Prehistoric land art...

White Horse Hill

> Wikipedia article on land art: click HERE!

Questions/to do:

1. Locate White Horse Hill on a map.
2. When, by whom and why was this horse drawn into the landscape?
3. Are there other horses or figures drawn into the landscape in Britain?
4. What is their significance for people throughout the ages and today?
5. Does similar land art exist where you come from?
6. What giant figure would you chose to draw, why, and where would you place it?
7. Sketch your proposal!

Rebel with a cause... Gilles Caron, photojournalist (1939-1970)

Here's looking at you looking at me looking at myself...

I) The exhibition (work by yourself):

1. Go to the Hôtel Fontfreyde exhibition in Clermont-Ferrand.
2. Take your time looking at the photos, read the panels, and watch the short documentary.
3. Write a list of your feelings, thoughts, opinions, and knowledge of the period (the '60s).
4. Think about the way the exhibition curator has decided to display the photos (how the photos have been grouped by themes, the lighting, the frames, the labeling and explanation panels, etc.).
5. Why and for whom do you think this exhibition has been set up?
6. Several shots are in both black & white and in Ektachrome; how does this affect the way we perceive the subject?
7. Choose one photo that "speaks to you" more than the others, write down your detailed description of it (and write down any information about it from the section and object labels).
8. Present your chosen photo to your classmates, including your thoughts and feelings (what do we learn from the picture about the period, and about what Caron thought of the situation he photographed?).

II) Research (group work):

1. What is journalism and what is photojournalism?
2. Who are the greatest photojournalists do you think (include at least five iconic photos by different photojournalists to comment)?
3. Who was Gilles Caron (find his biography, comments made about him and his photos, as well as comments he made about himself and his work, plus try to imagine what kind of person he was from the photos you saw at the exhibition)?
4. What was happening in the world in the 60s (Cold War, decolonization, the "Swinging Sixties" and the Nouvelle Vague, the protest mouvements)?
5. Why were there conflicts (describe them) in, among other places, the Middle East (Israel), the Far East (Vietnam, Cambodia), Europe (Northern Ireland, France), and Africa (Nigeria)?

III) Think and write (alone or in pairs, answer at least one of the questions below; your answers can be as long as you like!):

1. What impact have the photos of this exhibition had on you?
2. Describe and comment the photo of Gilles Caron at the top of this blog post.
3. Do you see yourself as a photojournalist?!
4. Can a photo change the world?
5. Describe the different ways Caron "talks about" conflict (i.e. how it affects individuals) through the following photo reports: Six-Day War, Vietnam, Paris, Biafra, Northern Ireland.
6. What is the role of the State?
7. Can empires be considered as having done some good for the people whose countries were colonized?
8. To what extent did Caron's life before 1967 determine his choice of photographic missions after 1967 do you think?
9. Is Gilles Caron a legendary photojournalist?
10. Why can Caron be described as a rebel with a cause?
11. Gilles Caron once said: "Envie de vivre vite. De mourir jeune. Je fous toujours tout en l'air mais pourquoi pas ?" ("Want to live fast. To die young. I always mess things up but why not?"). How much do you approve this attitude, quite prevalent among Caron's generation at the time?
12. Caron was heroic; do you agree?
13. Is Caron a victim of the 60s, a time of conflict, or is he partly responsible for its violence?
14. From the exhibition, we learn about the 60s (conflicts, the individual within society, the abuse of power by States), and about the history of photography and the role of photojournalists; but, what do we learn about ourselves (as individuals, as societies)?
15. It could be argued that society destroys the individual; should we rebel against it?
16. What does the photo below say about the ethics of being a photojournalist (are there subjects that should not be photographed or shown; should the photographer be only a witness or should he intervene)?

1968, Raymond Depardon by Gilles Caron

Political cartoons... How dangerous can they be?!

Click HERE!

To do/questions:

1. Research who Joe Sacco is.
2. Translate his cartoon and describe the pictures that make up the cartoon published in the Guardian (click on the link above).
3. What are the events he is reacting to in his cartoon?
4. Explain what "JE SUIS CHARLIE" means.
5. What is "satire"?
6. Summarise the point of view Sacco expresses in his cartoon.
7. Do you agree with his opinion?
8. Have a look at the cartoons in the following link: Charlie Hebdo tributes, article in THE DAY
9. Draw a one-picture cartoon on the theme: "The pen is mightier than the sword".
10. What is the point of political (also called editorial) cartoons?

To help you understand and think about and discuss the very complex issues involved in the events that took place in Paris in January 2015, click HERE!

Stick to it!

2014 is European Year against food waste... As an arty activity, design a FRIDGE MAGNET with a splendid slogan and brilliant image on the theme of not wasting food!

Send your entries (on a Word document) to: ortisbateau@gmail.com

Have fun!

What is a portrait?!

> Experts give their answers (video)!
> Wikipedia article
> Portraits of men and women in Ukraine

To do (in pairs):

1. Compare and contrast the two portraits above.
2. Using the links above, and other sources you can find, plus your own ideas, define what a portrait is!
3. Describe what the difference between a "headshot" and a portrait is.
4. Describe what the difference between the snapshot of a person is and a portrait.
5. > Which is your favourite "portrait of the month"? 
6. > Do a self-portrait!
7. In ten sentences, do a "Chinese portrait" of yourself, starting each sentence with "If I were..." (for example: "If I were a flower, I would be a rose"). Cf. > Chinese portraits... for inspiration.

Egging you on...

Questions:

1. Of which painting the picture above is a spoof ?
2. How has egg been used in art?
3. Which artists have been inspired by the egg?

To do:

Describe and comment your favorite work of art which has the egg as a theme!

Freeze!

Hodge the cat

BBC Words in the News: Talking statues

Talking Statues web site

Who was Hodge? One of Dr Johnson’s favorite cats. We learn about Hodge in "The Life of Samuel Johnson", a biography of Dr Johnson written by James Boswell.

Who was “Dictionary Johnson”? Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709-84) was "arguably the most distinguished man of letters in English history” (according to a recent biographer called Pat Rogers) and the author of the first English dictionary. He was much admired in his day and is very famous today. People, especially Londoners, appreciate his genius and character. His most memorable quote is: "If a man is tired of London, he is tired of life". 

When and where was the statue erected? In 1997, in front of Samuel Johnson House (17 Gough Square, just off London's Fleet Street, which is now a museum).

Who is the sculptor? John Bickley, a quite well-known English animal sculptor (Hodge is his best-known sculpture).

Whose idea was it and who paid for it? Probably the idea came from the association that runs the Samuel Johnson House and it is Londoners who paid for it. The inauguration ceremony was attended by important people, including the Lord Mayor.

What is the statue like? It is made of metal (a noble and expensive material, used only for important statues), life-size and life-like (showing a cat that looks real, doing a cat-like thing: eating oysters! Note that oysters were not a luxury food in the 18th Century so this is not actually a spoilt pet!). It is a delightful and unusual statue which inspires the feelings some of us associate with cats. It is also very appropriate because Dr Johnson was known, among much else, to be a protector of animals (a rare thing in his day!)

Why was a statue erected to Hodge the cat?

• For practical reasons: there is not enough space in front of Samuel Johnson House to erect a statue to the man himself!
• To tell a story: this cat, because a statue has been erected to it, was obviously an important cat (for its owner, in front of whose house the statue has been placed). Also, the owner of the cat obviously loved cats and was therefore probably a nice, unpretentious, person (this is not a grandiose statue about a self-important man!).
• To honour Hodge (a cat famous because he was the cat of a famous man).
• To honour cats in general and to please cat lovers (many Londoners are daft about cats!); the statue evokes the affectionate and playful nature of our feline pets.
• To honour Dr Johnson, famous son of the city of London (the statue reflects the civic pride of Londoners), his genius and character, in an off-beat way (it is not an effigy of the man, but rather what he stood for).
• To honour Samuel Johnson’s work (cf. the dictionary on which the cat is sitting) in a playful (cf. the oyster shells), original, non-pompous way (in the spirit of the man himself).
• To “mark the spot”, i.e. to show visitors that 17 Gough Street is important in the collective memory of Londoners (that they value what the owner of the house stands for: genius and hard work, an affable if somewhat eccentric nature, strong convictions, etc.).
• It’s a “people’s” statue (particularly appealing to children), i.e. the City of London authorities wanted to show that London can be a friendly, “fun” and unpretentious place (note however that the statue is not “cheap” and it is a very good work of art).

Do you know any other animal sculptures?

It's a fix(ture)!

The Headington Shark

Terraced housing

1. Explain this post's title.
2. Think up a title or comment for this sculpture (such as: "Strong winds with a risk of squale" or "Neighborhood watch just turned nasty..." or "Is it a fallen angel shark?" or "Squale!" or "Down with the Joneses!").
3. Imagine a short dialogue between the owner of the house and his neighbor about the sculpture...
4. Find other works of art that include sharks.
5. Send a comment to this blog post explaining why you love or hate sharks!
6. How effective is the Headington Shark as public art?

That obscure desire of objects!

A Collection a Day blog: click HERE!

Click HERE to read a Wikipedia article on collecting!

Click HERE to read a Wikipedia article on the psychology of collecting!

To do:

1. Make a list of your favorite objects and/or describe your collection(s).
2. Describe one of your favorite objects, tell us its history and why you like it so much.
3. Start a collection of objects and take a photo of it in the style of "A Collection a Day."

Renaissance Man...

15th April is Leonardo's birthday!

Questions:

1. How "old" is Da Vinci?
2. What is a "Renaissance Man"?
3. What do you most admire about Da Vinci?
4. If you were a polymath, what would your areas of interest be?
5. Who is today's greatest polymath?

Vitruvian Man

Questions:

1. Why is the man in the drawing above called "Vitruvian Man"?
2. Why did Da Vinci draw both a circle and a square around the man known as Vitruvian Man?
3. Do you think Man is at the centre of the Universe?

World Art Day

International Association of Art

Questions:

1. Who created World Art Day, when and why?
2. Why has April 15th been chosen as World Art Day?
3. What would be a good theme for a World Art Day drawing competition (open to everyone on the planet)?

Drawing of a dragon and a lion by Da Vinci 

To do:

• Describe and comment one of Da Vinci's lesser-known paintings.
• Write a short story using one of Da Vinci's drawings.
• Draw a background picture for the International Association of Art website!

Ten of the best

Which are YOUR ten favorite works of art? Click HERE!

i don't like art at all... click HERE to read an article from the NYT!

Questions/to do:

1. Click on the first link above, and translate the introductory paragraph to the article by Jonathan Jones (entitled "The 10 greatest works of art ever").
2. Read the comments Jones makes about his favourite works of art (note useful vocabulary!).
3. Rank from 1 to 10 Jones' choice, 1 being your favourite and 10 your least favourite.
4. Describe and comment your top choice among Jones' selection (how much do you agree with Jones' assessment?).
5. Which are YOUR ten favourite works of art?
6. Describe and comment your all-time favourite work of art.
7. When was the last time you went to an art museum?
8. How often do you go to art museums or galleries in general?
9. Why do you think people go to look at works of art?
10. What works of art that you’ve never seen in person would you most like to visit (why)?

Assignment:

maro, in the comments page of the article from the NYT (click on the second link above), says "i don't like art at all"... Write a fifty-word paragraph to maro explaining why he should reconsider is position on art!

What does freedom look like?

Click HERE to read a BBC article!
Photos of freedom

Send the BBC your images/videos!
Some examples!

Seeing is believing...

Click HERE for the FRAC website!

To do:

1. Visit the FRAC exhibition with a friend (take your time looking at each photo, keep an open mind...).
2. Choose a photo one of you likes and the other dislikes.
3. Write down your description of the photograph.
4. Write down what you think the "meaning" of the photo is.
5. Carry out research on the photo and on the photographer and his work in general (use the computer terminals on the first floor of the FRAC).
6. Summarise what the photographer and critics have said about the photograph you have chosen.
7. What does the photo say about the way the photographer sees today's world do you think (write down your answer)?
8. How much do you share his way of seeing things (write down your answer)?
9. Record your conversation about the photo on your cell phone (make sure the recording is very clear), each saying clearly why he likes or dislikes the picture.
10. We will listen to your recorded conversation in class (whilst looking at a copy of the photo).

Face to the wall!

Click HERE to watch the BBC Learning English video!

To do:

1. Watch the BBC video (click on the link below the photo above) and do the exercise.
2. List adjectives describing the artist's work.
3. Imagine a title for the work of art above.
4. You are a reporter; list five questions to put to Gregos about his work.
5. Imagine you are Gregos and answer the journalist's questions!
6. List expressions that use the word "face".
7. Take a photo of yourself, eyes closed, smiling, and, using software such as Photoshop, create a colorful Gregos-like face!

Dalimotion

The Persistence of Memory (1931) by Dali

Click HERE to listen to a description of the painting!

Description on WIKIPAINTINGS: click HERE!

To do/questions:

1. Listen to the description and read the WIKIPAINTINGS analysis.
2. Describe this painting in your own words.
3. Think up questions to ask someone about this painting (such as: "What title would you have given this work?"; "Does the fly symbolize something?", etc.)
4. Get someone to answer your questions!
5. Why do you like or dislike this painting?
6. In pairs, present the painting to a group of "tourists" (one person saying why he/she likes the painting and the other why he/she dislikes it).
7. Describe a nightmare in which you lost the notion of time...
8. Make a list of expressions that use the word "time" ("time to close", "time is money", "time's up", etc.), translate each expression and then make up a sentence in English that uses that expression.

Cocky!

Click HERE to read the Guardian article on which the text below is based!
Click HERE to view a BBC News report!

Click HERE to go to the official website on the Fourth Plinth!

Another Fourth Plinth Cock-up?

In its fifteen year history as a site for temporary contemporary sculptures, the Fourth Plinth in London’s Trafalgar Square has been the cause of much fuss and bother. The empty plinth in front of the National Gallery has hosted, among others: the marble sculpture of a disabled woman, a mock equestrian sculpture, and the members of the public themselves who, for an hour each, were able to become living statues.

Katharina Fritsch's sculpture of a big blue cockerel has also ruffled feathers. Some have said it is nothing but a feeble distraction, totally inappropriate in a square which honours Britain's greatest naval victory of the Napoleonic wars (the cockerel is the national symbol of France!). The Düsseldorf-based artist’s unnerving sculptures seem indeed to arrive from another world. There is no logic about her elephants, outsized apples, mice, and men in bright suits; her creatures are fanciful and dramatic and unrelated to their contexts. But is art not also meant to disrupt?

In the end, though, it's just a weird, oversized, royal blue barnyard bird, and it's been cheering us all up!

Questions/to do:

1. Translate the text above.
2. Do you agree that art is "meant to disrupt"?
3. What should the purpose of a public sculpture be?
4. What do you think of Fritsch's art?
5. Describe your favourite Fourth Plinth shortlisted sculpture, and say why you like it so much.
6. Take part in the vote!

Assignement:

1. Get the children from a Primary school to vote on their favourite Fourth Plinth shortlisted sculpture.
2. Run a workshop for the Primary school children: they have to imagine their own sculpture for the Fourth Plinth (they have to draw it on an A3 piece of paper).

Reflect on this...

GREEN FOCUSES

Drawing up to the future

What if?

Zen & the city

Click on this!