A Vacation Week "Fabulous Five" Advocacy Ideas

It is vacation week for many, and at least a long weekend for most (well, I suppose the long weekend is over by the time you'll be reading this)!  If you are off this week, use the time to rest and recharge, as Youth Art Month is less than two weeks away!!!  If you cannot get away for a vacation,  use some of these virtual art trip ideas for your students to experience artwork from around the world, and some from home.

1

Visit an online museum, or build your collection of artworks. (Art Institute of Chicago has a "build your own 3-D collection" feature.)

2

Host an Artist in Residence Program during March, invite in community artists to demonstrate and/or talk to students.  Local museums nearby?  Set up a visit, and  if area artists have work present, try to arrange it so they can be present to discuss work with your students.

3

Do you love the work of George Rodrigue and his "Blue Dog"?  Take a virtual trip to New Orleans via Google and step foot in his gallery on Royal Street.  For elementary students, read Why is Blue Dog Blue? and create some mini Blue Dogs for the local humane society.

4

Create a Photo Story of a collection of work by an artist; include some biographical material, title slides, and music.  Display on your school web-page.

5

Cannot get to a museum?  Build a "Gallery Walk" - five famous works of art and gallery tags.  Challenge students to visit the gallery, observe quietly and write a "Twitter" style short critique/statement on Post-It notes as they choose their favorite work.  Post the notes and use different color Post-Its for classes or grades.  Do an informal poll to see what the top artwork is and announce to the school (beset at elementary level).  A great way to teach gallery manners, too!  Added benefit - have  the staff and teachers choose their favorites to write about as well!