their life.
SUNSHINE STATE STANDARD(s): VA.D.1.3 The student assesses, evaluates, and responds to the characteristics of works of art.
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