August Masterpiece(s) - Olympics 2012

Source of photo:  REUTERS / Luke MacGregor

As artists, we often express our hearts by creating a visual interpretation of these thoughts.  These posters were created by 12 United Kingdom artists who were commissioned to create a visual expression of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  Since 1912, each Host City of the Olympics has commissioned artwork by local artists in celebration of hosting the Olympic games.  Isn't this a wonderful and unique celebration of the meeting of art and sport? 

One of my favorites is called "Big Ben 2012," below, by Sara Morris.  Sara is a British-born American artist who is a painter and filmmaker and has always been interested in exploring means of communication.   

I like this piece because it is orderly yet it gives me a feeling of being in a hurry! 

How does it make you feel?  Let's take a look at her piece:

 

You may wish to try this:  

Display some colorful preK/K building blocks piled fairly high, one upon the other.  Set a clock with a second hand next to it.  On one side of the block/clock setup, display the poster above.  On the other side of the block/clock setup, display a photo of the real Big Ben. 

  

Then ask some questions to see if their young minds can catch the connection.

Reflection Qs:

1. What is Big Ben?  (A clock tower in London, England.  This would be a great time for a little geography lesson as well!)
2. Why do you think Sara Morris titled this piece Big Ben 2012? (Because it looks like it could be a modern-day clock.)
3.  What do you see in this piece?  (Geometric shapes such as circles, triangles, rectangles, parallelograms, as well as lines and arrows.  Geometric shapes often can give us a feeling of order.  When we stack blocks in Kindergarten, we do it in order.)
4.  What colors did Ms. Morris use?  (Orange(s), yellow-green, blue(s), red, black, white and grey.  For me, these colors also convey order yet with a bit of discord, which gives me a feeling like the clock is ticking!)

Point out that using the stacked shapes, the clock shape with second hand, the lines and arrows, as well as the bright colors, this painting is a modern representation of Big Ben, as entitled by the artist "Big Ben 2012."

How does it make them feel?  Do they like the painting?  Let us know! 

Stay tuned for the next blog where I share some fun Olympic art projects in response to this wonderful artwork by the UK artists!

If you'd like to take a closer look at all 12 of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games posters, you may see them at the UK Mirror website. 

Written by Laura Bird Miller, artist/art instructor, Circle Christian School.