(page 6)

Assessment Activity:
Students can extend these discussions, and demonstrate comprehension of lesson objectives, by choosing an area of interest to create a class presentation:
Compare and Contrast:
· Show examples of M.C. Escher’s symmetrical work.
· Show examples of Islamic tile work.
· How are these two art forms similar? How are they different?
Connections between tile work at Alhambra and M.C. Escher’s graphic designs:
· Show one example of M.C. Escher’s symmetrical designs.
· Show one example of Islamic tile work from the Alhambra.
· Based on these designs, describe why M.C. Escher was fascinated by the tile work he saw at the Alhambra Palace.
Connections between artwork of Islamic craftsmen and their culture:
· Why did Islamic artists avoid using representational figures in the decoration of religious spaces?
· Describe M.C. Escher’s viewpoint on this limitation and the use of representational figures in his work.
· Show examples of Islamic tile work and symmetrical drawings by M.C. Escher to illustrate the
presentation.
Mathematical principles applied to each type of design:
· Show examples of both M.C. Escher’s symmetry works and Islamic tile design.
· Show the class how geometric shapes, triangles, squares, and hexagons, are applied to each design.
· Describe the principles of tessellation. Demonstrate how they are applied to each work of art.

Summary
Use points from each student presentation to review the geometric, artistic, and metaphysical connections between the symmetrical works of M.C. Escher and the Islamic tile designs found in the Alhambra Palace.

Extensions

Use the Internet to find examples of tessellations used in other cultures:
Tilings from Historical Sources
http://www2.spsu.edu/math/tile/grammar/index.htm
Math Forum: Geographical and Historical Connections for Tessellations and Tilings
http://mathforum.org/sum95/suzanne/historytess.html

 


THE FUTURE OF THE NORTH TEXAS INSTITUTE FOR EDUCATORS ON THE VISUAL ARTS

Since 1990, The North Texas Institute for Educators on the Visual Arts (NTIEVA), has addressed issues related to staff development and implementation of comprehensive art education. For the past five years, the focus has been on the relationship between comprehensive art education and whole school reform through the Transforming Education Through the Arts Challenge (TETAC). In addition, the Institute has engaged in a number of related activities, including the preparation of special curriculum materials, statewide advocacy efforts, and leadership training efforts. With the completion of the TETAC project in the summer of 2001, new opportunities exist. Committed to continuing its involvement in research and development efforts related to cutting edge issues in art education, the Institute will build upon its past activities as it continues to work in the areas of: (1) advocacy and leadership in art education, (2) art museum/school collaborations, (3) pre-service preparation of teachers, art specialist and classroom teachers, (4) professional development opportunities for in-service teachers (art specialists and classroom teachers), school administrators, and museum educators; (5) identification and development of instructional and support materials, especially electronically-based materials, that support all of these efforts; and (6) research on issues related to comprehensive arts education.

 

Worksheets and Reproducibles
Associated with this Lesson
(each page will open in a new window)

Islamic Tile Designs
Circle Template
Shapes within a Circle

Online Activities Associated with this Lesson
(each activity will open in a new window)

Star Patterns
Islamic Star Design:
Macromedia Flash, HTML
(Netscape users: Netscape 6 does not support Macromedia Flash. You may use Netscape 7 or 4.5, Internet Explorer recommended.)

 

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