Take some time to enjoy art this weekend

Over the last couple of months I've been working on a special project for an organization where I volunteer. It's a little bit different from our usual blog content, but I'd like to share it with you. Today I'm presenting three art-related topics to explore, starting with the latest Lively Exchanges free download! Take a look:

          

1. Take a "self-guided" tour of an art museum

          

Have you ever felt a little lost at an art exhibition? Do you wish you knew how to get more out of your museum visits? Well, try this free download! Take it with you to an exhibition and use it as a tool to help you deepen your art-viewing experiences. Enjoy your Self-Guided Art Walk!

         

            

           

2. See how film directors have been inspired by art

           

Take a look at two short clips titled "Film Meets Art". Filmmaker Vugar Efendi has compiled a series of film shots and placed them side-by-side with the paintings that they reference. How many of these paintings do you recognize? How many of the films have you seen?

         

Watch the first clip here: Film Meets Art, part 1

And the second clip here: Film Meets Art, part 2

          

       

3. Read about Italy's "art police"

            

You might have heard that Italy has been hit by several earthquakes recently. Rescuing people is a top priority after these powerful quakes. But next comes the art police. It's their job to save precious pieces of cultural heritage.

          

When Cultural Heritage Is At Risk, Italy's Art Police Come To The Rescue

       

     

Which of these activities did you try? Tell us about it in the comments section below. And don't forget to share this post with your friends!

Naoshima: a getaway for contemporary art lovers

An outdoor sculpture on Naoshima

         
Topic:

      

This article is about a small Japanese island that has become the home of a world-class art collection.

        

Before reading:

       

General Knowledge:

• Can you find Japan on a map? How about the island of Naoshima?
• What is public art?
• What are the characteristics of places that rely on tourism?

       

Speculate:

• This article tells us about a large company that built museums on a small island. How do you think this affected the people who live there?

        

       

Click on the embedded link below to read the article and see photos on the NPR website. Word count: 819

      

How Art Transformed A Remote Japanese Island

After reading:

        

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• What might have happened to Naoshima if Benesse Holdings had not decided to house its collection on the island?
• What do you think it is like for the local people of such a small island to live in a place where so many tourists come to visit?
• If you were a member of Naoshima's tourist board, what would you do to attract tourists that aren't interested in art?
• What do you think Naoshima might be like 20 years from now? 50 years? Explain your answer using information from the article along with your own ideas.
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

             

Reflect and evaluate:

• Mr. Okuda says that some Naoshima residents were initially skeptical about the project, but over time they have been able to see the benefits. Has anything like this ever happened in your country or community? Can you think of a time where something changed, but it was hard to see the advantages until after some time had passed?
• People who live on Naoshima are surrounded by art in their daily lives. How about you? How often do you have the opportunity to appreciate works of art?
• Is there anything else you'd like to know about this topic? Do you have any questions that weren't answered in the article?
• What vocabulary words were new to you in this article? Make a record of what you have learned.

         

Beyond the page:

• Learn more about Naoshima by visiting one of these pages: Benesse Art Site Naoshima, Naoshima Travel Guide, or Naoshima Travel Information.
• Is there any public art in the area where you live? Find out.

              

Join the conversation: add your thoughts about this article in the comments section below. And don't forget to share this post with your friends!