Trailblazers: User Guide
Key Questions/ Issues Addressed
Who were the most important women artists in London between the late 1800s and the early 1900s?
What can we learn from their paths as artists?
Lesson Goals / Objectives
Students will understand the career paths of a selection of women artists who worked in the London area during the late 19th century and the early 20th century
Students will learn basic facts about their lives and how their experiences informed their work
Students will become familiar with their respective artworks
Students will interpret artworks, and identify the feelings, issues, themes, and social concerns that they convey
Students will analyse the use of elements and principles of design in these artists’ works, and explain how they were used to communicate meaning
Students will demonstrate an understanding of these artists’ style and traditions, and describe how their art reflected the culture, time, and place in which they worked
Students will use their works as a source of inspiration to create their own work
Materials
Demo (testing): https://www.discoverlondonart.ca/digital-stories-trailblazers.html
Video: Short Documentary Women Artists.
Test Your Knowledge: Quiz on the work of these women artists and the challenges that they encountered.
Elements and Principles: Learning Modules on the use of elements and principles of design on the different pieces produced by the women artists.
Create You Own Work: Activity for the creation of a piece inspired by one of the works of these artists.
For the development of the activity:
• Computer and Speakers
• Projection Screen
• Internet Access
• Chromebooks (if available)
• Art Supplies (for the final activity)
Instructional Activity / Procedures
Briefly introduce the work of Museum London and Discover London Art
1. Video
1.1. Screening (projection):
Present the introductory video (length: 5 min. average). We encourage the projection of the video on a large screen for the entire group.
If possible, turn off the lights or close the curtains, try to create a ‘screening room’ atmosphere.
Invite students to remain silent – the video will be short.
1.2. Dialogue:
After the video finishes, ask students:
What did you learn about the different women artists?
Who were they?
Why were they never as famous as their male counterparts?
What kinds of subjects did these women artists paint?
Like her younger brother Paul, Mildred Peel was also an artist. However, her work was not as well-known as that of Paul. Why do you think this happened?
Why do you think that Mildred decided to paint a portrait of Laura Secord?
Why did many of these women become art teachers?
2. Test Your Own Knowledge:
Ask students to respond the quiz, which consists of a multiple-choice series of questions, based on the content of the video.
• If Chromebooks are available, students are expected to answer to the questions individually or in small groups.
• If Chromebooks are not available, the teacher can lead the activity using the class’ projection screen.
Optional: print-out the certificates and send them home. We encourage this process, even if not environmental-friendly, to promote awareness of the activity among parents and guardians.
3. Elements and Principles:
3.1. Ask students to view/read the modules on elements and principles. These are short informative guides on design concepts.
3.2. Ask students to see the online exhibit (slide show) and choose their favourite artwork.
Optional: Conduct a poll. Students should vote for their favourite artwork.
Share the results. Ask students: Why did you choose that piece
4. Create Your Own Artwork:
The session ends with an individual art project. Students are encouraged to create their own work inspired by the session’s content.
4.1. Sketching like Paul Peel
Element: Shape and Form
Draw a portrait, or your own self-portrait, in two steps: the studio version and the final version.
Extension Activity
Art Tours: A Visit to the Museum
School tours and programs are offered throughout the school year (September through June), Tuesday to Friday (9:30 am to 2:30 pm).
To book a program or tour please call 519-661-0333
As part of Museum London’s commitment to accessibility, a limited number of busing subsidies are available each calendar year to schools with an economic need. Please enquire about this subsidy when booking your education program.
Further activities
Identify other women artists, different from the ones mentioned in the short documentary, in Museum London’s exhibitions.
After using these resources, we would very much appreciate your feedback. Please use this link to get access to the evaluation form:
https://na1se.voxco.com/SE/114/MusLonEval/
Discover London Art is a project developed by Triana Media for Museum London.
The Museum London Idea Incubator - Digital Solutions for Arts Education and Engagement is an initiative by Museum London in collaboration with Nordicity and Lord Cultural Resources, and funded by the Canada Council for the Arts through the Digital Strategy Fund.
Contact:
Steven Mavers
Magdalena Lagerlund
Juan A. Bello
Discover London Art: Digital Stories
Museum London Idea Incubator - Digital Solutions for Arts Education and Engagement
Pilot Testing Version | Produced by Triana Media for Museum London, May 2019