Reading Rug: P is for Pottery
Dig in to the art of pottery! Students will learn about the ancient art of pottery, connect pottery with everyday tasks like eating and drinking, enjoy a special story featuring The Pot that Juan Built by Nancy Andrews-Goebel, and make their own model magic pot in the Art Studio. This 1-hour program is aligned with Texas Pre-K guidelines and Kindergarten TEKS.
Reading Rug: A is for Artist
Discover your inner artist as we explore the alphabet of art – colors, shapes, and artist’s tools! Students will find new ways to express themselves as we sing songs about colors, enjoy a special story featuring The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse by Eric Carle, and create a torn paper animal collage in our Art Studio! This 1-hour program is aligned with Texas Pre-K guidelines and Kindergarten TEKS.
Wild About Art
Go wild for art! Roam the West in search of animals and depictions of their habitats during this 1.5-hour program. Learn more about the animals of the West and how the prints, paintings, and sculptures illustrating them were made. In the Art Studio, students will create their own animal-inspired work of art. This program is aligned with Fine Arts and Science TEKS.
Texas, Our Texas
Tug on your boots and get ready for a great big Texas adventure from the Hill Country to Big Bend! During this 1.5-hour program, students will explore the galleries during a jaunt through Texas history while seeing paintings from the 1800s and 1900s and learning about state symbols through glass and ceramic sculptures. In the art studio, students will create their own original work of art about the great state of Texas. This program is aligned with Fine Arts and Social Studies TEKS and is the perfect match for your Texas-themed unit!
SMA Studio: Scratch the Surface
During this special 1.5-hour studio program, students will learn how to use Sgraffito technique to draw! We will paint layers of color onto a 6” ceramic tile, then use a pointed tool to draw directly into it, revealing the layers underneath. During their visit, students will view Acoma Pottery in the Stark Museum of Art galleries to gain insight from other potters’ use of this technique. We will discuss how pottery and glazes are fired. When they are finished, we will fire the tiles in our kiln. Tiles will be ready for pickup approximately 4 weeks following the program. Participating teachers are required to return to pick-up artwork once fired. This program is aligned with Fine Arts TEKS.
A maximum of 30 students may be scheduled per session for this program.
Habitats Unfolded*
Offered with Shangri La Botanical Gardens & Nature Center
Experience the best of the Stark Museum of Art and Shangri La Gardens! At Shangri La Botanical Gardens, students will embark on an adventure to investigate the natural habitats that Southeast Texans call home. We will venture onto the forest trails, traverse the swampy terrain, drift along the bayou, and completely engage with the habitats that make Southeast Texas unique. We will end our journey with a hands-on activity that will help us describe, and document our homes. At the Stark Museum of Art, students will explore how artists depict the habitats of animals and people, as well as how they use materials from their natural habitat to create unique works of art. This program includes a visit to the special exhibition Black Pioneers: Legacy in the American West. During the studio art program, students will create a work of art inspired by their own habitat. Students will spend approximately 2 hours at Shangri La Gardens and 2 hours at the Stark Museum Art. Students should bring a sack lunch; there will be a 1/2-hour lunch break at Shangri La Gardens. The bus driver should be prepared to shuttle students between Shangri La Gardens and the Stark Museum of Art during this lesson. This lesson DOES include a boat tour.
Schedule this program by visiting https://shangrilagardens.org/.
Around the Gallery in 60 Minutes
During this fast-paced, 2-hour program, students will have an opportunity to see an overview of the Stark Museum of Art’s world-renowned collection of Western American Art. Students will briefly look and actively discuss approximately 10 works of art throughout the museum’s five main galleries. In the art studio, students will race the clock as they make a work of art inspired by a creativity challenge. This program is aligned with Fine Art TEKS.
SMA Studio: Clay Relief Tiles
We’re all hands in for this clay-based studio! During this 2-hour program, students will get inspired during a visit to our galleries to see our world-renowned collection of landscape art and then create their own nature-inspired bas-relief clay tile. In the studio, students will learn how to hand-cut tiles from clay slabs, attach clay appliques securely, press in stamps and patterns as desired, and create a finished bas-relief tile. Student artwork will be fired in our kiln and ready for pickup in approximately 4 weeks. Participating teachers are required to return to pick-up artwork once fired. This program is aligned with Fine Arts TEKS.
A maximum of 30 students may be scheduled per session for this program.
Art for Conservation*
Offered with Shangri La Botanical Gardens & Nature Center
Discover what you can do to be an environmental conservationist during this 4 1/2-hour program! At Shangri La Gardens, students will explore the swamp, forests, and wetland habitats that birds and other critters call home. We will discuss migration and the importance of habitat conservation. At the Stark Museum of Art, students will go on a western expedition and learn how artists and explorers have helped protect animals, land, and water. After visiting the galleries, students will visit the studio to create their own conservation collage. Students will spend approximately 2 hours at Shangri La Gardens and 2 hours at the Stark Museum Art. Students should bring a sack lunch; there will be a 1/2-hour lunch break at Shangri La Gardens.
*Schedule this program by visiting https://shangrilagardens.org/.
Perspectives on the West
What does the phrase “West” mean to you? During this 1-hour program, students will explore the West from the perspective of four very different artists. This program includes close looks at artists whose work ranges from 19th-21st centuries and whose artwork tells unique stories of the West. This program will prompt students to look closely at artwork depicting the West, how it is defined, and what it means personally. This program is aligned with Fine Arts and Social Studies TEKS.
SMA Studios: Coil Building
Create pottery without using a wheel! During this 2-hour program, students will learn techniques to help them roll perfect coils, create a variety of shapes, and build up their own unique pot. Students will work carefully to slip and score these creations that showcase their decorative abilities. Student artwork will be fired in our kiln and ready for pickup in approximately 4 weeks. Participating teachers are required to return to pick-up artwork once fired. This program is aligned with Fine Arts TEKS.
A maximum of 30 students may be scheduled per session for this program.
Sketching in the Galleries
Discover the art of sketching in the galleries during this 1-hour program. Students will learn how drawing is the foundation of all arts, as well as practice observational drawing skills, and learn techniques used by artists for centuries. Students of all drawing abilities are encouraged to participate. This program is aligned with Fine Arts TEKS and may be combined with additional high school offerings.
Self-Guided Visit
Self-guided visits are perfect for teachers who want to lead their own tours of the Museum or allow students to explore an exhibition deeply. Self-guided visits are typically 1-hour programs. A Museum Educator will greet your group upon arrival and review available exhibitions and museum manners before you explore the galleries.