Welcome to ART CONNECTIONS!

ART CONNECTIONS is an interactive project developed by The Dayton Art Institute to help area educators promote the visual arts as an integral part of a comprehensive curriculum. The program is comprised of three unique components; ART CONNECTIONS: Discover the World, ART CONNECTIONS: Discover America and ART CONNECTIONS: Discover Writing. The first two components are designed for students in grades four through six and Discover Writing is designed for students in grades seven through nine. Each program involves three visits to the museum, with the third visit being the culminating event, the Art Affair. At the Art Affair students design a cultural exhibit, give gallery talks or read a selection of their writing. Friends and family are invited to attend this special event.

During three visits to the museum, the students will:

- Examine in depth, art and art objects from a variety of cultures
- Participate in interactive gallery experiences
- Research the art of these artists and cultures using materials from the

  Educator Resource Center by using the Traveling Trunks or Art Packs

  in their classrooms
- Participate in an art-making workshop facilitated by visiting artists
- Discover Writing participants work with a writer-in-residence in the

  museum’s galleries
- Participate in a final event at the museum which will showcase their

  research or writing

The Discover the World participants will tour western and non-western galleries to examine and discuss works of art that represent 10 countries or cultures from around the world including; Africa, Egypt, Oceania, Japan, China, India, Greece, pre-Columbian, 16th and 17th century Europe and 18th and 19th century Europe.

The Discover America participants tour the American galleries to examine and discuss works of art that represent 9 time periods in American History including: Native American, Colonial America, 19th century America, Turn of the century, early 20th century, Modernism, Post World War II, Contemporary America and a special section on the State of Ohio.

The Discover Writing program follows the multi-visit format. During the first visit teachers come for a two-hour intensive workshop with Dr. Nancy Mack, Professor of English from Wright State University, where they learn and practice a variety of exercises designed to enhance student writing. Teachers take an Art Pack back to the classroom, which contains high quality reproductions of five works from the museum’s collection and a manual with writing activities and prompts. During the second visit the students come to the museum and after a docent led tour they work with a writer in the museum doing a variety of writing exercises in response to the art. Following this they go to the studio where they create their own “journal” to keep their writings in. The final visit is the Writing about Art Affair. Students invite families, friends, teachers and principals to this evening where they share one of the pieces that they have written.

For information about how to participate please contact Mary Beth Whitley at 223.5277 ext. 335 or email mwhitley@daytonartinstitute.org.