2008-2009 Exhibit: Earth, Wind, Fire & Water: Science in Art

September 2008- July 2009

The Susquehanna Art Museum is pleased to announce that the exhibition Earth, Wind, Fire & Water: Science in Art will be featured on its award-winning VanGo! Museum on Wheels for the 2008-09 school year.  Earth, Wind, Fire & Water will examine commonalities between artist and scientist, and show how each approach their work in a similar way.  By examining the connection of art and science, students will increase their appreciation of the natural world, and develop skills in critical analysis that will serve them well in future learning.

The work of both science and art depends mainly on interpreting nature, or the natural world.  Both artists and scientists seek to find a sense of order.  Many people think that artists and scientists exist in completely separate worlds.  In truth, many scientists bring artistry and creativity to their work, and many artists bring structure and order to theirs.

Scientists who develop theories or experiments are no less creative than the artist who produces a work of art.  Artists and scientists both share similar motivations – a drive to be creative, a sensitivity to aesthetics in their work (although the criteria for ‘beauty’ may be vastly different), and a desire to make a difference in the world.

The exhibition will feature prominent contemporary artists actively using the elements earth, wind, fire and water in their artwork.  Earth, Wind, Fire & Water is designed in a way to suggest insight into the working methods and ideas applied by artists.  Earth, Wind, Fire & Water will address the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Arts & Humanities; Science & Technology; Career Awareness & Preparation; Environment & Ecology, and History.

Educational components of the VanGo! program will include an interactive assembly program, and an educator’s manual that will include extensive background information on the art and artists included in the exhibit, as well as a battery of activities and experiments that can be adapted to a variety of learning levels.

For more information on the VanGo! program, the upcoming exhibit Earth, Wind, Fire & Water, or to schedule a visit to your site, call SAM’s Education Department at 717-233-8668 x 7 or send an email to wsweigart@sqart.org.

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