Visiting a gallery or museum is the best way to become familiar with the art process. You can see the media and techniques up close and have a more complete experience of the work. Photographs in books or images on-screen do not reveal the true colours, texture, size or presence of an original work.
Exhibitions often provide the context of the era or style to a work you are interested in. Context often shows up features you would not have observed with just one example.
The processes and media that artists use to produce a work of art continue to develop and change. The work that is now in the main stream would not have been considered to be art a couple of generations ago.
Chapter Review
1. What do the words ‘process’ and ‘media’ mean?
2. What does a curator do?
3. Following a visit to a gallery or museum, discuss your opinions with a small group within your art class and elect a spokesperson to explain your views to the class.
4. Prepare a list of questions that you might ask an artist visiting your school. Research their work and make your questions relevant to it.
5. Write an account of a visit to a gallery or exhibition. Note the building outside and in, describe the gallery space, and select two pieces (naming the artist and the title of the work) you think represent the character of the exhibition.
6. What do you think could be done to make galleries and museums more interesting for young people? Write suggestions and make sketches of your ideas.
Furer Research
www.visual-arts-cork.com – Search for ‘Irish art galleries’ for a comprehensive list of galleries around Ireland
www.youtube.com – Search for ‘Visual Artist Joe Caslin discussing his artistic process’ (9:38)
www.youtube.com – Search for ‘National Gallery of Ireland Virtual Tour’ (4:50) to learn more about each room in the National Gallery of Ireland
www.kitchentableclassroom.com – Search for ‘virtual tours’ to learn more about a number of international galleries
www.the-talks.com/interviews/art – Contains interviews with international artists
