Creative Assignment
Toronto Studies and Stories ‐ Creative Assignment Due November 7 th or 8 th depending on your class This is a creative writing assignment of about seven hundred words – word processed and properly presented. It is about your opinion. This is not an internet assignment. You should include images as well. I will be doing tours to the Royal Ontario Museum and to the Art Gallery of Ontario during intercession week and if you join me then I will check you off on my list. You can go on your own but make it clear that you have attended. Time for a selfie. Do something that you would not ordinarily do, not something that you have already done. The assignment is not about how you spent your weekend, even if it was interesting. There are a few options for the project outlined here. The original inspiration for this assignment was Nuit Blanche which is in the fall and not an option in the winter semester I am asking to do this outside of class time and as compensation there are potential bonus marks for the assignment. An outstanding assignment could receive a mark of 17 out of 15. New math. I will first write about the requirements for the recommended museum / gallery options. At the end of these instructions I will pose some questions that you could address in your writing and suggest some other options Royal Ontario Museum /Art Gallery of Ontario / Gardiner Museum option R.O.M. (http://www.rom.on.ca) corner of University / Queens Park Blvd. and Bloor – St. George stop on the Bloor subway or Museum stop on the Spadina subway line. A.G.O. (http://www.ago.net) Dundas between Beverly and McCaul – St Patrick subway or Dundas Street Car Gardiner Museum of Ceramics (http://www.gardinermuseum.on.ca/index.aspx) Across the Street from the Royal Ontario Museum There have been major investments in public architecture in Toronto in the last few years. The museum and art gallery are examples. There are two things I am asking you to think carefully about for this assignment. The instructions below are for the ROM / AGO / Gardiner option Part One 1. Careful observation is the first thing in telling a story. Pick an object in the museum or gallery that you find extraordinarily interesting. I am asking you to observe it closely by sketching it in ten to fifteen minutes. If you are an artist, it will show. You I will not attach too much significance to the quality of the sketch. In your own words, why you find the object compelling ‐ 400 words. If you choose something that makes you think – it should make it easier to write. Part Two All three venues – AGO, ROM and Gardiner have had significant investment in their architecture in the last ten years. At the AGO, it is the Frank Gehry renovation. At the ROM, it is the “Crystal” architecture designed by Daniel Libeskind. KPMB Architects did the renovation on the Gardiner. Each student should state their opinion on the new design of the museum or gallery and support their view. What is your first reaction to the new design – just a bit of “off the top of your head” careful thinking. Should taxpayers be supporting investment in cultural institutions? Write about 300 words on your reaction to the new building design. Other Options There is a temporary sculpture exhibit going on at the Distillery District – Toronto Light Sculpture. There are lots of permanent pieces of public art in the Distillery District as well including a controversial one (Koilos) that was recently removed. Go to the Distillery district to take it in. This could be part of a larger treatment in a piece of writing from you on Public Art. Explore Toronto Graffiti. Again this must be an actual exploration complete with selfies. Attend a live theatre event and write about it. Selfie and sketch. Other options may be possible if cleared with teacher beforehand – not something that you would typically attend and write about it. Interview a participant. Must be OKed with teacher. There are questions here to help you frame your writing – not all of them apply to each option. What do you think art is? What about creativity? What kind of events should be supported by taxpayers? What evidence would you want to believe when someone calls themselves and artist? Performance art is legitimate I would argue and I think most students would agree. So, what makes a performance, art? Many of us would have a reaction to some kinds of modern art – we have heard it or said it – you know – a child could do that. I must say that I have found convincing, the argument that art requires extraordinary technical skills, at certain times and in especially in regard to painting or sculpture. An expression that I like is that “Great art delivers” even when it comes to a painting that may seem very simple – let’s say fields of colour as an example. There is a reason that those paintings are in the gallery. We are forced to argue in the context of this course that if a city is going to be great, it must also deliver.
