Session F1. A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Using Art and Imagination to build a Narrative

Presenters:
Todd Shaffer, Staff Teaching Artist, Young Audiences of Louisiana
Renee Benson, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Young Audiences of Louisiana 

In this workshop, we plan on showing alternative ways for younger students to engage with works of art using their imagination and games. The idea of using play to discovering and engage with works of art. Students using only imagination may actually jump into a painting and describe the weather or touch objects, describing how they feel or pretend to be the artist and paint the actual works of art, learning how to mix colors, painting with multiple tools, and learn key terms about the medium. With these techniques, students will be able to imagine and create multiple narratives, expand vocabulary and learn story elements all while quietly moving their body. These games are great for field trips to a museum or deep diving into multiple curriculums in the classroom. Landscapes, portraits, sculptures and abstracts all become adventures for the younger (and older) students. The best part is, the only supply needed is a work of art and your brain!