Faces, Places and Inner Spaces: A Guide to Looking at Art - Hardcover

Sousa, Jean; Chicago, The Art Institute Of

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0810959666 ISBN 13: 9780810959668

Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2006

Synopsis

Published in association with the Art Institute of Chicago

A wonderful, innovative way to get children looking at art

How do artists use faces, places, and inner spaces to express themselves? Examining "faces" in art can help us discover how people from different cultures and times have seen themselves. By looking at "places" (landscapes and cityscapes), we can become more aware of our everyday life and appreciate what surrounds us. And an artist who depicts his or her "inner space" shares something very personal that might resemble some of our own thoughts, or seem so strange that we want to know more.

Within each of those categories, the variety of subjects is unlimited. This book gives examples of each and explains how the artist comes to his or her unique vision. Among the works included are an African mask, a West Mexican clay-pole dance scene, a Hindu sculpture, a Chinese screen, a Japanese actor print, as well as Surreal objects by Cornell, paintings by Van Gogh, Miro, and others. After exploring each of these topics, young readers will be prepared to take a new look at art and to start understanding how artists shape our view of the world.

As an interactive way to get kids thinking about the concepts in the book, a pocket at the back of the book contains a "mirror" so kids can look at and discuss their own face; a picture frame; and an acetate sheet to use for other activities.

About this title

About the Author:

Jean Sousa is the Deputy Director of Museum Education, Exhibitions and Family Programs at The Art Institute of Chicago.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 3-6–The Art Institute of Chicago houses some of the world's greatest works. Sousa highlights some of these pieces as she explains how artists from various cultures and periods represent faces, depict places, and express inner thoughts and feelings. Using both two- and three-dimensional works, she helps viewers gain a greater understanding and appreciation of them. The author asks questions to get readers thinking, and sometimes replies to her own inquiries in such a way that readers may not feel comfortable disagreeing. The book is organized by the title's three subjects, and Sousa notes that works often can fit into two or more of these categories. The selection of artworks and the quality of reproductions give the pages the look of a coffee-table book. The activity packet contains mirrored paper and a frame for a self-portrait; a grid for enlarging a mural; and instructions for making a Cornell box, which could easily have been described within the text. These activities are similar to those suggested in other art-appreciation books. While this one is beautiful, it is not unique. Libraries that own the A First Look at Art series (Chelsea House) or comparable titles probably don't need it.–Carolyn Janssen, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH
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About this edition

• Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0810959666
• ISBN 13: 9780810959668
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 48