Paintings and drawings according to large format projections of sculptures from the exhibition Neklidná Figura

Educational department of the Prague City Gallery
Art workshop which is implementing in the education center due to an exhibition called Neklidná figura: Expression in the Czech sculpture 1880 – 1914.
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In the time since the 1880s until the dawn of the World War I, the Czech sculpture achieved a high artistic level, comparable with the European one. The exhibition follows this historical period via typical exhibits from the production of its lead representatives. Dynamic art development had been pioneered by Josef Vaclav Myslbek and was then deepen thanks to the representatives of the younger generation – František Bílek, Stanislav Suchard, Josef Mařátko, Quido Kocián, Bohumil Kafka, Ladislav Šlahoun, Jan Štrus and many others.
Their production is confronted with the characteristic works of the world sculptors who influenced the Czech development via their exhibitions that took place in Prague (Auguste Rodin, Constantin Meunier, Antoine Bourdelle).

PROJECT:
Paintings and drawings according to large format projections of sculptures from the exhibition Neklidná Figura.
Large format projection of the photographs of the work exhibited according to own imagination.

    1. How was the educational activity going on with the use of the ICT? Through what kind of tasks did the students go?

Thanks to the ICT we were able to transfer the sculptures exhibited to the atelier of our educational center. We did so because we would have not been able to work anywhere else outside of the atelier. Via dataprojector we projected photographs of sculptures always from different points of view. Every participant chose a photograph according to which he wanted to work. Then, on the wall with projection, everybody attached a paper on which he drew an elementary silhouette and a suggestion of further details. In the following work (drawing and painting), done according to own ideas and imagination, continued the participants at the table.

    2. What kind of methodology was used?

The influence of the art-centrism (In a dialogue with art) and the video-centrism (Creation of a visual display)

    3. Which ICT aids do you use in this particular project?

We use a digital camera, laptop and a dataprojector.

    4. With what kind of materials do you work?

We work with paper, cardboard, markers, crayons, and the acryl colors.

    5. What parts of the project do you see as those with a strategic importance?

Those that lead to a deeper understanding of the art work, those that create a positive relationship towards an art culture and help to develop participants´ creativity. The participants had a chance to see all the sculptures from different points of view thanks to a large format projection. This way helped us to substitute a proper exhibition of sculptures.

    6. What kind of knowledge and skills do the students achieve and learn?

They can improve their orientation on the art field and also improve their knowledge of art techniques (in this case drawings and paintings), advancement of a visual literacy, critical thinking, communication skills and development of own creativity.

    7. What are the results expected and is there any way how to measure/observe them objectively?

Deeper understanding of the formal and content side of the art pieces could be observed by a verbal reflection of the participant´s own opinion – by comparing the opinions before and after the activity. The appropriate method is also a common final reflection of the art works created. The positive response for us would be seeing the others repeating all this after us within schooling and turoring.

    8. How do you rate the experience with the use of the ICT aids in schooling? Is it even possible to rate it?

In some projects is the ICT almost unreplaceable. The pedagogical content must be carefully chosen during the activity. The ICT also serves as a suitable and creative instrument.

    9. If the process of schooling does not go according to the expectations, how do you then modify each particular activity?

I deal with it by a pedagogical improvising.

GENERAL QUESTIONS:

    a. How was the project established? What needs did make you to put the ICT to teaching? What questions should be answered?

Using the ICT and new media in our projects always comes up from a need for continuity of formal and content aspects of the art pieces which are the elementary aspects of our art activities. Using the ICT might increase the attractiveness of the tasks and also enthusiasm of the participants. The participants have generally a great time and due to this factor, a successful development of their knowledge and skills is taking place.

    b. Why do you consider your project innovative?

Our intention is always giving as much space to the participants as we can to support their creativity. We use basic and easily available aids. (PC, dataprojector, digital camera, smartphones, ordinary printer etc.).

    c. What is the elementary knowledge for the students to successfully absolve your tutoring? How do they use this knowledge during the schooling?

We only demand basic skills in terms of using the ITC. Everything that is needed to know is explained later during the schooling. The actual task only follows the motivation and communication about the key aspects.

    d. Is there anything that you noticed during the actual process and surprised you?

It was definitely the creativity of the participants which sometimes can move the whole task forward to a completely new dimension.

    e. What is the connection between your project, medial competence and an active citizenship?

The connection can be seen in the creative use of the ICT, new media for artistic self-expression. The development of a visual and medial literacy and also of the perceptional sensitiveness is taking place. Also there is a connection between the classical art and the current art.