Art Reflecting Life

The Royal College of Art (RCA) in London held its 15th annual secret postcard fundraising event, November 14-22, 2008. The sale is distinctive in that buyers do not know what artists created which postcard-sized artworks until after purchase. A postcard's artist may be a student at RCA or a world-class professional, which is what makes the event so enticing to both casual art patrons and serious collectors.

Art has been around for at least 30,000 years. We know this from discoveries of early cave paintings. Even then, art served as an expression of the prevailing culture.

During this week's lesson, you will discover art history and techniques. Your exploration into the Renaissance will highlight clear interconnections between art and other aspects of that era's culture. Plus, you will see how the Renaissance built the foundations for many aspects of today's modern cultures. You will also survey today's media and get a chance to create your own video story using online tools.

The Renaissance Connection

During the Renaissance, art enjoyed leaps in its development. Perhaps it is no surprise, however, that other aspects of culture during that era—including science, technology, philosophy, and so on—also experienced an unprecedented growth. Explore this cultural explosion through The Renaissance Connection at the Allentown Art Museum. Enter the Flash or HTML version of the site. The links provided in this lesson refer to the HTML version. For the Flash version, follow along using the link titles. Also, if using the Flash site, make sure to turn your speakers on.

Begin your journey by becoming an Art Explorer, using either the Timeline, Map, or Alphabetical List. In what ways did the categories of changes—that is, the Quest for Knowledge, Arts and Architecture, Patrons Lifestyle, Everyday Life, Trade and Exploration, and Science and Technology—affect each other?

Next, get a clearer picture of how Renaissance Innovations influenced not only that era, but modern life as well. Using the Time Telescope, explore how the Quest for Knowledge, Arts & Architecture, Patrons & Lifestyles, Everyday Life, Trade and Exploration, and Science & Technology have evolved since the Renaissance.

When did other critical advancements in these categories occur? In what ways might modern life have been different without one of those developments happening along the way?

So what was it like to be a Patron of the Arts during the Renaissance? Choose one of the motives for commissioning a work of art—to Glorify God, Glorify your city, or Glorify yourself and your family. Play the game in as many ways as you have time for. Why exactly did wealthy people support art? In what ways did the art supplies of the time contribute to the "look" of the art? How did common customs, beliefs, and changes in fashion trends affect the choice of art subjects and art media?

A good artist could certainly make a living off his or her skills, but what did it really take to live The Artist's Life during the Renaissance? How do you think that compares to being an artist in the 21st century? Choose one aspect of Renaissance life you learned about at The Renaissance Connection that mirrors a similar aspect in today's modern life. Create a collage using newspapers, magazines, or Web sites, or develop another type of illustration that compares and contrasts the two time periods.

An Artful Story

Now, get your hands into Cave Art to Your Art: 30,000 Year of New Media. Watch and listen to the opening, and then begin the ArtEdventure. Read the introduction, which explains your mission, to work through the adventure and complete your own video story. Also, browse through the ideas listed on the right side of the screen.

Get started by stepping into the studio to Choose Video. Watch all of the videos related to each medium listed: Oil Paints, Acrylic Paints, Watercolor Paint, Colored Pencils, and Markers. As you watch and listen to each video, you may wish to take notes about which videos you want to include in your own video story and why. When you have decided which videos to choose, drag each selection from the medium's video gallery to the Video Timeline below. You can also upload a few of Your Pictures to include in your story, if you would like.

Next, Add Text. Use one or more of the Title Card styles to type in and insert explanations or comments throughout your video story. Once you have created a Title Card, drag it to where you want it in the Video layer.

Your last step in production is to Add Music. Choose from the Classical, Folk and World, Rock, and Electronica selections. The music clips vary in length, and you can insert several of the same clip to extend the overall play length of that selection. Play around with a few different genre pieces in your video. In what ways do your music choices affect the tempo and mood of your video?

Now it is time to Finish Movie. Type in your video title and your name. Then download your video so that you can share it with others. Examine and analyze videos of your classmates, and discuss what you have learned about art.

Newspaper Activities

Browse current issues of The Sacramento Bee. Pull photos and headlines that you think illustrate a particular aspect of today's culture. Do not tell any of your classmates the theme you have selected. Use one or more of the pulled elements from the newspaper to create your own artwork that expands on and illustrates this aspect. To do this, get a large piece of art paper or other canvas and apply whatever media you like best or have available. Try using some of the techniques you learned about in the ArtEdventure videos. On the back side of your canvas, write one phrase that explains the aspect of culture your artwork highlights. As a class, create a gallery by posting your artwork. Place a distinctive number, instead of a title, next to each piece. Each student should examine and analyze each piece of art. Write down the number and a phrase that you think best describes the cultural theme the artist is highlighting. Once the class has completely reviewed the gallery, share your analyses with classmates. Each artist should listen to what the reviewers think the theme is, and then the artist should reveal his or her intent.