A Lasting Impression
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1 A Lasting Impression An Introduction to Pennsylvania Impressionism James A. Michener Art Museum’s Traveling Trunk James A. Michener Art Museum • 138 South Pine Street • Doylestown, PA 18901 MichenerArtMuseum.org • 215-340-9800 2 A Lasting Impression James A. Michener Art Museum’s Traveling Trunk Table of Contents Lessons Lesson 1: First Impressions pages 3-4 Lesson 2: Improvisational Theater pages 5-6 Lesson 3: Journals and Boxes page 7 Lesson 4: Contemporary Connections pages 8-9 Lesson 5: The Arts and Media pages 10 Lesson 6: Painting Impressions page 11 Lesson 7: Michener Museum Impressions pages 12-13 Lesson 8: Women in the Arts pages 14-15 Lesson 9: Impressionism and the Environment page 16 Lesson 10: Your Last Impression page 17 Appendix 1: Vocabulary pages 18-24 Appendix 2: Standards pages 25-40 Appendix 3: Biographies and Visuals pages 41-102 Appendix 4: Bibliography pages 103-104 James A. Michener Art Museum • 138 South Pine Street • Doylestown, PA 18901 MichenerArtMuseum.org • 215-340-9800 3 A Lasting Impression James A. Michener Art Museum’s Traveling Trunk Lesson 1: First Impressions Social Studies, Studio Art, Language Arts, Art History Connections Objectives: Students will be introduced to the themes and materials in the James A. Michener Art Museum Culture Kit, A Lasting Impression. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the vocabulary presented in the Lasting Impressions Culture Kit Students will become familiar with the distinctive style in Pennsylvania Impressionist paintings, through the works of Lathrop, Redfield, and Sotter Students will use original documentation to learn about the history of Pennsylvania Impressionism Students will understand the importance of Bucks County heritage as it relates to Pennsylvania, American, and French Impressionism Lesson Ideas Explore the Culture Kit Display the contents of the Culture Kit in your classroom or school library. Provide students with the opportunity to explore the contents of the kit and ask questions. Use student questions as motivation for the research and activities you complete in conjunction with the materials and resources in the kit. Explore Concepts Students will need to take a step into the not so distant past when they are reviewing the contents of the kit. Students could develop these understandings individually, or in groups. As historians, they will need to consider: The role of documentation while researching the time period, including photographs, letters, and newspaper articles The role Pennsylvania Impressionism plays in the time frame of art history – American Impressionism, French Impressionism, and beyond The influence of style on art – art, clothing, society, etc. The influence of technology on art – transportation, art materials, photography, etc. Explore Impressionism How did French Impressionism come to the United States? Research how the art world on two continents was connected at that time. Include the role of transportation, photography, business, society, and media in your discussion. William Merrit Chase, Childe Hassam, and John Henry Twachtman all focused on the Impressionist hallmarks of familiar subjects and rapid technique, and left a distinct mark on American painting. How were these artists influenced by Impressionist work being created in France at that time? Compare and contrast the works of Pennsylvania Impressionists with Impressionist work being created by these artists. Compare and contrast the works of Pennsylvania Impressionists Daniel Garber, William L. Lathrop, Edward Redfield, and George Sotter. Describe how each artist James A. Michener Art Museum • 138 South Pine Street • Doylestown, PA 18901 MichenerArtMuseum.org • 215-340-9800 4 portrays light, color, time of day, brushstrokes, weather, and mood. Reference primary resources including photographs, letters, and newspaper articles in your discussion of the works of these artists and how they approached their landscape paintings. Explore En Plein Air What does this French phrase mean? Create an “en plein air painting. Describe the insights you develop while considering the outdoors, the elements, and your materials while completing this original artwork. How did the invention of the paint tube impact their working methods? Explore Leadership Have you ever been in a leadership position? Have you ever had the opportunity to start something new, in your home, school, or community? Painter William Lathrop was a leader. He was instrumental in establishing the community of Pennsylvania Impressionist artists soon after he moved into his home and studio at Phillips’ Mill in 1899. He and his wife Annie hosted tea parties for the New Hope Colony of artists every Sunday to engage them in dialogue about the arts. He was a dedicated teacher, and he mentored several members of the New Hope School’s first and second generation of painters. Research the pivotal role the Lathrop’s played in the establishment of the New Hope art colony and the spread of the Impressionist style in Bucks County. Use primary sources to support your findings. Additional Curriculum Connections: Geography: How do the landscapes painted by the PA Impressionists depict the natural geography of the region? How are these landscapes different today (Significant waterways, canals, etc.)? Travel/Transportation: Steamship travel was an important part of the lives of these artists, as some had the opportunity to study in Europe. Artists would use authentic steamer trunks, such as this, when they traveled for many days. How was steamship travel different from the modes of transportation today? What kinds of things did people have to endure during these travels? James A. Michener Art Museum • 138 South Pine Street • Doylestown, PA 18901 MichenerArtMuseum.org • 215-340-9800 5 A Lasting Impression James A. Michener Art Museum’s Traveling Trunk Lesson 2: Improvisational Theater Social Studies, Art History, Language Arts, Theatre Connections Objectives Students will demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the Pennsylvania Impressionists by participating in a research-based improvisational theater activity. Lesson Ideas The Research Research the key figures in Pennsylvania Impressionism (MichenerArtMuseum.org). Students will create an index card with the name of the artists on the front, and a brief, three or four sentence description of his or her personality, likes and dislikes, and creative tendencies on the back. Place these cards in a bowl for students to choose from for the improv activity. The “Character Worksheet” below could also be used as a basis for student research about the artists they will portray. In this case, students would portray the artist they researched. For example, Lathrop may be described as supportive, caring, kind, a lover of nature and art, sensitive to the environment around him, dedicated, and organized. What voice, gestures, and movement would he demonstrate? How does this compare with what you learn and imagine about Edward Redfield? The Drama Encourage students to think about the kinds of conversations the Impressionists had when they held their weekly parties at the Lathrop’s. Encourage students to think about the environment they lived in. Encourage students to think about the personalities of all the artists that were in the New Hope Art Colony, and what they endured - to have the confidence to show their work, promote it, and go against the traditional way of doing artwork. Consider their movements and gestures, voice, posture and mannerisms. The Activity In the front of the classroom, place two chairs. Two students select artist cards out of the bowl or basket, and sit on the chairs. They strike up a conversation, pretending to be the artist named on the card they selected. The teacher may need to ask a leading question each time to get the conversation started. Allow students to converse for one to two minutes. At the end of the time, the student on the right facing the class leaves, the student on the left moves into the chair on the right, and a third student chooses a card, sits in the empty chair, and continues the conversation, making sure to play the artist written about on his or her card. The activity continues until every student has had a chance to participate. Use props found in the James A. Michener Art Museum’s Culture Kit, A Lasting Impression, while engaging in the improv activity. The scrapbook, clothing, paint kit, and tea set will liven up the conversations. Discuss the artists at the end of the activity. What have you learned about them while acting these parts? James A. Michener Art Museum • 138 South Pine Street • Doylestown, PA 18901 MichenerArtMuseum.org • 215-340-9800 6 A Lasting Impression James A. Michener Art Museum’s Traveling Trunk Character Worksheet Actor’s Name: ____________________________________________________ Artist’s Name: ____________________________________________________ I. Who Am I? A. Background: Family: __________________________________________________________ Education: _______________________________________________________ Occupation: ______________________________________________________ Hobbies/Interests: _________________________________________________ B. Mental: Intellect: _________________________________________________________ C. Spiritual: Values: __________________________________________________________ Beliefs: __________________________________________________________ Ethics: __________________________________________________________ D. Emotional: Temper: _________________________________________________________