Visions of Place: Complex Geographies in Contemporary Israeli Art Educational Guide for Teachers Introduction Israel is a complex, fascinating country, the significance of which, for many people, far outweighs its tiny size and population. Yet many in the United States know relatively little about Israel in general, and, particularly, about its vibrant contemporary expressions of art and culture. With this exhibition of the works of a diverse group of 36 contemporary Israeli artists, the curators hope to provide viewers with a rich artistic experience, as well as a series of lenses through which to view and to better understand the complexities of the country as represented through the perspectives of its contemporary artists. The central theme of this exhibition is geography—the relationship to place, in its physical, personal, social, religious, historical, and other manifestations. Geography, conceived in this broad sense, is an inescapable part of Israeli life, its psyche and art, and issues in relation to geography are some of the most pressing in the contemporary world. The exhibition is divided into five sections: The Past in the Present People in the Land Contested Geographies Interventions: From Destruction to Healing Diverse Identities Curricular Connections Visions of Place - Museum Education Program and Teacher’s Guide Activities: The identification of applicable National Arts Education Standards, New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards, key terms, website resources, and appropriate post-visit activities will serve teachers as a guide in extending the value of the gallery experience into the classroom both before, and after your visit. Since suggested activities and discussions must be described to cover a broad range of grade levels, all will likely need some modification or adaptation to meet the needs and capabilities of your individual students and/or your curriculum. Curricular Connections National Arts Education Standards: Creating: Conceiving and developing new artistic ideas and work Anchor Standard: Students will: 1. Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work. 2. Organize and develop artistic ideas and work. 3. Refine and complete artistic work. Performing/Presenting/Producing: Performing: Realizing artistic ideas and work through interpretation and presentation. Presenting: Interpreting and sharing artistic work. Producing: Realizing and presenting artistic ideas and work. Anchor Standard: Students will: 4. Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation. 5. Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation. 6. Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work Responding: Understanding and evaluating how the arts convey meaning. Anchor Standard: Students will: 7. Perceive and analyze artistic work. 8. Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work. 9. Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work Connecting: Relating artistic ideas and work with personal meaning and external context. Anchor Standard: Students will: 10. Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art. 11. Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural and historical context to deepen understanding. New Jersey State Core Curriculum Content Standards: Standard 1.1 The Creative Process: All students will demonstrate an understanding of the elements and principles that govern the creation of works of art in dance, music, theatre, and visual art. Standard 1.2 History of the Arts and Culture: All students will understand the role, development and influence of the arts throughout history and across cultures. Standard 1.3: Performance: All students will synthesize those skills, media, methods, and technologies appropriate to creating, performing, and/or presenting works of art in dance, music, theatre, and visual art. Standard 1.4 Aesthetic Responses & Critique Methodologies: All students will demonstrate and apply an understanding of arts philosophies, judgment, and analysis to works of art in dance, music, theatre, and visual art. Standard 2.2 Integrated Skills: All students will develop and use personal and interpersonal skills to support a healthy, active lifestyle. Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy 2. Reading, writing, and speaking grounded in evidence from texts, both literary and informational 3. Building knowledge through content-rich nonfiction 6.2 World History/Global Studies: All students will acquire the knowledge and skills to think analytically and systematically about how past interactions of people, cultures, and the environment affect issues across time and cultures. Such knowledge and skills enable students to make informed decisions as socially and ethically responsible world citizens in the 21st century. 6.3 Active Citizenship in the 21st Century: All students will acquire the skills needed to be active, informed citizens who value diversity and promote cultural understanding by working collaboratively to address the challenges that are inherent in living in an interconnected world. 8.2 Technology Education, Engineering, Design, and Computational Thinking - Programming: All students will develop an understanding of the nature and impact of technology, engineering, technological design, computational thinking and the designed world as they relate to the individual, global society, and the environment. Key Words Community – the people living in a certain place (as a village or city); a natural group (as of kinds of plants and animals) living together and depending on one another for various necessities of life (as food or shelter); a group of people with common interests <the business community> <a community of artists>; a feeling of caring about others in a group <The school fosters a sense of community.> Culture – the beliefs, customs, arts, etc., of a particular society, group, place, or time; a particular society that has its own beliefs, ways of life, art, etc. The views within any society may be extremely diverse. Ethnic – of or relating to large groups of people who have the same customs, religion, origin, etc.; associated with or belonging to a particular group of people who have a culture that unites them. found object – a natural or man-made object used by an artist in a work of art Gaza Strip – refers to a narrow strip of land, bordering Egypt and Israel, on the shore of the Mediterranean. Until 1967, this area, home today to over 1.5 million Palestinians, was under Egypt’s control. It was one of the areas captured by Israel in the 1967 war, in which a small group of settlements was built and a thriving citrus industry was developed. The Israeli government unilaterally dismantled all Jewish Gaza settlements and removed all settlers in 2005. Holocaust – Destruction of six million Jews by the Nazis and their followers and collaborators, in Europe between 1933 and 1945. Other individuals and groups suffered grievously during this period, but only the Jews were marked for annihilation. Today, the word Shoah is widely used. It is a Biblical term meaning widespread disaster and is the modern Hebrew equivalent of Holocaust. Identity – In psychology, sociology, and anthropology, identity is a person's conception and expression of their own (self-identity) and others' individuality or group affiliations (such as national identity and cultural identity); the set of qualities and beliefs that may make one person or group seem different from others such as religion, ethnicity, nationality, gender, etc. Israel – One of the modern countries in the Middle East, established in 1948. It is the land of the Hebrew Bible and is regarded by the Jewish people as their ancestral homeland. It is approximately the size and population of New Jersey. Its population is approximately 75% people of Jewish origin, and 25% people of Arabic descent, but it recognizes over 15 different religions. Its two official languages are Hebrew and Arabic. The population is extremely diverse, with its citizens coming from all over the world. It is a modern parliamentary democracy and a leader in high technology. Palestine – (sometimes also called “the Holy Land” common designation for the area between Syria (to the north) and Egypt (to the south), between the Mediterranean Sea and the River Jordan; the modern state of Israel was carved out of this area. Many of the people of Arabic descent, who live in, or trace their origins to this area, designate themselves as Palestinian. Religion – the belief in a god or in a group of gods; an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods. Three major religions (Judaism, Islam, and Christianity) have ties to Israel. Christianity - the religion derived from Jesus Christ, based on the Bible as sacred scripture, and professed by Eastern, Roman Catholic, and Protestant bodies. Islam - the religious faith of Muslims including belief in Allah as the sole deity and in Muhammad as his prophet. Judaism - the religion developed among the ancient Hebrews that stresses belief in one God and (monotheism) faithfulness to the laws of the Torah as they have been interpreted over the centuries; the religion of the Jewish people. Orthodox Judaism – One of the major divisions of Judaism. Adherence to the principles and practices of traditional Judaism through a devotion to the principles of, and study of the Torah, daily prayer, and strict observance of the Sabbath, religious festivals, holidays, and the dietary laws. Separation Barrier – in general terms is a barrier, wall or fence