DESCRIPTION: Students match postcards with original works in the permanent collection by the same artist.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this activity is for students to demonstrate their knowledge of artistic styles and introduce discussions on the way those styles reflect time and place.

PROCEDURE: (Discuss individual artists' style as well as group style.) Let's select partners and I will pass out postcards of works done by artists represented in the Walker's permanent collection. The postcards are reproductions of paintings (or sculptures) not on display.

Look very carefully at the reproduction on the postcard and pay close attention to the style represented. What is the first thing that you notice? How has the artist used line, shape, and color to convey the image? What is the subject matter? What is the overall feeling or mood of the artwork? (Remind the students that there is no right answer just as there is no #1 style.) How would you describe your postcard?

Keep in mind everything that you see in your reproduction and remember that artists usually develop distinctive personal styles that can be identified in many of their works. I would like you to search for a work of art that has a similar "style" to the one in the reproduction. Did you find it difficult to find a similar work? What clues helped you to find the work? What are the differences between the work of art represented in the postcard and the artwork in the gallery?

MINNESOTA GRADUATION STANDARDS:
(1) Read, View, Listen
(2) Write and Speak
(3) Literature and the Arts
(7) People and Cultures

Age level: Appropriate for grades 5 and up.
Artworks used: Postcards of works by artists in the permanent collection.
Props needed: "Greeting Cards".
Related to Minneapolis Sculpture Garden: Yes
Notes: This is a good follow up to the previous activities because it shows the students that style not only surfaces in the way people talk, dress, speak or behave but style is also a key ingredient of art.


© 1998 WALKER ART CENTER