SchoolArts - May/June 2008

media. Relevant and engaging, this fresh new series will lead students through the exploration of digital art. The reverse side of each print provides information about the artist, the art, and a guided analysis for interpreting the art. Advanced interdisciplinary concepts such as synaesthesia and chaos theory are discussed; however the suggested activities are suitable for all ages. Posters have pre-punched holes for hanging, and are laminated on both sides. A teacher’s guide provides a smaller, more convenient version of the images and text shown on the prints and contains a glossary and suggested activities.

—Shannon Sweny-Stephens teaches art at Beck Elementary in Trophy Club, Texas.

Video Reviews
Pam Stephens
The Gates: A Film about the Gates
in Central Park, New York City.
Glenview, IL: Crystal Productions.
DVD, 30 minutes, $29.95.

From February 12 to February 27, 2005, The Gates, a site-specific, temporary artwork by artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude, was installed in Central Park, New York City. More than 7,500 gates covered approximately twenty-three miles of paths. Each gate was draped with saffron-colored fabric to create a flag-like effect. Reminiscent of Japanese Torii gates found at the entrances to Shinto shrines and sometimes Buddhist temples, The Gates suggested a passage through a revered space. Although The Gates was in place slightly more than two weeks, it took about a quarter of century to bring the project to fruition.

As one might expect, The Gates was a highly controversial work of art. Regardless of acceptance or rejection, The Gates proved to be a successful impermanent installation piece that brought attention (and tourists) to New York City, while focusing a spotlight on the artists and their intent.

The Gates: A Film about the Gates in Central Park, New York City is a beautifully filmed documentary that will be a welcome addition to middle school, high school, and post-secondary classrooms or libraries. The video follows the creation of The Gates from initial proposal through installation, and disassembly. The artwork is explored through the eyes of various individuals: the mayor of New York, the artists, and visitors to Central Park.

Web Reviews
Rebecca Arkenberg
AskAsia

www.askasia.org

Some thirty countries comprise present-day Asia, and each is represented on the Asia Society’s Ask Asia website. Dedicated to teachers and students, the site contains a wealth of materials, including more than sixty lesson plans, many of which have applications for the art classroom, including “A Museum as Time Capsule,” “Persian Illustrated Books,” and “Attitudes Toward Nature in Daoist Art.” The lesson plans are supplemented by background essays, maps, an image data- base, and resources. Teachers can search any of these areas according to grade level (pre-K through high school), time period, or geographic area.

“Islam in Southeast Asia” is a special feature that contains an online book of essays, a slide show of images, and a curriculum that can be downloaded for free or ordered in hard copy. The online version is supplemented by a video, glossary, maps, and bibliography. A multimedia feature, “The Landscapes of China,” includes videos and podcasts, as well as printable transcripts. Curriculum units include an introductory “Asian Art Outlook,” an interdisciplinary “Silk Road Encounters,” and literacy-oriented “Visible Traces.”

Students will find resources related to the arts and culture of Asia, including movies, music, books, dance and performing arts, and visual art. The Asia Society’s past and present exhibition sites provide images, virtual tours, and some movies

Games, stories, and language activities enhance the “Kids” section, which includes closer looks at Ganesha and Buddha, and a Japanese origami activity.

The site also invites teachers to join the Asia Society and National Geographic Education Foundation’s online community to access resources, join current events forums, share ideas and projects, and find additional materials and services. Users must register, but there is no fee.