The Process

Step Eight

Getting Feedback

You've worked hard to create a PowerPoint proposal, site model, and sample of the public art you would like to see at your school. If you had written a story, before you published it you would want to have someone proof-read and edit the story. Just like any story you would write, you also want to proof and edit your proposals.

Each team should take the opportunity to present their proposals to each other. The presenter on your team is responsible for presenting the public art proposal to the other teams. The transcriber on your team is responsible for taking notes after hearing comments and questions from the other teams.

 

The Critique

The intention of a critique or any constructive criticism is to help someone move one step further to improve their work.

There is a big difference between saying "That sculpture is awful!" and "That sculpture has a wonderful and interesting shape but what if you made the colors look like colors in nature instead of bright colors?" The first comment really doesn't help the artist grow, the second comment gives them something to think about.

Always remember, when looking at an artwork that each viewer brings their own unique history and viewpoint when making observations and interpretations. For example, in Asian cultures, white is often a symbol of death and funerals, but in the United States it is used for weddings. You may or may not agree with another person´s observations, analysis and judgement. A critique can help you see if your art is being interpreted the way you intended or if it is being misinterpreted.

There are several ways to talk about art. Remember when we went to look at the public art work in the neighborhood? You used Elements of Art and the Principles of Design to talk about the public art you saw.

There are four steps in the process of critiquing a work of art.

Step One- Describe what you see in the public art proposal. What is the subject matter? What materials are being used?

Step Two- Analyze using the Elements of Art and the Principles of Design. How does the proposed artwork use color, line, texture, value, shape? How does the artwork show movement? What makes the composition interesting? How does the use of the elements & principles contribute to what the artists wish to say?

Step Three- Interpretation. How does the proposal connect to your school community? The interpretation is a very personal way of looking at the public art proposal. How do the elements and principles of art and design contribute to that interpretation?

Step Four- Judgement. Is the artwork successful? Will the artwork be worthy of being a part of your school and on display?

 

Refine & Improve

Now that you've received feedback from your peers, is there anything you want to improve, change or correct about your proposal? After you make improvements and corrections, move to Step Nine.