ALA art cycle Tuesday March 22

Today i went over to the ALA armed with a cd full of art images, ranging from digitally created forms to sculptures to paintings to photographs. Karie and I put the images on 9 different computers, and each machine had a different image showing. the students were given 2.5 minutes at each station to look at and study the work, then write down observations and their own interpretation of the work in question. For the first nine pictures they did this separately, not talking about the art but only studying for themselves. The second group of nine were done together as a group. The purpose behind the interpretation of different art piecesis simple - we haven't ever discussed that before. we have asked the students to create so many things, but they've never experienced the process of really thinking about what a piece might mean to them - what it says, how it makes them feel. This is important because when they begin the final cycle of the year, working on an IT project of their choice, they need to be able to realize that no matter what they create, whether it be a cricket sculpture, a MIDI program and music, original music from digital software, an animated film, or live action film, as well as a possible Microworlds game or program - everyone who experiences their work will see it and feel it differently than they do. If they want to convey a specific image, emotion, or idea, then by learning about how different people interpret the things around them the students will have to serisouly think about what could be done to make THEIR idea of THEIR work stand out to as many people as possible. THis is a great deal of Meta-thinking, but i know they can do it. the students picked up on so many things from the artwork we showed them that even i didn't see. Carlos, Joyce, Karie, and myself were amazed at how much they noticed from the works, and the level of emotion and discussion generated from seeing so many different forms of art. I have posted some of the images that they studied. The next exercise for them will be to bring in art that they find intriguing, and the group will critique and interpret the pieces that their peers enjoy. Then the students will have to explain their ideas and why they brought that particular piece in to the group - hopefully to help cement that what one person may find intensely interesting, another may find terribly boring, and this thought process carries over to the actual creative process to help make much more personal, yet, maybe even more universal work within our IT framwork.
Jonathon