A visit to a gallery can give students a better appreciation of art.
The appreciation of art is fairly subjective, largely based on the individual's tastes. The study of art, on the other hand, should include a review of art throughout various periods in the Western world as well as in non-western cultures. When teaching art appreciation, it is important to give your students the tools to better understand the work in terms of cultural influences, the school of art that the work is from, as well as the background of the artist and what motivated him.
Putting into Words
Ask your students to write an essay on how one or more works of art affected them and what they think the artist was trying to impart to the audience. They should also address how the work compares to other works in that school or how the artist compares to other artists in that school. For example, ask students to compare Vincent Van Gogh's "Starry Night" to another Impressionist artist's work. Ask students to be honest and not simply repeat what they have read in texts. For younger students use a word association assignment to start your students thinking.
Field Trip
Take your students on a field trip to an art museum or gallery in your area. If you don't have an art museum or gallery in your city or town, take your students on a virtual field trip online. Take a look at art on display at the Louvre in Paris and then the American Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Choose several art museums and/or galleries for your virtual field trip. Each student will come away with their own feelings about the art they have viewed. A discussion during and after your field trip would be a useful approach to gauge student reactions.
Art in Practice
Your art appreciation class should aim to teach students about not only the history of art of Western Civilization, but also different cultures around the world. Focus part of you lesson on each culture's art in relation to its history, traditions and even geography. Ask students to choose a culture that they would like to study further. This could lead to a project in which the student creates an original piece of art that is in homage to that culture and period. Provide students with an overview of the tools and techniques used by artists working in specific media.
Different Art Media
Many people have a deep emotional response to a piece of art, either loving or hating the work. Art is many things and, depending on the individual, can range in scope from traditional painting to mixed media art, sculpture, or performance art. It is important to introduce students to different forms of art so that they can better appreciate the different types they will encounter. A monolithic view of art limits an individual's ability to enjoy art in its many forms and expressions.
