April Curating Assignment

The following assignment is due on Tuesday, April 26th. The goal is to choose a theme utilized widely in art, and to select works from a variety of historical periods that incorporate or demonstrate that theme.

Recurring Themes

• sacred spaces
• images of the divine
• power and authority
• references to the Classical tradition
• the nature of women
• the nature of men
• the influence and self-interests of the patron
• narrative (telling an important story)
• conceptions of the physical world (includes "nature")

You are going to curate a small show through which you will show through selected examples the variety of ways in which five periods or cultures have conceived and communicated their conceptions of one of the great, recurring themes (listed above). The themes are necessarily broad. You may define the theme for yourself in any reasonable way.

You must select five artworks (can be painting, sculpture, architecture). The first must be from between 1600-1750; the other four should be spread out and include one example from the Ancient world and one example from contemporary times or the 20th century.
You will write catalog copy for your collection. That copy must include:

1. Annotated list of the collection. For each of the five works, provide:

A. Information

1. Artist (name or other identifier)
2. Title (in italics)
3. Artist's affiliation (name of the period style or other stylistic identifier)
4. medium, materials (a few words, max.)
5. dimensions (height x width. ex: 3' x 4' 6")
6. current location (museum name or location of site)

B. Analysis

Write one or two paragraphs (250 words) for each of the five works. Show what is distinctive about "the way in which the thing is done" and explain how the distinctive approach to subject and/or style communicates important ideas, beliefs, or values particular to the artist and his or her culture. Be direct and clear. Refer to your notes to make sure that you use appropriate terms and concepts. As always, take some time on diction!

2. Overview

Write one paragraph (250 words) providing an overview of all five chosen works. (That's one paragraph -- not five paragraphs.) Explain the theme. Make appropriate generalizations about what the works have in common, and how/why they differ. Be fascinating.