Examples of Distance Learning Classes Offered:
Virtual Tour of the Old Jail Art Center
A guided virtual tour of the old jail building, historical and contemporary artworks in the permanent collection, ancient artworks in the William O. Gross, Jr. Pre-Columbian collection and the Asian collection, and historical artifacts displayed in the Sally Reynolds Matthews Room.
Class Time Necessary: 1 Hour Connected
Age Group/Curricula: All Ages/All Curricula
Art Project: Suggestions for Pre & Post-Connection Activities Available Upon Request
Total Fees: $45 (call about the price discount for Region 14)
Portraits at the Old Jail Art Center
The class begins with a guided virtual tour of historical and contemporary portraits in the Old Jail Art Center’s permanent collection. In this first connected session, students learn how to draw a traditional portrait with graphite and are given instructions for creating a portrait in oil pastel. During the next class time, under the guidance of their classroom teacher, students each create an oil pastel portrait inspired by a portrait in the OJAC collection. Students present their artworks to the museum educator during the second connected session (the third class period). The museum educator guides the students in a critique of their portraits.
Class Time Necessary: 2 Hours Connected & 1 Additional Class Period*
Age Group/Curricula: 5-12th Grades/Art
Art Project: Traditional Portrait Drawing & Oil Pastel Portraits
Total Fees: $130 (call about the price discount for Region 14)
*The first connected session will occur during the selected Monday time slot. The additional class work needs to be completed during class on Tuesday. The third connected session will occur on Wednesday during the selected time slot.
Once Upon a Time in Texas
Students are introduced to Texas frontier history through reading selections from Sallie Reynolds Matthews’s book Interwoven, a pioneer’s first-hand account of living in civilian Fort Davis and on the Texas frontier. Additionally, students are given a guided tour of historical artifacts from the Old Jail’s permanent collection and artifacts on loan from the Matthews family collection. These artifacts include personal items belonging to Sallie Reynolds Matthews, such as her Native American dolls discussed in the book, as well as historical maps of Texas created around the time of the Texas War of Independence, photographs of past and present ranch life, and Alice Reynolds’s painting Presentation of the Flag at Fort Davis.
Class Time Necessary: 1 Hour Connected
Age Group/Curricula: All Ages/Social Studies, History, Reading
Art Project: Suggestions for Pre & Post-Connection Activities Available Upon Request
Total Fees: $75 (call about the price discount for Region 14)
The Science of Color
After a guided virtual tour of select artworks in the Old Jail Art Center’s permanent collection, the instructor follows with a short presentation and discussion of the history and science of color. This discussion covers the “colorful” discoveries of Newton, Itten, and Albers, and introduces students to the differences between additive and subtractive color, the color wheel, color properties, and color relationships. Students participate in optical exercises and learn to mix colors with watercolor pencils.
Class Time Necessary: 1 Hour Connected
Age Group/Curricula: All Ages/Science, Art
Art Project: Exercises in Mixing Colors
Total Fees: $75 (call about the price discount for Region 14)
Math and Art
Students learn and review shapes, solids, and forms while making a mobile in the style of Alexander Calder. Additionally, the lesson includes historical information about Calder’s time and information about the artist.
Class Time Necessary: 1 Hour Connected
Age Group/Curricula: 1-4th Grades/Math
Art Project: Calder-Inspired Mobile
Total Fees: $75 (call about the price discount for Region 14)
Art-to-Go (Customized)
A qualified educator from the Old Jail Art Center works with you to conduct a multi-part lesson implementing art history, art criticism, and hands-on art activities inspired by your curriculum and artworks in the OJAC collection. These lessons are not limited to the art classes, but can be tailored to suit any subject!
Please contact the OJAC education staff four weeks in advance to allow time for the creation and scheduling of a custom DL class.
Class Time Necessary: 1 or more class periods
Age Group/Curricula: All Ages/All Curricula
Art Project: Custom
Total Fees: The cost will vary depending on the length of the DL class, lesson preparation, supplies and shipping fees. Please select “custom” on the scheduling form and an education staff person will contact you to plan the lesson and discuss the fees.