Art To Go
Art-to-Go is a monthly activity designed to provide teachers with a fun, free resource for the classroom. Every month from September to May, you can check back here, or sign up to receive an email with the latest activity. Each Art-to-Go comes with a printable full-color image of a BMA artwork, background on the collection item, and an activity designed around a single, important, teachable idea. Watch this video to learn more about Art-to-Go and how it can support your teaching.
Art-To-Go is supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Inspiration On and Off the Field
Ernie Barnes (1938–2009) was an African American actor, football player, and painter. In his painting Baltimore Bus Stop, an energetic crowd of people runs after a bus, which is driving away under a stormy sky.
Legendary Hybrids
In Large Jar Decorated with Dragons, a brilliant blue dragon twists across a white surface. This kind of pattern is typical of ceramics made during China’s Ming Dynasty (1368–1644 CE). During this period, artists often used elements from the natural world like flowers, vines, fruits, and landscapes to decorate pottery. Mythical creatures, especially dragons, were also a popular subject.
Wearing Water
In late 19th- and early 20th-century Edo (present-day Tokyo), Japan, firefighters would tear down surrounding buildings to prevent a blaze from spreading, and for protection, they wore hikeshi-banten (reversible coats) like this one that were made of layers of cotton fabric stitched together.