Overview
Engaging in art-making is a way to reflect on and express feelings or perspectives about current events related to the COVID-19 pandemic, social injustices, natural disasters, or beyond. This activity can be completed either from the comfort of your own home or safely in the Education Courtyard of the MMFA’s John and Joyce Caddell Sculpture Garden on Saturday, October 3, 2020, until 2:30PM. On that day, members of the River Region are invited to help promote community healing through a shared, public exhibition for all by displaying artwork either made at home or at the MMFA in a designated exhibition space of the Education Courtyard.
Objective
To use visual art as a means to reflect on and express feelings or perspectives about ongoing local, national, and world events, while promoting community healing through the creative process and display of art.
Resources
Material Suggestions
- Pencil and eraser
- Paper (recommended 9”x12” or print a framed sheet linked above)
- Colored pencils, crayons, or markers
- Paints, paintbrushes, and water for rinsing
- Permanent marker or dark-colored pencil for outlining
Vocabulary
- Reflect – to thoughtfully consider or think about
- Share – to enjoy or grieve in common with others
- Message – a central idea communicated with others
- Symbol – in art, using something recognizable to represent an idea or feeling that is hard to depict otherwise
Steps
Reflect: Use the following prompts to promote open discussion and reflection about ways your family and community has been impacted by recent events. If you are completing this activity as an individual, write answers to the following questions if that helps your reflective and creative processes.
How has daily life changed, and how do you feel about those changes?
Reflect deeply on the emotions evoked, and consider how the experience of those feelings have affected you.
Have you learned anything new about people, the world, yourself?
What has been important to you during this time?
Do you have something to share that you think might help others at this time?
Create and Express: Working from ideas that came out of your reflection, choose one particular message or emotion you feel is important to share with others. Create a work of art that expresses your idea, whether through colors and shapes, actual words, or through symbols.
Outline: Use a darker colored pencil to outline any designs you want to stand out, to help your creation be visible from a distance while on display at the MMFA.
Conclusion + Submit Your Work
We love seeing your creations and encourage you to be part of the Reflections of the HeART community display in the MMFA’s Education Courtyard on Saturday, October 3, 2020. Until 2:30PM that day, the Education Courtyard can be accessed through the John and Joyce Caddell Sculpture Garden. When you enter the Sculpture Garden, ask the attendant to direct you to the Education Courtyard for hanging your work of art with the community display. Future dates will be announced to participate in this project beyond October 3, so please stay tuned for updates!
If you would like us to share your artwork but do not want to bring it to the Museum, please email images of your finished work of art to pr@mmfa.org. Make sure to include the following information in the email: the name and age of the artist, the title for your word art, the title of the original artwork from the MMFA’s collection that inspired your creation.
