Seeing (and Reading) Between the Lines On View at the Burchfield-Penney
The Burchfield-Penney Art Center is pleased to present Seeing (and Reading) Between the Lines in the Education Corridor of the museum, 3rd floor, Rockwell Hall, Buffalo State College from June 5 - August 28, 2004.
Artworks on display are from Kenmore West High School, the result of a collaboration with the Burchfield-Penney focusing on the various ways artists incorporate text into their work. Kenmore West art teacher, Lisa Parks, also explored other relationships between the visual arts and the written word. Project resources included museum tours and two Western New York artists, Russell Ram and Barbara Rowe, visiting Kenmore West.
"After seeing how artists in the Art in Context exhibition integrated words into their artwork and then working with two very diverse artists, my students were able to create thought-provoking work," said Lisa Parks, art teacher at Kenmore West High School. "Their collages, both traditional and digital, tell stories about their lives, character and life in general. This collaborative project enabled them to make connections and communicate in new ways, and their literacy in the viewing of their visual culture was enhanced."
Historically, artists focused on man and nature for subject matter. As the world became industrialized, with its byproduct of mass production and consumption, artists shifted their focus from nature to the manmade. Artist Marcel Duchamp declared selection to be part of the artistic process, and the materials he selected for his artwork that changed the course of Modernism, were the products of industrialization from mass produced urinals to other manufactured found objects. Artists Pablo Picasso and George Braque also incorporated printed materials in their paintings. Collage and assemblage became 20th century mediums that embodied and conveyed meaning and the values of the age.
Living in a visual culture, these students explored their world through the art of collage, encouraging them to read between the lines and to look/see in different ways. They began this process by touring the Burchfield-Penney exhibition, Art and Text, organized by curator Gerald Mead and Lisa Parks, showing how artists in the collection used text in their work. Following this experience, visiting artist Russell Ram showed his collages as well as old letters and receipts he brought for the students to use. The students provided images and small objects with personal meaning.
Visiting printmaker Barbara Rowe showed her work and gave the students a What were they thinking? assignment, requiring them to bring in an old family photo and write a paragraph about the thoughts of the people in the photo. This project, beginning with an image and a story, culminated with a digital collagea self portrait expressing their personality and character development over the school year.
In addition, students created assemblages inspired by found object/text sculptures by Wes Olmsted, whose work was exhibited at the Burchfield-Penney in winter 2004.
"It is gratifying see how students integrated the experience of seeing works from our collection and their contact with the visiting artists into the creation of heir own artwork," said Gerald C. Mead, Jr., curator of education and outreach at the Burchfield-Penney. "I was impressed by the range of their creativity both visual and in writing - and am pleased we can present it to the public in our Education Corridor."
About the Burchfield-Penney Art Center
The Burchfield-Penney Art Center is a museum dedicated to the art and vision of Charles E. Burchfield and distinguished artists of Buffalo Niagara and Western New York State. Through its affiliation with Buffalo State College, the museum encourages learning and celebrates our richly creative and diverse community. For more information, call (716) 878-6011 or visit www.burchfield-penney.org.
The Burchfield-Penney Art Center is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is supported in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts and Erie County. Additional operating support is provided by the Elizabeth Elser Doolittle Trust, the James Carey Evans Endowment, the Mary A. H. Rumsey Foundation and the Burchfield-Penney's members.
Artworks on display are from Kenmore West High School, the result of a collaboration with the Burchfield-Penney focusing on the various ways artists incorporate text into their work. Kenmore West art teacher, Lisa Parks, also explored other relationships between the visual arts and the written word. Project resources included museum tours and two Western New York artists, Russell Ram and Barbara Rowe, visiting Kenmore West.
"After seeing how artists in the Art in Context exhibition integrated words into their artwork and then working with two very diverse artists, my students were able to create thought-provoking work," said Lisa Parks, art teacher at Kenmore West High School. "Their collages, both traditional and digital, tell stories about their lives, character and life in general. This collaborative project enabled them to make connections and communicate in new ways, and their literacy in the viewing of their visual culture was enhanced."
Historically, artists focused on man and nature for subject matter. As the world became industrialized, with its byproduct of mass production and consumption, artists shifted their focus from nature to the manmade. Artist Marcel Duchamp declared selection to be part of the artistic process, and the materials he selected for his artwork that changed the course of Modernism, were the products of industrialization from mass produced urinals to other manufactured found objects. Artists Pablo Picasso and George Braque also incorporated printed materials in their paintings. Collage and assemblage became 20th century mediums that embodied and conveyed meaning and the values of the age.
Living in a visual culture, these students explored their world through the art of collage, encouraging them to read between the lines and to look/see in different ways. They began this process by touring the Burchfield-Penney exhibition, Art and Text, organized by curator Gerald Mead and Lisa Parks, showing how artists in the collection used text in their work. Following this experience, visiting artist Russell Ram showed his collages as well as old letters and receipts he brought for the students to use. The students provided images and small objects with personal meaning.
Visiting printmaker Barbara Rowe showed her work and gave the students a What were they thinking? assignment, requiring them to bring in an old family photo and write a paragraph about the thoughts of the people in the photo. This project, beginning with an image and a story, culminated with a digital collagea self portrait expressing their personality and character development over the school year.
In addition, students created assemblages inspired by found object/text sculptures by Wes Olmsted, whose work was exhibited at the Burchfield-Penney in winter 2004.
"It is gratifying see how students integrated the experience of seeing works from our collection and their contact with the visiting artists into the creation of heir own artwork," said Gerald C. Mead, Jr., curator of education and outreach at the Burchfield-Penney. "I was impressed by the range of their creativity both visual and in writing - and am pleased we can present it to the public in our Education Corridor."
About the Burchfield-Penney Art Center
The Burchfield-Penney Art Center is a museum dedicated to the art and vision of Charles E. Burchfield and distinguished artists of Buffalo Niagara and Western New York State. Through its affiliation with Buffalo State College, the museum encourages learning and celebrates our richly creative and diverse community. For more information, call (716) 878-6011 or visit www.burchfield-penney.org.
The Burchfield-Penney Art Center is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is supported in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts and Erie County. Additional operating support is provided by the Elizabeth Elser Doolittle Trust, the James Carey Evans Endowment, the Mary A. H. Rumsey Foundation and the Burchfield-Penney's members.
Media Contact:
Kathleen Heyworth, Head of Marketing and Public Relations | 7168784529 | heyworkm@buffalostate.edu