Faces, Places, and Inner Spaces: A Guide to Looking at Art

Published in association with the Art Institute of Chicago

A wonderful, innovative way to get children looking at art

How do artists use faces, places, and inner spaces to express themselves? Examining "faces" in art can help us discover how people from different cultures and times have seen themselves. By looking at "places" (landscapes and cityscapes), we can become more aware of our everyday life and appreciate what surrounds us. And an artist who depicts his or her "inner space" shares something very personal that might resemble some of our own thoughts, or seem so strange that we want to know more.

Within each of those categories, the variety of subjects is unlimited. This book gives examples of each and explains how the artist comes to his or her unique vision. Among the works included are an African mask, a West Mexican clay-pole dance scene, a Hindu sculpture, a Chinese screen, a Japanese actor print, as well as Surreal objects by Cornell, paintings by Van Gogh, Miro, and others. After exploring each of these topics, young readers will be prepared to take a new look at art and to start understanding how artists shape our view of the world.

As an interactive way to get kids thinking about the concepts in the book, a pocket at the back of the book contains a "mirror" so kids can look at and discuss their own face; a picture frame; and an acetate sheet to use for other activities.

Jean Sousa is the Deputy Director of Museum Education, Exhibitions and Family Programs at The Art Institute of Chicago.