Resources: Art
The Sargent
Murals at the Boston Public Library [Quicktime]
Best known as a portrait painter for the rich and fashionable,
John Singer Sargent worked for nearly 30 years (1890-1919) on
a monumental mural cycle, Triumph of Religion, installed in the
Boston Public Library's main building, designed by McKim, Mead,
and White and opened in Copley Square in 1895. Since 1919, the
murals have deteriorated considerably, and this Web site presents
their current restoration, as well as their creation story, with
many images and biography of their creator, John Singer Sargent.
For example, navigate through Description and Interpretation in
the Murals section for an explanation of why Sargent's selection
of a religious topic for a public building, odd-seeming to our
21th century sensibilities, was in fact a 19th century expression
of a progressive, Enlightenment idea. See the Restoration section
for discussion of Sargent's use of non-traditional materials in
the murals, such as adding relief or raised elements, which unfortunately
complicate the restoration process. The site also includes an
Images section for those who just want to see the pictures and
Quicktime movies. Soon, a live camera will be added.
About.com
This website has an enormous collection of materials relating
to k-12 teaching including lesson plans, links and tips for all
disciplines and age levels. It is a very useful site for new teachers,
seasoned teachers, and even home school. Get tips on how to prepare
for your first day and classroom management strategies, find fun
games for students, and discover even more of those web sites
that make your job just a little bit easier! It is a bottomless
pit of information.
Fats
Waller Forever Digital Exhibit [RealPlayer]
Born in Harlem in 1904, Thomas Wright Waller would become one
of jazz's most renowned pianists, along with composing some of
its most memorable compositions, including "Ain't Misbehavin"
and "Honeysuckle Rose." This online exhibit, produced
by the Institute for Jazz Studies at Rutgers University, features
recordings and photographs of Fats Waller in his prime. Also,
as users navigate through the different sections, selections from
Fats Waller's hundreds of recordings play as they browse. Short
essays, many of them by Paul Wachlin, describe various facets
of Waller's legendary stride-piano style, his recording legacy,
and the extensive manuscript holdings within the Institute's Dana
Library. The site is rounded out by a section of additional readings
and references for those seeking to learn more about the life
and musical achievements of Fats Waller.
Exploring
Themes in American Art
Provided by the National Gallery, this site explores ten themes
in American art through illustrated essays. Each brief essay includes
links to featured images, a list of artists, a glossary, and a
bibliography. An interesting, useful, and compact site for anyone
interested in American painting.
American
History and Art from New England
Features of the site include: the Digital Collection,
a searchable database of over 1,000 artifacts selected from 70,000
in the Museum's holdings; In the Classroom, a collection of curriculum
ideas for teachers; and the Turns of the Centuries exhibit. This
exhibit presents images and artifacts on five broad themes: Family
Life, Native American Indians, African Americans, Newcomers, and
The Land. The exhibits span across three eras: 1680-1720, 1780-1820,
and 1880-1920. There is also an Activities section, with Scavenger
Hunt, Dress Up, Make a Chronology, and a Tailor Your Visit pages.
The later suggests resources for teachers, researchers, and K-12
students.
Botanic
Garden of Smith College
Mead
Art Museum at Amherst College
Mount
Holyoke College Art Museum
Smith
College Museum of Art
Enchanted
Circle Theater Institute
413-534-3789
