Today AAA fourth grade classes traveled to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art for their final visit of the year with our partnership program, My School My Museum (MSMM). MSMM is an expansion of the existing partnership between AAA and Crystal Bridges Museum. Each MSMM visit focuses on an academic discipline with connections to works of art in the Museum’s collection. Today’s theme was SCIENCE! Did this grade not get enough SCIENCE last week during SPACE CAMP? Our 4th Grade teachers and students ROCK!
So, continuing on with the SCIENCE theme for offsite experiences, the 4th grade had the special opportunity to explore the current traveling exhibition Exquiste Creatures.
Exquisite Creatures is a dialogue with art, nature, and science. Throughout the exhibition, artist and naturalist Christopher Marley reflects on humanity’s intimate relationship with nature, revealing its intricate beauty and diversity through three-dimensional works comprised of animal, mineral, and plant specimens arranged in precise, geometric compositions. -Crystal Bridges Museum
Students were guided through the exhibition and prompted with questions to consider the connection between art, nature, and science. After the gallery experience students then participated in an art making session where students used a LUCY drawing tool which is a version of the classic lucida camera. Students selected a black and white image of an insect then used the LUCY camera to project and trace the details of the bug. They were also given paper to serve as a backdrop for their creatures which they embellished with vibrant colors that blended from one to another.
This year's MSMM program has been exceptional! Students receive an immersive experience in which they make meaningful connections between the arts and academic disciplines. Thank you Crystal Bridges and your extraordinary team of Museum Educators Paramita, Sigrid, Matthew and Alex!
To learn more about the Exquisite Creatures exhibition vist https://crystalbridges.org/calendar/exquisite-creatures/