Stained Glass Art Class

It's time for another Teen Art Class at the Dallas Museum of Art.  The kids have studied a lot of different medium of art through these classes and today was no exception. 

They began class looking at the stained glass in medieval cathedrals in the Art and Nature in the Middle Ages exhibit. Later in Tech Lab they made their own 4”x6” glass panes. 

Using Plexiglass panels they took essentially a glue gun with black sticks to create the iron work and then painted their panes of glass.  

Each work was very unique and when they were flipped around to allow the light to shine through it was quite impressive.  Because they were working with Plexiglass each student to draw and lay out their design and then transfer it using the 'iron work.' 

To others, show mercy mixed with fear of sin. Hate even the clothes that are stained by the sins of those who wear them.  Jude 1:23

DMA Teen Class

Time for another amazing teen art class at the Dallas Museum of Art.  Today's class was Conserve and Collect.  The teens were able to explore the Conservation Gallery to learn more about the unique problem-solving skills conservationists use to protect art for future generations.

In the gallery lab the youth were given painting samples and had to mix colors to match and touch up art work.   They also worked with foils to simulate the gold leafing on the ornate picture frames. 

Abigail and her friend Tessa enjoyed the class together while Ms. Beth and I toured a small portion of the museum.  

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10

Frankie's Day

Have you checked your calendar today?  Did you notice?  Today is Francis Marie Day, it's the day we celebrate Frankie's adoption!  Twenty-Two years ago, after Frankie had been with us for three years through foster care, we were able to legally adopt Frankie. 

On that week, twenty-two years ago we were also able to attend the adoption proceedings for two of Frankie's biological siblings as well.  Each year we celebrate the unique way God assembled our family. 

Today we celebrated with a trip to the Dallas Arts District, followed by a stroll through Klyde Warren Park.  Later our girl picked her favorite spot for dinner, Olive Garden.  

The Lord watches over the sojourners;

    he upholds the widow and the fatherless,

    but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

Psalm 146:9

Dallas Museum of Art Teen Workshop

Today's Teen Workshop at the Dallas Museum of Art was entitled Sensory Explorations.  The students looked at the impact the Silk Road had on Asian and European art. 

The youth led students to use their senses to experience the art in the museum.  During the workshop portion of the class they mixed their own paints using spices and pigments. 

Her favorite mixture was the  vanilla bean light grey pigment.  The least favorite would have to be the curry mustard blend!  

If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.  I Corinthians 2:17-18

Choose This Day

In addition to the Sixth Floor Museum's permanent exhibit, which tells the story of President Kennedy’s assassination and its impact, they have 2 special temporary exhibits.  Our PEACH homeshoolers headed to the museum to tour the museum with special emphasis on the two special exhibits.  

The first special exhibit is: A Time For Greatness: The 1960 Kennedy Campaign.  It’s a special election year exhibit about one of the closest elections in U.S. history, Kennedy’s victory over Richard Nixon in 1960. It's an in-depth look at what is often considered to be the first modern day presidential campaign—noted for being the first election to feature a televised debate, the first to include all 50 states and the first to elect a president born in the 20th century.

There is also a look at campaigning wives and how potential first ladies impacted their husbands run for president.  The museum offers educators guides for the classroom.  It was a great addition to our election curriculum as we move closer to the November election.  You can tell the girls enjoyed their visit, it won't be long until they are old enough to vote! 

Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.  Exodus 18:21

'Arty On Girls

It was another fun Teen Homeschool Workshop at the Dallas Museum of Art. Today was Larger than Life with a look at Swiss artist Nicolas Party transformation of the DMA’s Concourse with a bright and almost Seussical mural. 

In this workshop, the teen looked at artists who create larger-than-life artwork. In the classroom Abigail, Katrina and other teens created large-scale drawings working with oil paint sticks.  

I love that the DMA lets the youth explore different mediums and venues.  The oil paint sticks, like cray pas are one of my favorites for out door scenery. 

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  Ephesians 2:10

Culture and Culinary Art

The Dallas Museum of Art offers educational programming for all ages.  Today was one of their Teen Workshops.  The classes are very limited to four to six teens ages 14-19.  It's a very hands on, one on one class. 

Today the class of all girls took at look at the collection of Egyptian art on the third floors permanent exhibit.  Afterwards they went to the studios and made their own cartouche using leather carving tools on thick linoleum tiles.  Once completed they were able to transfer the images using an acrylic based medium on to linen.  

After a morning of creativity and hard work, Abigail and I headed to Klyde Warren Park to visit the food trucks.  Today's home school lunch was brought to us by Ruthie's Rolling  Cafe and featured the best grilled cheese sandwich!  

Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.

Ecclesiastes 9:7

DMA & Klyde Warren Park

I’ve reiterated many times on my little blog that I started this as a means to keep the grandparents and extended family active and engaged in the kids’ lives as they are growing up in Texas.  It was never meant to be a how-to blog on homeschooling, parenting, Christianity, or any other topic.  It is just the musing of our rather boring day to day adventures.

One of the neatest blessing as a byproduct of the blog has been the joy in looking back at the kids’ lives over the past seven years.  Especially as we get closer to Caleb’s graduation it has been fun to look and him growing up.

With this being his senior year we have taken the time to do a few of his favorite things before he heads off to college.  But today, Abigail had softball practice and it was one of the few weekends when Caleb didn’t have homework with his Dual Credit class, or volunteer work at the Sixth Floor, or work with Metro Relief, or church event, or fill in the blank with other time consuming events. 

My sweet son asked Frankie to pick what she wanted to do today.  At her direction we headed out to the Dallas Museum of Art to see their impressionist Bouquets exhibit.  This was the last weekend for it to be on display. 

Later we had lunch at Klyde Warren Park and then met up with Jon and Abigail to see Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.  Several years ago we saw a children’s stage production of this popular children’s book and it has remained one of Frankie’s favorites.  

It was probably not the typical day a 17 year boy would have selected but I love his heart that he would ask his sister what she wanted and then willingly go along with her selection.  She’s going to miss that boy!

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good  Titus 3:1

Art in the Eye of the Beholder

Today we headed to the Arts District for the day.  As much as I miss Oklahoma and our family, I am equally grateful for all the opportunities we have in the metropolitan area.  The museums, theater and arts are amazing!

 

Our first visit was to the Dallas Museum of Art.  The museums collection is fantastic, but sometimes the traveling exhibits are questionable.  One of those we saw today was the Concentrations 57: Slavs and Tatars exhibit.  Seriously, it will come as no surprise that this Christian, home schooling mom didn't classify rugs with profanity in foreign languages as art.  Wish we had skipped that one!  

 

I would still go out of my way any day to check out most of the other exhibits at the DMA.  The art and history are fabulous!

 

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29

A Visit to the Dallas Museum of Art

The school year seems to be flying by and we've been keeping a list of things we were wanting to check out at the Dallas Museum of Art, so today was the day.

Abigail has recently been learning about Winston Churchill and the DMA has a a nice collection of his writings, memorabilia and even his art work.  Yes, Mr. Churchill was an artist.  The exhibit is part of the Emery and Wendy Reeves collection.  The Reeves lived in the South of France in a villa that had been originally built for Coco Chanel. 

For Abigail we were also visiting the 1920's American Art collection.  The kids have several pieces in the primary collect of the museum that they love and it's always fun to visit and hear them laugh over their first impression of an art piece.  

They have closed down the Seventeen Seventeen Restaurant inside the DMA and converted it and the terrace to a new exhibit hall. Fortunately for Caleb, the cafe is still downstairs and opened for business! You just can't walk around and look at that much art and not get hungry! 

For this visit we chose to ride in on the DART, Dallas's rail transit system.  It's one of those things, I wanted Caleb to be familiar with riding the transit system.  Plus, it cost $10 to park at the DMA, and only $9 to ride the rail with no parking, plus I saved gas money!  Another bonus, I can take my Kindle and Abigail was able to keep working on her school work!

Splendor and majesty are before him;

    strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Psalm 96:6

Dallas Museum of Arts: Frozen in History with David Lubin

 

As an extension of the Hotel Texas exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art, tonight hosted and exhibition lecture entitled, Frozen in History: The Arrival of the Kennedy's in Dallas.  David Lubin who wrote the commemorative program for the exhibit has written and lectured extensively about the iconic images of the Kennedy family.

Lubin is a Professor of Art at Wake Forest University and in a class setting assigned students to iconic photos of the Kennedy's to write up historical points of the photos, elements of style, underlying symbolism etc.  The compilation of these projects are now in his book  Shooting Kennedy: JFK and the Culture of Images.

From an art appreciation aspect he took the large photo above and pointed to the white gloves on Jackie, the white handkerchief in the President's jacket pocket and the white carnation on Johnson's lapel and directed the audience to the inverted triangle they formed, centering Mrs. Kennedy. He also broke down the rectangular elements in her jacket, the rectangular windows on Air Force One, the rectangular pattern in the President's tie, and the symmetry they added to the image.  All fascinating observations of why this is an appealing photograph.

He even gave a history lesson on why red roses were given to the First Lady instead of the Yellow Rose of Texas.  He spoke to the First Lady's French background, the Channel suit, even references to Julia Child's French cuisine in American kitchens.

What struck a strong cord is we are in an age where we can instantly look back and view a photograph just seconds after it is captured.  We can download an image for viewing in moments.  But when the photos of the Kennedy's arrived in Dallas, no one would view these images with out the knowledge that 45 minutes after the image was captured the President would be dead, the First Lady a widow and Johnson would be the new President.  It is also fascinating that the color image with the massive presence of Air Force One in the background is also the back drop for the cramped, tight, black and white image of Johnson's swearing in.

It was a very thought provoking lecture and Lubin even referenced the President having Addison's Disease that Dr. Thomas McConnell had discussed at the Living History event last month. 

‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory?
How does it look to you now?
Does it not seem to you like nothing?'

Haggai 2:3 

Dallas Museum of Arts Jazz in the Atrium

Thursday night, let's see, Greek art exhibit covering 200BC - 600AD, check; tickets in hand for art lecture, check. So what to do for the next hour, that is easy, Jazz in the Atrium at the DMA.  Every Thursday evening from 6:00 to 8:00pm there are live jazz concerts.  The concerts are free however casual dinner, cocktails or your favorite non-alcoholic beverages are available for purchase.

 

Having spent an hour and a half in the Body Beautiful exhibit Caleb needed sandwich, chips, and an iced tea.  After all it had been nearly two hours since his two bowls of crab and fried rice.  He would also require a protein bar after the lecture! Sorry for the bunny trail!

 

Tonight's performance was by the Rosana Eckert Quintet.  Rosana was billed as a 'rising vocalist in the jazz world, fusing bossa nova, blues and traditional swing.'  We enjoyed about an hour of the performance and even giggled when she threw in a Schoolhouse Rock number!

The precepts of the Lord are right,
    giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
    giving light to the eyes.

Psalm 19:8

Dallas Museum of Art - The Body Beautiful in Ancient Greece

The Body Beautiful featuring masterworks from the British Museum is an internal touring exhibition of more than one hundred and twenty pieces.  With a name like 'the Body Beautiful,' you understand there will be a large percentage of piece nude.  I chose not to take the girls to this exhibit, just Caleb.  If you wonder why, well it goes back to the 'fig tree' post earlier this week. 

 

In covering Bible Bowl in 2007 we studied the book of Acts. In chapter 17 Paul was speaking to the Areopagus speaking about the idols made with human hands that they worshiped.  Many of the pieces in this exhibit could have been such pieces!   This collection is Greek and Roman bronze and marble sculptures, vessels, jewelry, ornate Sarcophagi from 200B.C. forward. 

 

Caleb also has an almost freakishly large data base of Greek and Roman mythology in his head.  Each piece we came to he gave me the background story of each deity, their Roman name, their Greek origins, etc.  He even gave me a lesson on etymology of the word 'panic' from Pan, the Greek god of woods and fields who was the source of mysterious sounds that caused contagious, groundless fear in herds and crowds, or in people in lonely spots.

 

There is a section in this exhibit where the pieces are in more sexual poses that we opted to skip.  Again, like Solomon wrote, 'there is nothing new under the sun.'  These appeared in their temples of worship, not just on the MTV awards show. 

 

The exhibit was very extensive, there is something to appeal to each viewer.  I am amazed at the talent to mold, paint or sculpt such pieces during such a primitive time. Caleb was captured by nuggets of information in Greek Mythology that he had not read before.  

Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.  “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands."

Acts 17:22-24

Hotel Texas

If you've hung out with my family through our blog then you know we love the Dallas Museum of Art.  It is amazing to step out of our otherwise incredibly fast paced lives and simply enjoy the beauty of art.  Each one of the children enjoy the event for different reasons.  Abigail is my artist and she loves seeing new styles and forms.  Caleb is my historian and he loves the time periods and political backgrounds of each piece.  Frankie and I, well we like to go because the art is pretty!  As for Jon, well, he likes to hang out with the rest of us!

 

This summer the DMA has showcased the Hotel Texas Exhibit.  It is a collection of maybe fifteen pieces that were on exhibit when President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy visited Fort Worth.  Before coming to Dallas that fateful day the President and first lady visited Fort Worth.  This fabulous collection of  paintings by Vincent van Gogh, Thomas Eakins, Lyonel Feininger, Franz Kline, and Marsden Hartley, and sculptures by Pablo Picasso and Henry Moore, among others was installed in the hotel room the Kennedy's would stay.  An exhibit guide was made detail the history behind each piece of art.

 

The following morning before leaving the Fort Worth hotel the President telephoned the art organizer to thank her for putting such an impressive collection together just for their overnight stay.  This is thought to be the last phone call by the President.  The Kennedy's would go on that morning to host a fund raising breakfast in Fort Worth and then head to Dallas.  Because of the assassination in Dallas that day, this artwork was quickly returned to the private collectors and never displayed again.  All but two of the original pieces have been reunited at the DMA along with photos of the hotel room installation, newspaper articles, and other memorabilia from the two days in Fort Worth. 

 

In September this installation will be moved to Fort Worth where it will be on display commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination. 

 

This was especially a moving exhibit for Caleb because of all of his worth with the Sixth Floor Museum.  There were several acknowledgement to the Sixth Floor Museum for items included in this exhibit.  The Sixth Floor also prepared the fifteen minute documentary showing the excited of the President's arrival in Texas. 

 

These days should be remembered

and observed in every generation by

 every family, and in every province

and in every city. . . .nor should the

memory of these days die out among their descendants.

Esther 9:28

Christopher Paolini at the Dallas Museum of Art



Mr. Paolini signing Caleb's book

 

 

Today the Inheritance Deluxe Hardcover book was released and author Christopher Paolini kick-off a book lecture, Q and A at the Dallas Museum of Art.  Christopher Paolini is the best-selling author of the Inheritance Cycle the popular young adult fantasy series telling the adventures of a teenage boy named Eragon and his dragon.  Paolini was home schooled and at fifteen began writing this hugely popular book series.  So far he has sold over 33 million books over the last ten years. 



Paolini's Books

 

Caleb has read this series multiple times and loves the imagination and mythical lands of Alagaesia.  Tonight Paolini was at the Dallas Museum of Art for their BooksmART event discussing the final book in this series, Inheritance.  Paolini was charming and engaging, great stories about how he graduated at 15 because his mom didn't let them take summers off from school.  Lot of relateable home school stories, along with his love for the Tolkien-style fantasy books. 

 

Caleb really enjoyed the talk and question and answer session.  Of course when they went off in elf-language and old Norse it might as well have been Middle Earth to me!

 

Caleb did get one of his books signed and judging by the line Mr. Paolini may still be there signing books.  At the end of the day Caleb kissed me good night and said, "thanks Mom for taking me to see Christopher Paolini."  It's all good!

 

 an enormous red dragon with seven heads
and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads.
Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth.

Revelation 12:3-4

Chihuly Exhibit at Dallas Arboretum

 

 

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The Dallas Arboretum is 66-acres of the most beautiful gardens!  There is nothing that compares to the beauty of God’s flowers!  But today my appreciation for God’s beauty and my appreciation for man’s creative were combined in the stunning Chihuly exhibit at the Arboretum.

Dale Chihuly is a very talented American artist.  He worked at the Venini glass factory in Venice. He is one of the most prolific and influential glass artists of our generation, with works in more than 200 museum collections worldwide including the Louvre in Paris.

 

Consider how the wild flowers grow.
They do not labor or spin.
Yet I tell you, not even Solomon
in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

Luke 12:27

DMA Class - Mark Bradford

Each month the Dallas Museum of Art hosts a homeschool class.  They are generally interactive classes for parents and children.  This month’s class we took a look at the Mark Bradford exhibit currently on loan in one of the museums galleries.

Today’s class was Art and Community.  Bradford is an artist who uses found items in his work, posters, wrappers, cardboard, duct tape, etc. One technique he uses takes string glued to the surface and then he mounts strips of paper in a decoupage fashion over the entire surface of the piece.  The last step is to pull up all the string leaving grooves in the art work. 

It is an interesting craft technique but in my opinion, it’s not really art.  It is very random and it is not something I would hang up in my home.  But it was an interesting class and fun to see the kid’s reaction to this style of work.

there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work,

because that is their lot.

For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?

Ecclesiastes 3:22

Art Beyond Sight at the DMA

Artist John Bramblitt show student how he 'sees'

Caleb

Abigail

John walking the classroom

Echo - Off Duty

The Dallas Museum of Art hosts homeschool classes for families.  The first class this school year is Art Beyond Sight.  Guest artist John Bramblitt who is a sightless painter from Denton. Mr. Bramblitt's works are both nationally and internationally renowned; he spoke with our class about his artistic process and what it’s like to experience works of art using his other senses. He was a sighted artist and when he lost his sight he had to relearn how to draw.  

Mr. Bramblitt brought his guide dog, Echo; who was “on duty” for most of the class time.  Mr. Bramblitt helped the kids understand how to describe art to someone who can't see.  For example the color pink might smell like bubble gum, it might sound like a soft blinking noise, or it might feel like a fuzzy blanket.

In the studio the youth had to recreate artwork based on their partners description.  The kids also spent some time in the DMA's Art Studio creating their own sightless works of art.  One exercise was to feel an object in a box and recreate on their page.

the LORD gives sight to the blind,
the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down,
the LORD loves the righteous.

Psalm 146:8

Dallas Museum of Art




Sissy's Torch




Abigail's Art







Nativity Painting

If you follow the blog at all you know we have been members of the Dallas Museum of Art for several years.  It is one of my favorite place in all of Dallas, I could get lost there for hours. 

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Growing up my family traveled all over the world from Venice, Rome, Switzerland, Austria etc. and I was blessed to see Michelangelo and DiVinci’s work up close in their home countries.

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Theseus and the Minotaur

Abigail is still a little young for those type family vacations, so the local museums are a great way to begin an appreciation for art.  The DMA is four floors and has a variety of wonderful collections, in addition there are generally three to four traveling exhibits displayed.  On our visit today the kids decided we would check out some of our old favorites. 

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Caleb loves the DMA’s collection of Mediterranean history, from 3000 BC to the fall of the Roman Empire.  Included in the collection are many depictions of Greek mythology. 

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Abigail and Frankie lean toward a preference of the works of impressionist and post impressionist.  Me, well I like all the pretty pictures, not a big fan of the modern painting.  I do enjoy the paintings by Winston Churchill in the Emery and Wendy Reves collection. 

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Today the DMA was hosting their Bancroft Family Concert series featuring the Dallas Symphony Brass Quintet.  Members of the Brass Quintet include Dallas Symphony Orchestra principal players Ryan Anthony (trumpet), Kevin Finamore (trumpet), Gregory Hustis (horn), John Kitzman (trombone), and Matthew Good (tuba).



A little Duke Ellington

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The music presented included compositions written during the past 400 years starting with the Renaissance composer William Byrd and continuing with Bach, Holst, Wagner, and the 21^st century music of Kevin McKee. The program concluded with brass quintet arrangements of Duke Ellington’s music.

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If you have younger children I would suggest checking out the DMA’s FREE first Tuesday of the month.  Don’t try to see the whole thing at once.  When we started attending Caleb was in 2^nd grad and Abigail was Pre-K.  We would go on the free Tuesday, check out one exhibit, hopefully something that coincided with school and then go home.  But we sent back each month, working on our museum ‘inside voices’ practicing not touching, running etc.  As they got older we could discuss various artists, they can recognize and distinguish between many of the masters. 

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I also love that with these visit we can put together the pieces like when Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses on the door to the Catholic Church, which is the primary catalyst for the Protestant Reformation, that it was only five years after Michelangelo had completed the Sistine Chapel. 

For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Romans 11:36

Indian Art at the DMA

With Caleb over at Blake’s house, and no softball games today we found ourselves with a free Saturday! We decided to visit the DMA, Dallas Museum of Art. The DMA has their first Native American exhibition in nearly twenty years, 111 works of art from the renowned Eugene and Clare Thaw Collection of American Indian Art. Because the exhibit is on loan from another museum, no photography is allowed.

Following our walk thru the Thaw Collection we headed over to the DMA’s Kid’s Club. The have great interactive exhibits that the kids can touch, feel and re-create. We love the DMA, we’ve been members for years and if you’re not a member, I highly recommend becoming one! We always have such a great time!

with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— 32 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze
Exodus 35:31-32