1.) ART MAKING Why: Inspiration

This section is about the PROCESS of making a work of art.  We will talk about WHY and HOW artists create.  Then, we will introduce you to the work of choreographer David Dorfman and give you a bit of background on his new work underground.

Heather
WHY: INSPIRATION

Artists can be inspired by many different things, activities or environments. For instance, Cezanne, a famous French artist, was deeply inspired by Provence, the area of southern France where he spent most of his life. His paintings try to capture the colorful flowers, fields, and mountains of this region. Not only did he try to represent that landscape, he tried to paint it in a manner that reflected its essence, using bright, saturated colors and thick strokes of paint.

Classroom activity: What inspires you?

Have the class brainstorm what things individual students find inspiring. Have the students divide into groups of 4 or 5 people and ask each group to come up with a list of objects, experiences and environments which they find inspiring. (Objects could be a beautiful rock or a lovely shell from the ocean. Experiences can include walking across the Brooklyn Bridge at night. Environments could range from natural to constructed, even the students’ own rooms.) Combine these lists into one large class list. Then discuss which senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, or spatial) these memories most inhabit.