Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Day 2 / Orsay Museum and Arc de Triumphe

Day 2 / Wednesday

Today I visited the Orsay Museum, and saw the Impressionist art of Manet, Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh, Cézanne and Gauguin among many others! It was truly an amazing experience to see works in person that I have only seen in books.

The museum itself was also quite spectacular, as the main floor is an old train station.




While at the Orsay, I was able to take many photos of famous art close up and with great detail, which will be perfect for showing students how the Impressionists paintings look from close up and far away. I'll be excited to use the SmartBoard when students study Impressionist techniques before making their own Impressionist-style paintings!Pictured is Edgar Degas' painting Danseuses Bleues or Blue Dancers, c. 1899.


I captured this sculpture Polar Bear by François Pompon in 3D using a free app on my iphone called 123Dcatch. This will be used as a tool on the ipad to demonstrate the connection between 3D technology and how it can be used to show texture and form in a virtual way before students make their own animal sculptures out of clay. Students can use the ipad to view the bear from different angles and view points! 





Here is a link to the 3D scan/capture
      http://www.123dapp.com/catch/Polar-Bear-by-Francois-Pompon-Orsay-Museum-/4099539


Close up of Paul Cézanne (1896-1898) Still Life with Onions. These close up images will be excellent for showing students light and shadow within still-life compositions! I can't wait for the students to create their own still-life art inspired by Cézanne!


Close up of Claude Monet Le Bassin aux nymphéas, harmonie verte (1899).



Van Gogh's Bedroom in Arles (1889), by Vincent Van Gogh.

Students sketching at the Orsay Museum.


There are so many other photos I'd love to include, but it would take too long to attach all of them! I'm thrilled to be on my way towards compiling a collection of material I can use within art classes for my students from now on, including 3D scans, videos, and photographs of famous art.

Arc de Triumphe
After an eye-opening morning and afternoon at the Musée d'Orsay, I finished up my day venturing to the top of the Arc de Triomphe to see a magnificent view of Paris.



Here's a little video of the Eiffel Tower shimmering!
What a beautiful sunset and way to end a delightful artistic evening!