Background

This course is called the Experience of Modern Art. As such, we want to give you multiple chances to experience different types of modern art. Part of experiencing art requires that you process what you are experiencing. In other words:

• Why did you select this particular piece of modern art as opposed to others?
• What are you seeing, touching, hearing, smelling, and tasting in this modern artwork? (Yes, food can be a form of art. They call it the culinary arts for a reason.)
• What do you think and feel about the modern art you are experiencing?
• What does the specific piece of modern art mean to you?
• Art is communication between the artist and their audience. What message do you think the modern artist was trying to convey?

One great way to process your experience of art is to write, or journal, about it. Many people say that writing is thinking. To figure out what they think or feel about something, they need to write about it first. The five journal entries in this course will give you the opportunity to process the art you are experiencing. The entries and the week they are due include:

You will find that the journal entries in this course follow a pattern. You will be asked to:

• Experience modern artwork.
• Copy and paste a copy of the modern artwork in your journal entry along with identifying information about the artwork and artist.
• Respond to writing prompts about the artwork (1 1/2-2 pages).

Your journal entries are private. You will only need to share your entries with your instructor, not with your classmates.

Finally, each journal is worth 64 points, and each journal entry contains a grading rubric.

Art in Everyday Life

Marking art and appreciating it is about sharpening our skills in seeing art. It is in abundance around us. Consider these examples:

• A mural or graffiti on the side of a building.
• A sculpture or a fountain.
• Patchwork quilts hanging on a clothesline.
• A photograph we can't stop looking at.
• A meal that appeals to our palettes, our eyes, and our sense of smell.
• A house we've driven by and always wanted to live in.
• A garden that makes us stop driving, get out of our car, and take in the smells and the view.
• An artifact (a smooth stone, an ornament, a box, a book) that we keep close because of its personal meaning for us.

Begin Work on Your Art in Everyday Life Journal Entry

To begin work on your Art in Everyday Life journal entry:

1. Select art that you want to write a journal entry about and explain why you selected this piece of art.
   • Consider the examples above to stimulate your thinking, but don't allow the examples to constrain you. These examples are only intended to jump-start your thinking.
2. Share an image of the artwork you've selected and provide identifying information about the artwork and the artist.
   • Note: In some cases, you may not be able to provide identifying information. For example, if your artwork consists of quilts hanging on a clothesline, you may not be able to identify the art or the artist. Provide any identifying information you can and explain why this information isn't available.
3. Respond to these writing prompts in the Art in Everyday Life Template [DOCX] Download Art in Everyday Life Template [DOCX]:
   • What identifying information can you supply about the artwork and the artist?
   • Why did you select this piece of art to share and write about?
   • What do you see, touch, hear, smell, or taste in this modern artwork?
     • Be sure to provide sufficient details.
   • What do you think and feel about this artwork?
   • What meaning does this piece of art have for you?
   • What message do you think the artist was trying to convey?
4. Ensure your journal entry is clear and demonstrates good writing mechanics.
5. Submit the image of your piece of art and your journal entry to the assignment area.