“What Is Art?”

Recommended for Grades 9-12:Explore the world of art with challenging and thought-

provoking questions such as: What makes art “art”? Does art have to be “beautiful”? Does art have to “mean”

something? And who decides?

Visual Arts: B.V.1, B.V.2, B.CX.1, B.CR.1

I.V.1, I.V.2, I.CX.1, I.CR.2 P.V.1, P.V.2, P.CX.1, P.CR.1 A.V.1, A.V.2, A.CX.1, A.CR.1

English Language Arts: 9.SL.1, 9.SL.2, 9.SL.3, 9.SL.4, 9.SL.6

10.SL.1, 10.SL.2, 10.SL.3, 10.SL.4, 10.SL.6 11.SL.1, 11.SL.2, 11.SL.3, 11.SL.4, 11.SL.6 12.SL.1, 12.SL.2, 12.SL.3, 12.SL.4, 12.SL.6

North Carolina Common Core and Essential Standards Correlations:

Pre-Visit Key Questions:

• How do you define “a work of art”? (Keep this definition in mind for later!)

• Have you ever looked at a sculpture, or a painting, and wondered “Why is that called ‘art’?”

Bob Trotman, Girl(American, 2002)

Model of a Boat

(Egyptian, c. 1985-1650 BC)

Devorah Sperber,After the Mona Lisa 2

(American, 2005)

Ellsworth Kelly, Blue Panel (American, 1977)

Egyptian Masquerade Costumes(African, 20th Century)

Anselm Kiefer, Untitled (German, 1980-86)

Post-Visit Key Questions:• After your visit today, has your definition of

art stayed the same, or has it changed? If it’s changed, how so?

• Does a work of art have to be “beautiful”? Can a work of art be functional?

• Who decides what is art, and what’s not?