What is the best way to introduce the life and work of a great artist to young students?

$\"Jessye$

America opera singer Jessye Norman
\u00a9 Estate of Yousuf Karsh<\/p><\/div>\n

Photographer Yousuf Karsh Opens the Doors of History<\/h2>\n
What is the best way to introduce the life and work of a great\u00a0artist to young students?<\/p>\n
\n
Invite them to see the work firsthand, because the real thing breathes so much more life than a pixel-ridden online rendition.<\/li>\n
Let them come inside the art in a way that is personal to them.<\/li>\n
Encourage them to become, for just a moment, one of the heroes of the world.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Creative inspiration comes in many forms. For 700 students in the Paris region, an exhibit of Yousuf Karsh\u2019s<\/a> photographs opened the doors of history and imagination in a memorable way. “Oh, I see” moments<\/strong> came fast and creatively.<\/p>\n
$\"Students$
Students from Montreuil study Yousuf Karsh’s 20th century heroes.
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n
The students were part of an innovative educational project focused on \u201cIcons of the 20^{th<\/sup> Century”\u2014an exhibition of Karsh\u2019s portraits sponsored by the}Mona Bismarck American Center for Art and Culture <\/a>in Paris.<\/p>\n
The exhibition included 72 images of French and American men and women who shaped the 20^{th<\/sup>\u00a0Century\u2014in the arts, politics, science, and sports.<\/p>\n}
$\"Student$
Students learn about Karsh’s life and about the heroes in the photographs.
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n
An Interactive Project<\/h4>\n
Students selected a photograph from the exhibit that attracted them, whether they knew the subject or not.<\/p>\n
Their picture was taken in the style of that person and photograph. They \u201cbecame\u201d the icon for one brief click of the shutter.<\/p>\n
They then wrote an essay about the person in the photo so that they learned more about how their \u201cicon\u201d had impact on the world.<\/p>\n
$\"Boy$
Ayoub becomes Muhammad Ali for one moment before the camera.
(Photo \u00a9 Meredith Mullins)<\/p><\/div>\n
$\"Muhammad$
Heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali (1970)
\u00a9 Estate of Yousuf Karsh<\/p><\/div>\n
The students had many powerful images from which to choose\u2014Eleanor Roosevelt, Helen Keller, Jacques Cousteau, Ernest Hemmingway, Charles de Gaulle, I.M Pei, Georgia O\u2019Keefe, Marcel Marceau, Albert Camus. The list is limitless.<\/p>\n
Karsh was a master portraitist. In 15,312 sittings over his life as a photographer, he captured the pulse of history.<\/p>\n
$\"Black$
Marie-Jo becomes her hero, Jessye Norman.
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n
As one of the Paris students aptly described:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat truly set Yousuf Karsh apart from other photographers and what made him a successful photographer was his ability to make somebody feel special, and to capture that moment. His photographs were not just photographs; they were the essence of a person captured in an image.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Sofia, Marymount International School<\/i><\/p>\n
The Galleries Buzz with Life<\/h4>\n
When classes arrived at the galleries, the rooms came alive. Students moved from one photo to the next, eyes wide, notebooks in hand.<\/p>\n
As curator Jerry Fielder noted, \u201cIt\u2019s one thing to see a Karsh print in reproduction, but seeing actual prints brings the subjects to life in a very personal and intimate way.\u201d<\/p>\n
$\"Black$
Mariam stikes a pose similar to Karsh’s photo of Brigitte Bardot.
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n
$\"Yousuf$
French actress Brigitte Bardot
\u00a9 Estate of Yousuf Karsh<\/p><\/div>\n
How Do You Pick a Hero?<\/h4>\n
Often, the students did not know the subjects of the photos. They were intrigued by a gesture, a look in the eyes, a similar physical feature, or some mysterious magnetism.<\/p>\n
Sometimes they knew just enough to know that the person had impact on the world or to know that they wanted to be like that particular person in some way.<\/p>\n
Dany chose Albert Einstein because \u201che looked deep in thought, perhaps wondering about his theories.\u201d<\/p>\n
Math\u00e9o chose Walt Disney because he is \u201ca fan of what he created (including Mickey Mouse!). Thanks to him and his creativity, he imagined for us a wonderful world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kephren chose Jacques Henri Lartigue because \u201che looked intelligent and patient, like he could listen to you for an hour.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lucca chose Ronald Reagan because Reagan was an American president from his home state of California.<\/p>\n
$\"Boy$ <\/a>
Lucca, a thoughtful future president?
\u00a9 Aslam Amlani<\/p><\/div>\n
$\"Ronald$
Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States
\u00a9 Estate of Yousuf Karsh<\/p><\/div>\n
For some, the choice was easy. They were moved by what they saw.<\/p>\n
Chahin, a future scientist, chose Albert Einstein. \u201cAs soon as I saw his photograph in the exhibition, I only saw him in the museum.\u201d<\/p>\n
Camille chose Martin Luther King \u201cdue to the instinctive emotion I felt. Facing the portrait of the man who changed the course of history by devoting his life to the fight for equality, I had goose bumps.\u201d<\/p>\n
Many of the students seemed to transcend stereotypes. They saw no reason they could not personify someone of a different gender, race, or cultural background. They sensed, like Karsh, the inner spirit of the subject.<\/p>\n
Fifteen Minutes of Fame<\/h4>\n
One of the most interesting responses was by a student who chose Andy Warhol. Zo\u00e9 noticed the shiny paintbrush, his art tool, and commented that, now, everyone has a \u201ctool of art\u201d whether it\u2019s a mobile phone or some other device.<\/p>\n
$\"Andy$
American artist Andy Warhol
\u00a9 Estate of Yousuf Karsh<\/p><\/div>\n
$\"Asian$ <\/a>
Zo\u00e9 shows that we all own “tools of art” in the 21st century.
Image courtesy of Mona Bismarck American Center<\/p><\/div>\n
In the essay, Zo\u00e9 provided a thought-provoking analysis of the speed of art and the nature of contemporary life.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully you will take at least 5 seconds to glance at my photo, and if I\u2019m really lucky 10 more seconds to browse through my essay. Compared to the 15 minutes of fame predicted by Andy Warhol in 1968, these 15 seconds may be the new law of our time.\u201d<\/p>\n
An\u00a0OIC moment<\/strong>\u00a0of truth from the wisdom of youth.<\/p>\n
Beyond the Walls of the Galleries<\/h4>\n
The project took the students beyond the walls of the galleries . . . and even beyond the boundaries of time.<\/p>\n
$\"Girl$
Emma chose Martin Luther King, Jr. for his determination.
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n
$\"Martin$
American activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Martin Luther King, Jr.
\u00a9 Estate of Yousuf Karsh<\/p><\/div>\n
Sonia El Khalfi, a teacher at one of the schools that participated, explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I questioned the students about the importance of remembering the past\u2014our duty to remember\u2014someone noted that the 20th century was crowded with iconic figures. What about the 21^{st<\/sup>, the students asked? Are we going to have new important characters who will make history like the ones Karsh photographed?”<\/p>\n}
It will be up to this generation to make that happen. The future is theirs.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s keep the creative inspiration coming.<\/p>\n
The \u2018Icons of the 20^{th<\/sup> Century\u201d exhibit is open until January 26 at the}Mona Bismarck American Center for Art and Culture.<\/a> Don’t miss the display of the results of the student project there also.<\/i><\/p>\n
With special thanks to Danielle Berger Fortier, Director of Exhibitions and Programs at Mona Bismarck, Sonia El Khalfi and College Jean Jaures, Marymount International School, and Institut d’Enseignement Sup\u00e9rieur des Arts.<\/em><\/p>\n
Thank you also to Jerry Fielder, curator of the “Icons of the 20th Century” exhibition and to Julie Grahame for facilitating the use of the Yousuf Karsh photos in this article.<\/em><\/p>\n
Yousuf Karsh photographs are also on exhibit at the Monterey Museum of Art<\/a>\u00a0in Monterey, California, from January 16\u2013March 31, 2014, and at the National Portrait Gallery<\/a> in Washington, D.C. until April 27, 2014.<\/em><\/p>\n
Comment<\/i><\/a>\u00a0<\/em>on this post below, or inspire insight with your own\u00a0OIC Moment\u00a0<\/em>here<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/i><\/p>\n
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Photographer Yousuf Karsh Opens the Doors of History

Fifteen Minutes of Fame<\/h4>\nOne of the most interesting responses was by a student who chose Andy Warhol. Zo\u00e9 noticed the shiny paintbrush, his art tool, and commented that, now, everyone has a \u201ctool of art\u201d whether it\u2019s a mobile phone or some other device.<\/p>\n

Beyond the Walls of the Galleries<\/h4>\nThe project took the students beyond the walls of the galleries . . . and even beyond the boundaries of time.<\/p>\nEmma chose Martin Luther King, Jr. for his determination.\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n