Visual Art
choice number 1 and 2 for this essay This essay will have students interpreting the message of visual art as opposed to the literary art we have been interpreting. Please select TWO of the options below. Altogether, your essay should be about 4 pages of text. In addition, please include a visual of your subjects and a works cited list of resources as well (NOTE: you should be able to copy and paste from internet images). 1. Select a visual art piece that speaks to you. You may choose this topic from an internet search. Copy the image in your response. Explain to your readers the title of the work, the name of the artist, and give specifics about the piece, such as medium, size, year created, and so on. Find out what you can about the piece, and then explain what you believe the artist is trying to accomplish. What meaning does this work have for you? Discuss in detail. Is there a connection with this piece and any of our literary themes or pieces? Explain the connection(s) you believe are appropriate. (International students may feel free to comment on a popular piece from their culture). 2. View Scott Seligman’s “Black Elk: Homage to the Great Spirit†at the JoAnne and Donald Petersen Sculpture Garden at SVSU. Do some research on this sculpture. Describe the sculpture and its artistic aspects, such as the type of material it is made of, its size, when it was created, etc. What other information did you discover about this sculpture? Hint: You can ask during our visit or find information online. Does this piece speak to you? Discuss its meaning to you. Does this sculpture remind you of any of our readings, themes, or authors? Explain. Make sure to include a visual of the piece in your essay. 3. Select a piece from either the Arbury Art Gallery or the main exhibit gallery at the Marshall Fredericks Sculpture Museum that speaks to you. Explain what you discover about the piece, describe it to your readers, and discuss why this piece is so significant to you. You may want to include what you believe the artist’s intention is with the piece as well. Don’t forget to include a visual in your essay of the piece. 4. Compare and Contrast the garden sculpture experience to the indoor main exhibit sculpture experience at the SVSU sculpture museum. What are the compelling aspects of the two collections (for instance, you may compare light, color, ambiance, etc.)? Describe this experience for your readers. You may comment on how you believe these collections do/do not reflect some of the topics brought up in our class topics. Include a visual as well. 5. Visit the Arbury Art Gallery to the collection by the visiting artist. Research information on the artist. Report your findings. Also, explain what the artist’s intentions are with this collection. Hint—you may find an artist’s statement on our university’s web page along with the artist’s website address. What was your reaction to this collection? Discuss. Do you think this artist’s subject matter tells a similar story to any of our essay writers? Explain. Include a visual that represents a piece of this collection. 6. Research album art online (art presented on the covers of record albums, cds, or dvds). What is the history of this type of art? Select an album or cd cover and interpret the artist’s larger message. What is the purpose for using artistry on records? Include any other interesting information you find on your selected album cover and the artist, and include a visual with your response. Special Notes: Students need not be familiar with art terminology to be successful on this project, nor do students need to know how to write a photo journal essay. Simply follow the directions under each prompt as best as you can. Keep in mind that the goal is to interpret the image as you have interpreted many of our literary works and attempt to connect the subjects and “world†of the literary arts to that of the visual arts.
