Memorial Art Gallery: Memory Theatre

Take a virtual field trip and check out some photos from the amazing  Memory Theatre show at the Memorial Art Gallery. Last week on December 5th, students from all Upper School art classes and the fourth grade visited the MAG. We saw some incredible artwork, created memories, and reflected on past memories. Think about the three following prompts as you enjoy these photos from the show…

• My first memory is…
• I wish I could remember…
• One of my favorite memories is…

Students enjoying a video projection

Judith G. Levy
Memory Cloud, 2013
American
Slide viewers, 35mm slides, and ball chain

Judith G. Levy Memory Cloud, 2013 American Slide viewers, 35mm slides, and ball chain

Lorne Covington
Entanglement #1—Hawaii, 1936, 2013
American
Video display, depth camera, PC, custom real-time imae processing software

Lorne Covington Entanglement #1—Hawaii, 1936, 2013 American Video display, depth camera, PC, custom real-time image processing software

We did a  quote activity in the gallery. Students blindly chose a quote from a paper bag. We had two bags, one with quotes for Lower Schoolers and one with quotes for Upper Schoolers.

1. Read the quote
2. Find the piece of art that you feel matches up with your quote best.
3. Think about why you have selected it and what the connections are.
4. Meet up with your group. Visit the quotes from each person in your group.
5. When it’s your turn explain to the group why you chose the piece of art and how it connects to the quote.

You can download the quotes here.

Viewing the work of Yana Payusova

Yana Payusova Home, 2010 Russian Acrylic and India ink on canvas 36 in. x 36 in. (91.44 cm x 91.44 cm)

Yana Payusova Moving Down the Moving Stairs, 2009 Russian Acrylic and India ink on canvas 60 in. x 15 in. (152.4 cm x 38.1 cm)

Finally, as a way of  incorporating reflection into their art classes the Upper Schoolers had the choice to create one of four different assignments…

1. Letter
   Write a letter to one of the artists. You should comment on areas of the work that attract or interest you in looking further. Include interesting questions to the artist about their process, materials, product, or inspiration.

2. Art Critic
   Write an article for the newspaper or a blog summarizing and critiquing the exhibition. Choose a piece that represents the strongest and weakest piece of the show. Explain why you have categorized them as such. Elaborate on your opinion.

3. Curator
   Choose 3-5 pieces from the show to create a mini exhibition that could be displayed at Allendale Columbia. Why have you chosen the pieces? What do you like about them? Why do you think that they belong together? What will you title the mini exhibition.

4. Memory in Art
   What is the importance of memory in art? What role does memory play in our everyday lives and the world around us? Why is memory important? How are artists using memory to create works. Choose 2 pieces from the show that use memory and talk about what you found interesting about them?