From designing mosaics and crafting terra cotta sculptures to drawing portraits and painting frescoes, visitors to the Oklahoma City Museum of Art can partake in various hands-on activities with "Roman Art from the Louvre.”
Advertisement
"I think all of us got so excited by the exhibit ... so there was a great deal of creativity coming out of the staff in making these plans,” Oklahoma City Museum of Art Executive Director Carolyn Hill said. "These are additional opportunities for learning.”
The exhibition will be on view through Oct. 12 at the museum, 415 Couch Drive. It includes 184 sculptures, sarcophagi, mosaics and other items from the renowned French museum's massive Roman art collection.
The antiquities are dated from the early first century B.C. to the sixth century A.D. The exhibit is arranged thematically so visitors can learn about topics such as funerary practices, religion, imperial expansion and home life through the artwork.
This summer and fall, the museum will offer an array of art classes, camps, films and lectures to help people learn more about Roman art and history.
"I think that what we have over here with this exhibit is an unbelievable educational resource, and it's only going to be here one time. And I think whatever we can do ... to capitalize (on it), I think we should do,” Hill said.
The museum is planning hands-on children's classes on portraits, Roman tile reliefs, terra cotta figure sculptures, mosaics and fresco paintings. Children will get to take home their own versions of Roman art and have the chance to see the antiquities with new perspective.
"They connect with the artwork,” Hill said. "I think they see these things in the exhibit and they become a little more tangible, a little more understandable.”
For preschool children, the museum is offering classes for parents and youngsters to make mosaics, frescoes and relief sculptures together. The sessions also include story times.
A family day Sept. 7 will give children of all ages and their parents the chance to participate in story times, gallery scavenger hunts and more art activities.
Adults can choose from classes in transferring images to fabric, hand-sculpting clay pieces and drawing portraits. A wine-making class scheduled for August has sold out.
In addition, all the museum's Roman-theme summer camps for youngsters are full. The sellouts are an early signal that people are excited about the exhibit, Hill said.
The "Swords and Sandals Film Series” in the museum's Noble Theater will include screenings of the movies "Quo Vadis,” "Ben-Hur,” "Spartacus,” "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” "Fellini Satyricon” and "Gladiator.” The films will be shown at 2 p.m. Sundays July 13-Aug. 17.
On Aug. 13, Tyler Jo Smith, a professor from the University of Virginia, will give a lecture titled "Make Mine Roman Wine: Family and Festival in Ancient Rome.”
University of Oklahoma professor Rufus Fears will lecture Sept. 17 on "Lessons of the Roman Empire for America Today.”
Also, the museum will give Roman themes to annual events such as its Renaissance Ball fundraising gala and Art on Tap beer-tasting event.
For the first time, the museum has set up six interactive computer stations outside the exhibit, said Leslie Spears, the museum's communications manager. The stations will give additional learning opportunities through Webisodes, timelines and slide shows with audio.
For more information on activities related to "Roman Art from the Louvre,” call 236-3100 or go online to www.okcmoa.com/romanartfromthe louvre/calendar.
Thank you for joining our conversations on newsok. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
I live in the bay area in California and believe me this is indeed a treat that so much Roman art, especially; Julio Claudian art is in Oklahoma. I know they have the statue of the first Julio Claudian emperor: Augustus, who ruled until 14 A.D. and was followed by the emperor Tiberius 14-37 A.D. and then Caligula 37-41 A.D. I believe there is also a statue of Caligula!! I wish OK was not so far away, but enjoy this once in a lifetime opportunity.
Fitness and Nutrition
Visit NewsOK's latest Know it and find out why proper diet and exercise are key.
More Info
This mosaic of four rams is included in "Roman Art from the Louvre" at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. The museum is offering classes on mosaic making, portrait drawing and fresco painting. OKLAHOMA CITY MUSEUM OF ART
1
Prev
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
Thank you for joining our conversations on newsok. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Log in below or sign up (it's free).
Joe Geranio