F.A.M.E. for March
March’s Fine Arts Mini Experience (FAME) was taught during the week of March 16th – 19th, and featured the French artist Georges Seurat’s painting “Sunday Afternoon on the island of le Grand Jatte” and the Czechoslovakian composer Antonin Dvorak’s composition, “Humoresque #7”.
Students went on a “picnic” and discovered many hidden surprises in Seurat’s famous painting. They learned about the post impressionist art technique called pointillism (painting using dots) and observed “la Grande Jatte” up close and far away. Students were also excited to learn that they can visit a Seurat up close and personal in San Francisco at the Legion of Honor Museum.
Dvorak’s music was enjoyed by all of the students. “Humoresque” is a fun, light, lively composition and the students liked being able to listen for the staccato and legato parts of the song. These different musical articulations can be compared with painting techniques we have learned about in FAME. The short, separated staccato notes of the song reminded us of Seurat’s pointillism and dots. The long, flowing legato notes made students think of the swirling skies of van Gogh’s “Starry Night”. When time permitted, students were treated to another Dvorak piece entitled “From the New World”.