Arts-Entertainment
On March 19th, the Danforth Museum of Art (DMA) will open an exhibit of student artworks exploring the world and techniques of Surrealism titled Below the Surface: Surrealism Explored.
Below the Surface: Surrealism Explored is a group of final projects by three Park High School classes exploring the history and uses of surrealism. Through the DMA’s Educational Outreach Program, two PHS art classes, ARTZ105 and Drawing, as well as the creative writing class in the English department, took on alternative creative processes for exploring the mind’s unconscious landscapes.
Over a six-week period, these Park High students learned about the history of surrealism, how it is still in use today, and acquired the skills of automatic writing, automatic or blind drawing, and how to express dream-like visions of irrational worlds.
The goal of the museum-supported instruction is to engage the students in the act of looking at art in order to understand what the artist is saying. They learn art is a communication tool and each artwork can be read like a book.
The EOP program engages students with professional artists and art historians in the classroom, and with original art on field trips to the DMA. They are led through the process of creating art over 4 to 6 weeks, with the goal of exhibiting their work at the museum.
Since its first educational workshop in 2023, The DMA has collaborated with local schools and organizations to engage young people with the community at large through art education. The DMA now runs two major programs, Making Sense of Art (MSA) and Museum in the Classroom (MIC). Each of these programs is designed to leverage the DMA’s existing resources in support of a school or organization’s curricular needs. As such, they are highly flexible.
- The PHS student works are on display through April 11th.
- A reception will be held Thursday, March 26th from 5 to 7 pm.
The Danforth’s Education Outreach Program receives funding support from the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, American bank, the Montana Arts council, Community Closet Foundation, and generous private donors.
Admission to the Danforth Museum of Art, located at 106 North Main Street in Livingston, is always free. The DMA is open Tuesdays–Saturdays from Noon to 4 pm.
For more information, please contact Storrs Bishop, Executive Director at storrs@thedanforth.org or visit thedanforth.org.