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Interactive Exercise | Observational Poetry

Interactive Exercise | Observational Poetry

We can look at art to analyze and interpret the ideas at play; we can also use art as a prompt for creativity; but these two things don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Use this simple creative writing exercise to help students collaboratively use creative thinking in tandem with critical thinking as they make meaning from an abstract artwork.

Grade Level:
College, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Collection:
Modern and Contemporary Art
Culture/Region:
America
Subject Area:
Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, English, Fine Arts, Visual Arts
Activity Type:
Engagement Activity
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Interactive Exercise | Observational Poetry

At your own pace, click through the slides below to activate your creative thinking as you interpret a painting in VMFA’s Modern and Contemporary Art Collection.  You may wish to click on the “full screen” icon for the best view.

Other Objects to Try

You may wish to try the Observational Poetry exercise with other VMFA artworks.  What do you think of these?

Jungle Jim Lieberman (Primary Title)
Nicholas Krushenick, American, 1929 - 1999 (Artist)
Jungle Jim Lieberman (Primary Title)
Stadia III (Primary Title)
Julie Mehretu, American, born Ethiopia, born 1970 (Artist)
Stadia III (Primary Title)
Post Mortem (Primary Title)
Norman Lewis, American, 1909 - 1979 (Artist)
Post Mortem (Primary Title)
Mother Goose Melody (Primary Title)
Helen Frankenthaler, American, 1928 - 2011 (Artist)
Mother Goose Melody (Primary Title)
Walking Man (Primary Title)
William Kentridge, South African, born 1955 (Artist)
Walking Man (Primary Title)
Coexistence (Primary Title)
Robert Rauschenberg, American, 1925 - 2008 (Artist)
Coexistence (Primary Title)

You may wish to try the Observational Poetry exercise with other VMFA artworks.  What do you think of these?

Related Collections Content

Early in the Morning (Primary Title)
James Rosenquist, American, 1933-2017 (Artist)
Early in the Morning (Primary Title)
Early in the Morning (Primary Title) – (85.436a-b)