Photography is one of the most popular art forms today making it easy and rewarding to collect. Learn about the various formats of photography and how to source photographs for your own collection. The speaker will bring examples from his own collection to share, give you tips on how the photo market works, and discuss methods of caring and displaying photographs. Whether you spend a few dollars, or a million, there are photographs waiting to be found that can beautify your home.
Archives
Careers in Art
Identify various careers in the art world. Achieve a better understanding of a specific profession’s job duties. Learn the necessary academic paths and experience needed to earn a career of your interest. Get a virtual behind-the-scenes tour of the inner workings of a fine arts museum.
(This lecture is intended for high school and college level participants)
A Collector’s Guide to Prints
This lecture provides a brief history of the development of several widely used printmaking techniques and a detailed explanation of each process. A more thorough understanding of just how complex and difficult printmaking is allows the audience to appreciate more fully this often-underestimated form of art.
Symbols!
What do our symbols tell us? How did they evolve? Are they the same in every culture? Do they change over time? Using images from the VMFA collection, investigate symbols and signs in art ranging from Egyptian murals to 21st century installations. This presentation and its accompanying discussion generate ideas for artwork inspired by the personal symbols of participants.
Look at That! Critical Thinking + Art = Knowledge Retention
What in the world can you learn from just looking at pictures? This workshop provides resources for constructing new understandings of our cultural, social, and political history by discovering clues in works of art! After all, every work of art is a primary source from the era in which it was made. (Adaptable to a variety of subjects and grade levels.)
First Hand: Front Line Drawings from the Civil War
Investigate the American Civil War as seen by the artists who witnessed it. Through their folded, soiled, and stained sketches, we can gain insight into the evolving view of war from noble endeavor to human tragedy. These artists urgently captured battlefield moments to be reproduced for the masses of readers of Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Weekly Newspaper who craved the most immediate experience of the war possible.
Our Classical Heritage: Greece and Rome
What can you learn from Greek vases, Roman coins, marble statues, and golden jewelry? Find out in this hands-on workshop that explores the natural resources, architecture, politics, and sports of ancient Greece and Rome.
From Jamestown to Williamsburg: A Century of Change
What happened in the world in the century following the settlement of Jamestown? How did the Columbian Exchange change life on four different continents? What new ideas were brewing? This workshop explores the 17th century through works of art in VMFA’s collection — and complements two statewide traveling exhibitions (which you can book for your school).
Chapter 3: Art History of the Ancient World through Children’s Literature
Don’t miss this unique and entertaining exploration of the art and cultures of Egypt, China, Greece, and Rome through books for children and young adults. This adventure includes hands-on activities and discussions of picture books, chapter books, and nonfiction works. (All of the books recommended and examined in this workshop are newly chosen in 2011 – 2012, but the resources include selections from previous years if you haven’t booked this workshop before.)
Chasing the Illusive Image: The Origins of Photography
Although the notion of photography goes back to at least the fifth century B.C.E. when Chinese philosopher Mo Ti described the principle of the Camera Obscura, photography as we know it today was not officially announced to the world until 1839. In this educator workshop, participants investigate the almost simultaneous development of two different systems of photography in France and in England.