Author: Karen Sommer

From Hogarth to Daumier: Satirical Prints in the Benton’s Collection

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From Hogarth to Daumier: Satirical Prints in the Benton’s Collection, 1720-1848
August 30 – October 14, 2018

Reception: Thursday, September 6, 4:30 – 7:00 pm

Caricature and graphic satire flourished in Western Europe during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, when widespread social change and tumultuous political events inspired new forms of humorous printmaking. This exhibition samples satirical printmaking’s golden age with works by William Hogarth, James Gillray, Thomas Rowlandson, Francisco Goya, J. J. Grandville, and Honoré Daumier.

Image Credit: William Hogarth, The Four Times of Day: Night (1738), Etching and engraving. Collection of The William Benton Museum of Art, Robert S. and Naomi C. Dennison Fund for Acquisition.

William Hogarth etching and engraving, titled The Four Times of Day: Night created in 1738. Benton Museum Collection.

K-12 Tours

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Exhibitions change regularly. Please check our website for the most up-to-date exhibition information at our home page.

Docent-Guided Tours are available with advance reservation. Please schedule at least 3 weeks prior to your visit. School groups can explore current museum exhibitions as well as the Public Art on Campus through interactive discussion on guided tours. Docent–led tours engage students in an active exchange of ideas about art, culture and personal experiences. As students learn to look at and interpret works of art, they uniquely exercise observation and visual literacy skills, critical thinking and creative problem solving.

Curriculum Connection Tours are docent-guided and connect the visual arts to curriculum in language arts, history, social studies and science. Whether you seek a general introduction to the art museum for your students or want a tour specific to your curriculum requirements, we can provide teachers with an engaging and memorable class visit. Additionally, we can provide writing activities and hands-on art making projects. To plan your visit please email benton.education@uconn.edu or call 860-486-1711

Make reservations at least 3 weeks in advance of your requested tour date and have an alternate date to ease scheduling. Guided tours are available Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.

Self-Guided Tours are welcomed though it is important to schedule your group tour in advance to avoid conflict with tours in the galleries. Please schedule your tour by email or calling the Education Office. Self-guided tours may be scheduled Tuesday through Friday and weekend hours.

Large groups will be divided into smaller, more manageable groups. We can accommodate a group with a maximum number of 45. If your group is larger, please call the Education Office for assistance.

Length of tour is approximately 50 minutes though it may be longer if a writing activity or hands-on art project is involved. Larger school groups of 40 or more should also plan for additional time.

Cost of Tour depends on whether you schedule a guided-tour with a Museum Docent or plan a self-led tour. The fee for a Docent-led tour is $5 per person. Donations are welcomed for self-led class tours.

Lunch availability is steps away at the UCONN Student Union where there is plenty of seating. You may also bring lunch or purchase it and enjoy it outside in nice weather. Our lovely shade garden behind the museum is perfect for picnicking.

Late Arrival Policy is for groups arriving more than 15 minutes late. We cannot guarantee a full scheduled tour. Prompt arrival is essential. If you are running late, please inform us by call 860-486-4520.

Tour Cancellations or rescheduling should be made in advance of the tour date. If that is not possible due to unforeseen circumstances, please call 860-486-1711 AND 860-486-4520 to notify your docents.

Museum Etiquette should be reviewed with students prior to your visit.

  • No backpacks large bags or umbrellas are allowed in the galleries. There is a coatroom in the lobby, laptops may be left with Visitor Services staff.
  • No drinks or food (including candy and chewing gum) are allowed in the galleries.
  • Cellphones should be turned off, and inside voices are used.
  • There is no photography in the galleries unless permission is given.
  • Artwork should not be touched (unless specifically designed to be touched) and visitors are asked to keep a 2-foot distance from all objects.
  • No pens may be used for note taking. The museum provides pencils if needed.

Foreign Language Tours.  Parlez-vous français? Looking for a foreign language-speaking docent for your class? We are happy to announce our partnership with the Literature, Cultures and Languages Department at UConn. Advanced French students train with our Student Docent Program to give tours in French to visiting French classes from 9th grade up. We can also provide our visitors Spanish and Italian speaking docents when available.

ESL Tours Art is a universal language! Students of all ages learning to speak English will enjoy visiting the museum to experience informal conversation with English speaking docents as an important aspect of learning the language. Looking at art together provides a wealth of conversational topics for appreciation of art, daily living, emotions and more. Please contact the Education Department to tailor a visit or series of visits.

We Are Here to Assist You! Don’t hesitate to contact our Education Office to find out about our tailored curriculum connections tours, tour fees, lunch or any concerns you may have. We are happy to assist in planning for your successful class visit.

 

Image Credits: Arpillera created in Chile, Chilectra.  Museum Education Collection

Learning Resources

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TEACHER RESOURCES

From Looking to Seeing: The Art of Observation
The focus of this workshop is developing observation skills through art. We’ll spend time in the galleries observing and discussing works of art and learn how art is used as a stimulus for Higher Order Thinking. This workshop will cover the evidence and research for the benefits of developing observation skills through looking at art, curriculum connections and hands-on activities.

Exploring Public Art
The UConn Campus provides a wide-ranging source of public art to explore. We will lead you in the exploration of public art and making connections across the curriculum for middle school and high school levels in social studies, science, technology, math, language arts and visual arts.

In-service Training
1. In-service training may be requested and scheduled for Pre-K-12 educators from a variety of disciplines and are designed to meet school curriculum and teachers’ needs. Teachers may request a focus on artworks from a specific portion of our collection or an introduction and overview to our collection. We will work with you to connect the collection to your curriculum needs. Our workshops stress inquiry-based teaching, critical thinking, and visual literacy skills.
2. Arts Integration.  Many teachers believe they are not artistic. This Arts Integration Workshop provides the opportunity for teachers to experience art for themselves and realize the arts are for everyone. Arts integration is an approach to teaching that interweaves arts education with standard curriculum to help create a richer context for learning and can deepen student engagement. Teachers will gain a greater understanding of the experiences they can provide their students by utilizing art as a vehicle for learning. The idea behind arts integration is that it opens a new door to understanding and can be an effective way to differentiate instruction and break through with students who are struggling. Research has shown arts integrated lessons provide clear improvements in comprehension and retention. Teachers will learn how to look for a natural fit with curriculum content and develop integrated lessons.

Contact our education department at benton.education@uconn.edu if you are interested this training.

 

Image Credits: Georges Braque, Job, 1911, etching and drypoint on Laid paper. Museum Collection

Outreach

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OUTREACH FOR SCHOOLS

Our Museum Outreach Program comes to you! You can request a docent to come to your school classroom or community organization location with works of art and/or slides to educate students or give a talk to your organization. Talks may require a slide/overhead projector and screen. There is a modest $35 fee for docent talks. Contact the Education Office for more information.

 

Image Credits: Reginald Marsh, Sand Dune and Beach Grass, 1930, watercolor.  Museum Collection.

Information for University Classes

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The Benton is a resource that supports teaching and enhances learning across academic departments at the University of Connecticut. The museum offers instructors a variety of opportunities for their classes to engage with original works of art.

Class Visits          Object Study Sessions              Curricular Exhibitions               Campus Art Walks

Class Visits

We welcome class meetings in the Benton galleries that engage temporary exhibitions as well as the permanent collection. Faculty may schedule a self-guided visit, or work with museum staff to facilitate discussion and craft related assignments. For sample lesson plans and activities, visit our Instructor Toolkit page.

Use the request form to schedule your class visit, which is required for groups of more than ten people (including self-guided class visits). Advance notice of at least two weeks is recommended to ensure availability of gallery space and personnel. Contact Amanda Douberley, Assistant Curator/Academic Liaison, for more information.

Object Study Sessions

Only a small percentage of the Benton’s permanent collection is on display at any given time. Faculty may request objects from storage for class meetings at the Benton. Plan your visit by searching our online database and use the request form to schedule a study session. Advance notice of at least four weeks is recommended. Contact Amanda Douberley, Assistant Curator/Academic Liaison, for more information.

Curricular Exhibitions

The Balcony Gallery and Study Gallery are available for short-term exhibitions that support UConn courses. Benton staff work with faculty to select objects, which can be displayed for sustained engagement by students and the UConn community. Recent collaborators include the African American Cultural Center, School of Nursing, and the Department of Art & Art History. Contact Amanda Douberley, Assistant Curator/Academic Liaison, at least one semester prior to the desired exhibition date.

Campus Art Walks

Benton Docents lead tours of the many works of contemporary art located across the UConn campus. Learn about the artists and their creative process as well as the selection and siting of each artwork. Use the request form to schedule a tour. Contact Allison Golomb, Education Coordinator, for more information.

 

 

Walker Evans (American, 1903-1975), The Plenge Chemical Co., Charleston, S.C., 1935. Gelatin silver print. Robert S. and Naomi C. Dennison Fund for Acquisition.

Information for Teachers

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School tours: 

Docent led class tours are interactive. Tours stress critical thinking, observation skills and creative evaluation through close observation and discussion of artworks. To schedule a tour, see
Planning Your Group Tour.

Curriculum Connections

: Customized Curriculum Connections offer teachers a way to integrate Visual Thinking Strategies while meeting CT Curriculum Standards outside the classroom. Language Arts and Social Studies are particularly recommended. Gallery activities, related hands-on art projects or writing exercises in response to a work of art are offered. The teacher and the Museum Educator can determine the structure of the visit.

A Tour Fee for docent-led tours is $5 per person. Tour-related art making activities may require a nominal fee.

We Are Here to Assist You! Don’t hesitate to contact our Education Office to find out about our tailored curriculum connections tours, tour fees, lunch or any concerns you may have. We are happy to assist in planning for your successful class visit.

Foreign Language Tours. Parlez-vous français? Looking for a foreign language-speaking docent for your class? We are happy to announce our partnership with the Literature, Cultures and Languages Department at UConn. Advanced French students train with our Student Docent Program to give tours in French to visiting French classes from 9th grade up. We can also provide our visitors Spanish and Italian speaking docents as well!

ESL Tours Art is a universal language! Students of all ages learning to speak English will enjoy visiting the museum to experience informal conversation with English speaking docents as an important aspect of learning the language. Looking at art together provides a wealth of conversational topics for appreciation of art, daily living, emotions and more. Please contact the Education Department to tailor a visit or series of visits.

 

Image Credits: Mola created by the Kuna Natives of Panama, Dragons, Menu.  Museum Education Collection

Tutorial Polish ‘Print Sampler’ At Benton Museum

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By Susan Dunne for the Hartford Courant

The University of Connecticut and the art academy in Krakow, Poland, have a special relationship. For many years, starting in 1985, when Poland was still behind the Iron Curtain, an unofficial exchange program sprang up among printmakers from both colleges, leading to an exhibit of Polish prints that same year.

“It was an eye-opening exhibition. At that time there was not much stuff from central and eastern Europe on exhibit in this country,” says Gus Mazzocca, a professor emeritus at UConn.

A new exhibit up now at William Benton Museum of Art on the UConn campus in Storrs celebrates that collaboration, with a collection of prints made in Krakow from 1960 to 1990. The exhibit also is instructional, as it focuses on various types of printmaking — mezzotint, woodcut, silkscreen, linocut, etching, aquatint and engraving — and explains how to do them.

Mazzocca, of West Hartford, taught printmaking from 1970 to 2012. Some of the prints in the show, he says, symbolize the everyday realities of living in a Soviet bloc country.

Mieczyslaw Wejman’s etching “The Cyclist” shows a chaotic scene, with a bicyclist having just had an accident, while the business of a factory goes on around him.

“Sometimes when bad things happen, people are paying attention, but sometimes they are going on their way,” Mazzocca says. “The landscape, with its dark, gulag kind of architecture, reflects the communist situation.”

Click here to view the full article

The Business of Bodies: Ellen Emmet Rand

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The Business of Bodies: Ellen Emmet Rand (1875-1941) and the Persuasion of Portraiture

October 25, 2018 to March 10, 2019
East & Center Galleries

Ellen Emmet Rand was one of the most important and prolific portrait painters in the United States in the first decades of the twentieth century. If you were in government, business, the arts, a society woman, or even President Franklin Delano Roosevelt—and you could afford her fee—a Rand portrait was a signal of power and style. She re-envisioned the look of wealth, class, and business in her paintings. Yet, despite completing over 700 portraits and being one of the highest-paid female artists of her time, her reputation and acclaim all but disappeared after her death. This exhibition looks to assert Rand’s crucial place in the history of American art and critically consider the ways this artist negotiated her own career, family, and finances in modern, commercially-savvy ways.

The Business of Bodies will constitute the most significant assessment of Rand and her portraiture to date. Featuring the collection of Rand oil paintings, drawings, and photographs from the William Benton Museum of Art’s permanent collection, and works borrowed from museums and private collections, this exhibition looks to explore Rand’s work, and the business of painting portraits.

Image Credit: Ellen Emmet Rand (American, 1875-1941), In The Studio (1910) Oil on canvas, Gift of John A., William B., and Christopher T.E. Rand, William Benton Museum of Art

I AM A MAN: Photographs by Ernest C. Withers

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February 1, 2018 to May 6, 2018

I Am a Man is a portfolio of ten photographs by African-American photojournalist Ernest Withers that tells the story of the civil rights movement from the perspective of one of its most important chroniclers.

This exhibition is the first of two collaborations in 2018 between the William Benton Museum of Art and the African American Cultural Center (AACC), which is celebrating fifty years on the UConn campus in October.

You are invited to listen to AACC director Dr. Willena Price’s remarks on I Am a Man by using Guide by Cell.

Image Credit: Ernest C. Withers (American, 1922-2007), I Am a Man, 1968, From the portfolio, I Am a Man, Silver gelatin print, edition 19/25, William Benton Museum of Art, Louise Crombie Beach Memorial Fund, 2006.7.1

Art in Small Bites: Landscape – A way to bring culture to your lunch break

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By Rebecca Maher for the Daily Campus

This week’s edition of Art in Small Bites was lead by tour guide Nancy Silander. She introduced landscape through two paintings from the 19th century, “Boston Navy Yard” and “Low tide,” by the artists Dwight W. Tryon and Ernest Lawson respectively.

Silander made the tour incredibly interactive, keeping it centered mainly on participants’ questions and observations.

“What you see on a painting is an artist’s conversation with the viewer,” Silander said.

Every person on the tour noticed different things about the painting. With Silander providing background on the time period, artists and painting techniques, the two paintings were analyzed pretty thoroughly.

Tryon was a self-taught American painter at the time that he made this painting in 1873, who painted largely tonalist paintings. “Boston Navy Yard” was painted in mainly muted colors, which gave it the impression of an early, foggy morning. It consisted of a largely empty version of the Boston Navy Yard, with only two people in view in the entire painting. Silander pointed out that Tryon probably felt that people were unimportant in landscape, she also explained that Tryon likely sketched the painting by the water, but then returned to his home to actually paint it. This meant that the painting turned out as a more idealized landscape, in which Tryon omitted certain aspects of the Boston Navy Yard so he could focus more on technique. His largest focus in this painting was playing with light and reflection on the water. His style of painting was very smooth, with all of the colors thoroughly blended to bring about a more realistic appearance.

Click here to view the full article