Multimedia Portfolio


Visual Arts

Grade 8

Visualizing Music

 

Purpose:  Visual art and music share common elements and themes when generating works of art.  Throughout history, visual artists have interpreted musical works of art and created new works inspired by them.  Sculptures, paintings, animations are a few of the art forms that artists have used in creating works about music.  Contemporary visual artists collaborate with musicians to make music videos.  

During this unit of study, students analyze various works of art inspired by music (examples in the table below). Through note-taking, sketching and discussions they identify common art elements such as line, texture and color and ways in which musicians and artists organize them through principles of design such as emphasis, contrast, rhythm, pattern and movement in order to form  harmonious compositions. Through analysis of art elements and design students interpret the theme and subject matter of the music. This process is meant to guide students to develop their own ideas for an original relief sculpture inspired by their favorite song or musical genre. Students post share their work and offer feedback using Edmodo.

 

Painting Sculpture 

  

Vasily Kandinsky (1866–1944). Composition 8 (Komposition 8), July 1923. Oil on canvas, 55 1/8 x 79 1/8 inches (140 x 201 cm). Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, Solomon R. Guggenheim Founding Collection, Gift, Solomon R. Guggenheim 37.262. © 2009 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ADAGP, Paris http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/collections/collection-online/artwork/1924

 

 

 

 

 

Frank Stella: Scarlatti and Bali Sculpture Series

Frank Stella, contemporary sculptor created a series of sculptures inspired by the prolific, classical-music composer- Domenico Scarlatti who wrote approximately 550 sonatas. The video helps the viewer to see the works from various view points, which is how sculpture is meant to be viewed.  Zooming capabilities show the details, such as surface quality of the materials and also the scale of the sculptures as they relate to the gallery and the people in the space. 

 

Animation  Contemporary Music Video 

Toccata and Fugue fantasia HD

Walt Disney Animators, Walt Disney Productions  and The Philadelphia Philharmonic, Leopold Stakowski conductor,  Johann Sebastian Bach composer (excerpt from Walt Disney's film, "Fantasia", 1940).

 

 

Gnarls Barkley - Crazy

Music by Gnarls Barkley, The inkblot illustrations were done by art director and motion graphic designer Bryan Louie, directed by Robert Hales.

Great combination of musicianship and artistry. 

 

Audio Project

Example  Purpose 
 scarlatti sonata 517 in d minor.mp3

The audio was recorded to coincide with the video above- Frank Stella: Scarlatti & Bali Sculpture Series. The video has a large amount of dead space towards the end and the audio file is meant to fill that void. The sculpture series by Frank Stella was inspired by the sonatas written by Scarlatti and the recording here is Sonata No. 517 in d minor. My voice recording asks students to compare the sculpture to the music and identify what they have in common. With out the music, students wouldn't fully understand Frank Stella's sculptures. Students record and discuss their observations.  

Attributions: Album ON CLASSICAL | The Virtuoso Pianist | Classical music by Gianluca LuisiScarlatti - Sonata No. 517 in d minor  

http://www.jamendo.com/en/track/280162/scarlatti-sonata-no.-517-in-d-minor 

ISTE/NETS 

For Teachers:

3. Model Digital Age Work and Learning 

d. Model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning.

 

 

Video Project

Example  Purpose 

The purpose of this video was to introduce methods for sculpting with paper. Sculpting demonstrations for a large audience (20 or more students) is a challenge in the classroom because not all students are able to see the demonstration. Having middle-school students gather closely together invites a few behavioral distractions. Document cameras work great in the classroom for 2-D demonstrations but not very well for 3-D demonstrations.

  •  In order to chunk the information, the video can be paused after each new skill or every other skill, so students can experiment.
  • Students brainstorm ways to invent a new twist to the skill or a way to combine two or more skills. 
  • Students use selected techniques to create an original relief paper-sculpture using basic techniques explored through the video and expanding on those ideas through new inventions.  Their work will express their favorite song or musical genre. 

 

*Video can also be used as a review for each class period that students will be working with paper sculpting and for students who miss the introduction due to absence.

 

ISTE/NETS 

For Teachers:

1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

a.Promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness

For Students:

1. Creativity and Innovation, Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology.

a. Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes

b. Create original works as a means of personal or group expression

 

Image Project

Example  Purpose 

 

Photo of teacher example with list of criteria for Musical Relief-Sculpture, Musical inspiration- "Sultan's of Swing", by Dire Straits

The image is an assessment tool to remind student's of the required criteria for their Musical Relief-Sculpture. Criteria terms (Pattern, Rhythm, Movement, Harmony, Balance, Variety, Innovation & Quality Craftsmanship) have been introduced in prior lessons. Photo is my teacher example. The image will be uploaded to active inspire and students will use drawing tools to identify and label evidence of each criteria. 

Teacher created images are preferred over images found on the web for there motivational properties.  They help to acknowledge the teacher as artist and establish them as a fellow co-worker.  

 

ISTE/NETS 

For Teachers:

2. Design and Develop Digital Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

a. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity

d. Provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching

 

Web 2.0 Tool

Example  Purpose 

Screencast using Active Inspire Tool to record teacher and student Edmodo postings of relief sculptures.

Students were asked to use their own personal devices to photograph and upload images of their work to Edmodo in order to gain critical feedback.  Teacher reviewed digital citizenship, and asked students to post an image of their sculpture and pose a question for their peers to respond to.  This is a great way for students in a large class to interact with each other in an academic setting.  Edmodo provides students with opportunities to carry on discussions with students they may not have a chance to interact with in the classroom and to receive critical feedback from their peers and teacher.
 NETS  

For Students:

2. Communication and Collaboration

a. Interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media

5. Digital Citizenship 

b. Exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity