Transformation is nothing new for artists. From taking a piece of mud and molding it into a sculpture, to drawing a moustache on the "Mona Lisa," artists have the power and the inclination to reinvent things time and again. In this article, the author describes how her middle school students explored the aesthetics of the past by applying…

In this article, the author discusses how aesthetics can be thought of as a worldview. She discusses how many non-Western cultures recognize no distinction between fine art and craft, may not even have a word for "art", and may not separate art from everyday life. The Japanese culture is an example of a culture that made no distinction between…

Most human beings look at erosion as the destruction of a surface, but artists can see that erosion often creates indefinable beauty. Where do you see beauty in the breakdown? In this article, the author presents an innovative lesson that would allow students to observe both human and physical nature. In this activity students will create a work…

Body adornment and decoration have long been a part of human history. Cultures around the world have found ways to add elements to the human form to enhance beauty. Recently the author has noticed an increase in body piercing and tattooing. He finds himself, as an artist/teacher, asking if there is an aesthetic element he might be missing. In this…

Questions such as "Is it art?," "How is it Art?," and "Why is is art?" often arise when individuals investigate art objects. Such questions fall into the realm of aesthetics--the branch of philosophy that concerns itself with the nature of art. Because these types of big questions require meditative contemplation and reasoned responses, aesthetics…

This article describes a lesson, designed for second graders, that begins with the teacher showing and talking about a few landscape fundamentals: horizon line, depth, and the mood or feeling that a work of art inspires. A class discussion ensues about how an artist's images can make one feel, how they can convey calmness, warmth, anxiety, or a…

In this article, the author describes how her intermediate art class used silhouettes expressively and interpreted ancient and contemporary silhouettes in a personal way. The students analyze relationships of works of art to one another in terms of history, aesthetics, and culture, justifying conclusions made in the analysis, and using such…

In this article, the author profiles Pierre-Auguste Renoir and describes Renoir's work of art, "Woman with Parrot". Renoir gained a reputation among peers for taking exceptional pleasure in painting, and his style was said to celebrate beauty and sensuality. He is recognized for showing significant empathy for the sitters in his portraits, and for…

In this article, the author talks about an international art fashion show at St. Timothy's School in Stevenson, Maryland, which provided opportunities for students to showcase what they did best, from design to research, to creative production, to modeling. According to Randy Stevens, Head of School, the project helped students think more deeply…

This article briefly highlights a unique project given to seventh grade students in a science class. To foster appreciation for the wonders of nature, teacher John Golden asks students to collect a variety of materials--from leaves and branches to pine cones and seed pods--and create a sculptural arrangement reflecting nature's beauty. Materials…

Sometimes the questions that art poses and the paths taken to answer them can be as important as the answers themselves. Questions in aesthetics--the branch of art that deals with philosophical issues--involve exploration of big ideas that have varied and multiple responses. Providing opportunities for students to consider and reflect upon their…

This article introduces Community Bridge, a participatory public art project that brought together artists and residents to address aesthetic needs of an urban environment. The Community Bridge is an exemplary work of art by American artist William Cochran. In addition to creating a natural gathering place for residents of all ages, the bridge is…

Whether referring to psychologist Stanley Milgram's intriguing theory, John Guare's successful play and film, or Kevin Bacon's party game, six degrees of separation may also be used as a way to help students make visual connections. The six degrees of separation is the concept that everyone is connected to everyone else in the world by only six…