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Resource reviews are provided for teachers to support their teaching and learning programs.
The views expressed by reviewers are not necessarily those of the NSW Department of Education and Training. Copyright for reviews is held by the
NSW Department of Education and Training. Permission for reproduction of reviews in part or full for any purpose must be sought in writing. For
further information contact colleen.foley@det.nsw.edu.au
Sites are listed alphabetically by title. Those reviews which note links to other sites, especially as a major part of the site, will require
additional exploration time by teachers to verify specific curriculum applications relevant to their classes. The USER LEVEL
descriptor, Professional, is a pertinent reminder of such issues. Please note that changes happen daily on the Internet. Sites
come and go. We cannot guarantee that the following sites are permanent or are structured as they were when they were reviewed.
3D model builder: learn the language of PlayStation
Aesthetics on-line
Anime News Network
Archives of American Art
Aristos: a journal on the arts
Arts curriculum online
Art & physics
Art history network
Art history: resources on the web
Art images for college teaching
The art of illustration: a celebration of contemporary Canadian children’s book illustrators
The art room
artsConnect
ArtsEdNet
Art site links
Atmitchell.com
Australian art review
Australian designers at work: meet designers and learn about how they work
Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
Comic books for young adults a guide for librarians
Computer arts: tutorials
Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum
Dan Flavin: a retrospective
Designer Aboriginals: the website of Bronwyn Bancroft
Dia
Digital Roman Forum
Folk art and craft
Holography
collection
Learning Flash 5
MCA: Museum of Contemporary Art
Messa di voce, Tmema, Blonk, La Barbara: an audiovisual performance & installation for voice and interactive media
Mike + Doug Starn
Munch-museet
National Portrait Gallery
New Museum
Nicki Greenberg
No flying, no tights: a website reviewing graphic novels for teens
OpenEnded Group
P@NOPTIC: searching Rubens
Peter Murphy’s panoramic VR weblog
Picture Australia
Picturing women
Poetry magic
Queenie Chan
Radio Africa & podcasts: experience Africa with your ears!
Staedtler Australia. Education
Stage designs of Richard Finkelstein
Sydney Architectural Walks: urban tours for walking people
The American Museum of Photography
The comics reporter: Tom Spurgeon’s web site of comics news, reviews, interviews and commentary
The artchive
The smart ass guide to art
Vatican Museums
www.thestylefile.com
Yahoo! art history
3D model builder: learn the
language of PlayStation 
The site is a graphic design program used to create rendered images of 3D objects. Tutorials are provided for step-by-step instructions on drawing
organic shapes, curves, buildings, models and engineering products. The user must first download the CAD software from the website and then follow
the detailed tutorials to construct the various models. Initial trial software is free with the option to purchase additions to the basic package.
Some designs are labelled as simple tasks for children, and examples of basic projects include building police cars, animals, buildings, boats and
helicopters. Colourful and enthusiastically constructed, the site is an interesting learning tool for design and ICT topics. A. Parnis
USER LEVEL: Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6
KLA: CA; TAS
SYLLABUS: Computing Applications CEC Stage 6; Design & Technology 7–10; Design & Technology Stage 6; Graphics Technology
7–10; Visual Design CEC Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Computer-aided design; Graphic arts
PUBLISHER: TheyerGFX, Australia
REVIEW DATE: 17/12/07 [620] SCIS
1336091
Aesthetics on-line
More helpful for the independent art student, this is a site that covers many arts areas. For visual arts students, this site would be of
assistance when studying the practice of art criticism. There is a link from this site to the Journal of aesthetics and art criticism with
references provided on authors, artists, and writers. There is a subscription service and you can submit articles. This is not an accessible site
for students. It is difficult to navigate and is best used as a resource for teachers. The links to other sites such as ArtLex (a
lexicon for the arts) are very useful. A. Cutcher
USER LEVEL: Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Aesthetics - Study and teaching; Arts - Study and teaching
KEYWORDS: Art criticism
PUBLISHER: American society for aesthetics
AUTHOR: Dominic M. McIver Lopes
REVIEW DATE: 10/5/04 SCIS 1037444
Anime News Network
A site for anime
enthusiasts, this comprehensive resource caters for knowledgeable fans, especially in the News and Views content.
These sections will suit students creating or analysing anime for HSC projects. The site has information about film festivals and anime products,
plus reviews and comment about anime. The most useful section for non experts, the Encyclopedia, will help teachers choose
appropriate films for school use. Users will find a helpful Lexicon here, and a huge number of anime and manga texts listed, many
with a plot summary, useful age rating and production data. Most of these texts are cross referenced to other websites, news items, and reviews. In
the Forum, site users can discuss anime related events in Australia. C. Thomas
USER LEVEL: Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA; English
SYLLABUS: English 7–10; English Stage 6: Extension 2; Visual Arts 7–10; Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Anime; Graphic novels; Manga
PUBLISHER: Anime News Network, Australia
REVIEW DATE: 04/04/08 [791.43] SCIS 1340649
Archives of American Art
A collection of 16 million photographs, diaries, sketches and other documents make this site a comprehensive resource for the history of visual
arts in the United States. There is certainly a wealth of information to investigate, and clearly defining the search before beginning would be
advantageous. In this pursuit, images may be searched by artist, topic, place or organisation. An ‘Australian’ search lists 80 results. In addition
to images, users can also browse Exhibits and Oral history interviews, where transcripts are provided.
Digital collections has many exhibits, including Sketchbooks which provides access to 17 artist sketchbooks that have
been scanned in their entirety. Each sketchbook includes a summary about the artist and highlights about the book. The exhibit is an interesting
study of artist practice. R. Kirsten
USER LEVEL: Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Visual Arts 7–10; Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Art, American – History
PUBLISHER: Archives of American Art, USA
REVIEW DATE: 30/04/07 [709.73] SCIS 1293172
Aristos: a journal on the arts
An online journal that claims to vigorously oppose abstract art, and advocates an objective standard in arts scholarship and criticism, this site
provides some interesting criticisms and short articles. The authors are sceptical of modernism and post modernism, and object to what they refer
to as the increasing, bizarre, and meaningless work promoted in the name of art in the twentieth century. There are some useful links including
The American society for classical realism and the Association for art history. Interesting in its challenging
viewpoints, this site could generate lively classroom discussion. A. Cutcher
USER LEVEL: Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Art criticism; Arts - Education
KEYWORDS: Art criticism
PUBLISHER: The Aristos Foundation, USA
AUTHOR: Louis Torres and Michelle Marder Kamhi
REVIEW DATE: 10/5/04 SCIS 1037586
Arts curriculum
online
A vast number of lesson plans across a range of areas is provided on this site. Visual Arts teachers will benefit from the resources and ideas
compiled here. It is possible to browse lessons by Exhibition/theme, Artist and
Medium/discipline. Information is presented on painting, drawing, sculpture, film and video, photography, mixed media,
architecture and design. Links are clear and well constructed, and the language is accessible, allowing users to navigate quickly to the
information required. Each lesson plan begins with background information about the artist and includes questions relating to critical and
historical studies. Interesting suggestions are given for artmaking explorations. Additional resources and vocabulary lists enhance the value of
this site. R. Kirsten
USER LEVEL: Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Photographic & Digital Media 7–10; Visual Arts 7–10; Visual Arts Stage 6; Visual Design 7–10; Visual Design CEC
Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Art – Exhibitions; Art, Modern – 20th century – Exhibitions; Art, Modern – 20th
century – Study and teaching; Design – Exhibitions; Design – Study and teaching; Museums
PUBLISHER: Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, USA
REVIEW DATE: 15/07/08 [709.04] SCIS 1365383
Art & physics
Initially this appears to be a beautifully constructed and highly visual advertisement for the book of the same name by a scientist/surgeon with an
avid interest in art. However, its premise could stimulate interesting classroom discussions in both physics and visual arts, learning about how
these two disciplines converge and then form parallel paths in space, time and light. Some of the arguments are quite compelling and students might
read selected chapters, but cannot download material. A link allows you to purchase the book. A. Cutcher
USER LEVEL: Stage 5 Stage 6 Professional Community
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Physics Stage 6; Visual Arts 7-10; Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Art - Philosophy; Physics - Philosophy; Light
KEYWORDS: Art criticism; art making; physics
PUBLISHER: Lightray productions
AUTHOR: Leonard Schlain
REVIEW DATE: 10/5/04 SCIS 1037560
Art history network
This is truly a one-stop resource for art history, archaeology and architecture resources. Being a search engine, the site itself is of little
value, but the links are vast. The search areas include Artists , Civilisations, and Historical
eras. It also has online journals and magazines, some free and some requiring subscriptions. You may access images and virtual tours of
galleries and museums, as well as discussion groups and art chat rooms. A. Cutcher
USER LEVEL: Stage 5 Stage 6 Professional Community
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Archaeology; Architecture; Art – History
KEYWORDS: Art criticism; art making
PUBLISHER: Art History Network, USA
REVIEW DATE: 10/5/04 SCIS 1037681
Art history: resources on the
web
Essays by art historians, with language that is clear and unambiguous, are a key feature of this site. An excellent research tool, this is an
extensive and quite vast resource that uses the conceptual framework approach to the studying of images and objects throughout art history. The
Venus of Willendorf page, Paleolithic, is also linked to: images of women in ancient art; the place of women in
stone age society; images of women in stone-age art; and other representations of the Venus throughout history. This is a huge archive of visual
material and textual analyses. The Native Arts of Africa link is also outstanding and visually stunning. A. Cutcher
USER LEVEL: Stage 5 Stage 6 Professional Community
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Visual Arts 7-10; Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Art, African; Art, Ancient; Art - History
KEYWORDS: Art history
PUBLISHER: Sweet Briars College, Virginia, USA
AUTHOR: Chris Whitcombe
REVIEW DATE: 10/5/04 SCIS 1037605
Art images for college
teaching
A royalty free exchange of image resources for the educational community is available from this site. There is an extensive collection of
downloadable images, or individuals and institutions may borrow entire disks. Slides are also produced to order, through a non profit, non
commercial undertaking. From thumbnail images, one is able to access the image required for downloading. On the Medieval era link,
for example, several views, interior and exterior are available for many Gothic cathedrals. An enlargement is available for each thumbnail, as well
as title, description, and textbook references in volumes such as Gardiner and Janson. This is a useful resource when looking for obscure or
detailed examples for classroom use. A. Cutcher
USER LEVEL: Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Visual Arts 7-10; Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Architecture; Art – History; Art – Study and teaching; Sculpture
KEYWORDS: Art history
PUBLISHER: Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Minnesota, USA
AUTHOR: Allan Kohl
REVIEW DATE: 10/5/04 SCIS 1037720
The art of illustration: a celebration of
contemporary Canadian children’s book illustrators
Fantastic insight into the processes involved in illustrating children’s
books can be found in this online exhibition of Canadian illustrators. Students can browse through the work of twenty eight artists, either
alphabetically or in various categories such as Cartoons, Naďve, Magic,
Realism,and Style . Students will recognise the appropriation of Seurat’s An afternoon on the
Island of La Grande Jatte in Dayal Kaur Kahalsa’s work. Story boards, original drawings displayed alongside the
completed book covers, and preliminary sketches scribbled with printing instructions are all featured in the exhibition. Each artist has a link
page although some prohibit downloading of their images and notices are included regarding copyright. L. Pratt
USER LEVEL: Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Visual Arts 7–10; Visual Arts Stage 6; Visual Design Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Illustrators, Canadian – Exhibitions; National Library of Canada
PUBLISHER: National Library of Canada
REVIEW DATE: 16/03/05 [741.6] SCIS 1165866
The art room
Students will find this site easy to navigate and enjoyable, the language is simple, the links clear and self-evident. It largely focuses on the
practices of art making and art criticism, including many examples of student work online. There are various suggested topics and themes to use as
a starting point for art making. Although quite structured, these projects do link making to studying, with bibliographic suggestions and links to
exhibitions and galleries. Also included is a section on art games and trivia. A site such as this one is a valuable and entertaining resource for
teachers and art students of all ages. A. Cutcher
USER LEVEL: Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6 Professional Community
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Creative Arts K- 6; Visual Arts 7-10; Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Art; Art – Study and teaching
KEYWORDS: Art criticism; art making
PUBLISHER: University of Florida, USA
AUTHOR: Craig Roland
REVIEW DATE: 10/5/04 SCIS 1037449
artsConnect
Students can explore the practice of Australian artists across a diverse field of forms on this vibrant database of artists. The site is arranged
into 35 media areas and these cover traditional arts such as painting, sculpting and printing, plus more contemporary art forms such as graffiti,
body painting, circus acts, disc jockeying, cartooning, jewellry design, dancing and performance poetry. Layout will aid student location of the
use of specific materials and techniques. Each artist is featured with examples of work, a short history of working practice, and sometimes an
artist’s statement. Written text is short and concise. This is a useful site detailing the practice of current working artists. Teachers should be
aware that images may need vetting for younger students. N. French
USER LEVEL: Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA; English; TAS
SYLLABUS: Creative Arts K–6; Dance 7–10; Drama 7–10; English 7–10; Technology (Mandatory) 7–8; Visual Arts 7–10;
Visual Arts Stage 6; Visual Design 7–10; Visual Design CEC Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Arts, Australian
PUBLISHER: artsConnect, Australia
REVIEW DATE: 04/04/08 [700.994] SCIS 1341985
ArtsEdNet
A very interesting site, this is part of the larger Getty museum site, with information on past and present exhibitions, as well as the
collections. The site is a very student friendly resource, linking to galleries, artworks, artists, student exhibitions, as well as curriculum
ideas and lesson plans. A truly huge resource for students and teachers, although it is very American in flavour. A. Cutcher
USER LEVEL: Stage 5 Stage 6 Professional Community
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Visual Arts 7-10; Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Art, American; Art – Study and teaching; Arts - Education
KEYWORDS: Art criticism; art making
PUBLISHER: The J. Paul Getty Trust, USA
REVIEW DATE: 10/5/04 SCIS 1037500
Art site links
A search engine that also lists several pages of links to other arts sites, this is a resource to be used for research and discovery. The link to
Art Seminar examines the reception of art to various audiences assisting students and teachers with the conceptual framework, as
does Virtual Gallery: Curatorial issues in contemporary art. The latter largely describes a course available through Virginia
Tech, but information in the course notes is quite practical. Commentary on Art is an introduction to the skill of writing about
art, useful for both teachers and students. This site is valuable in its structure as a search engine specifically designed for arts based
inquiries. A. Cutcher
USER LEVEL: Stage 5 Stage 6 Professional Community
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Visual Arts 7-10; Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Art; Art criticism
KEYWORDS: Art criticism; art making
PUBLISHER: HudMark Internet Publishing Co., USA
REVIEW DATE: 10/5/04 SCIS 1037672
Atmitchell.com
While sections of this site are under construction, those sections in operation provide a
wealth of primary sources on aspects of the History of our nation, Social studies, and the Arts in
Australia. Stage 4 History students completing the Topic: Australia 1788–1900: the nature and impact of colonisation and
contact, will find this an invaluable resource. Historical analysis exercises can be undertaken on journals, albums, drawings and field
sketches. In the arts, the architecture of Australia and Harry Seidler feature and material strongly supports the study of the built environment in
the Technology (Mandatory) Years 7–8 syllabus. Visual Arts students could use this site in terms of Cultural,
Structural, and Postmodern frames. HSC students can also access NSW State Library services and links through the HSC option,
Navigator. B. Hull
USER LEVEL: Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6
KLA: CA; HSIE; TAS
SYLLABUS: History 7–10; Technology (Mandatory) 7–8; Visual Arts 7–10; Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Australia – History
PUBLISHER: State Library of NSW, Australia
REVIEW DATE: 26/05/06
[994] SCIS 1248155
Australian art review
An insight into the workings of
the art world from the perspective of the art critic can be found on this intriguing site. Prominent Australian critics review recent exhibitions
held at major galleries, and also the state of the art market. Reviews cover such shows as contemporary Aboriginal art, the modernist artists
Bonnard and Picasso, and the postmodern artist HosseinValamanesh. The site is easy to navigate with links to current and past reviews at
Exhibitions, artists’ Profiles, and information about Collecting. Images of exhibition artworks
are displayed, and fifty Australian galleries are linked to the site. This site would be useful when introducing students to the complexities of
the art world and the role of the art critic. L. Flemons
USER LEVEL: Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Art criticism; Art – Periodicals
PUBLISHER: Media, Australia
REVIEW DATE: 16/03/05 [705] SCIS 1157194
Australian designers
at work: meet designers and learn about how they work
ABSTRACT
Written for NSW schools, this multimedia resource details the activities of six prominent Australian designers. These are: graphic designer
Ray Parslow; interior designer Alison Page; wetlands designer Peter Adcock; product designer
Angelo Kotisis; visual effect designer Toby Grimes; and jewellery and homeware designers Dinosaur
Designs. Each designer’s working environment is examined from the point of view of the Design process. Numerous audio and
video clips support learning, and case studies are provided. Emphasis is given to client interaction and how each party contributes to the design.
Photographs are used extensively in the exhibition, and they show each designer’s Gallery of works. The content caters for
syllabus key competencies and cross curriculum variables. Teacher resources has activities which use the material in the
profiles.
USER LEVEL: Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6
KLA: CA; TAS
SYLLABUS: Design & Technology 7–10; Technology (Mandatory) 7–8; Visual Design CEC Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Design – Biography; Industrial design
PUBLISHER: Powerhouse Museum, Australia
REVIEW DATE: 25/05/05 [745.40] SCIS 1208218
Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Studies
Well designed and informative, this site provides information about the cultures and lifestyles of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait islander peoples. Archives and production provides access to the MURA online catalogue of the vast AITSIS
resource collection.Wiradjuri, for example, ,results in a list of over one thousand resources held by AIATSIS.
All resources are listed for content and cultural access and are cross referenced. The site also gives you access to the invaluable Aboriginal
Studies Press Catalogue. The Library section outlines services provided to educators and the community on collections, family
history, subject guides, bibliographies, and fact sheets. An annotated list of 75 Web links isa bonus for teachers. B.
Percival
USER LEVEL: Stage 5 Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA; HSIE; Science
SYLLABUS: Aboriginal Studies 7–10; Aboriginal Studies Stage 6; History 7–10; Legal Studies Stage 6; Science 7–10; Visual Arts
Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Aboriginal peoples; Torres Strait Islanders
PUBLISHER: The Institute, Australia
REVIEW DATE: 16/03/05 [994] SCIS 994972
Comic books for young adults a guide for
librarians
Designed by a librarian to help libraries develop selection policies for the inclusion of graphic novels, this site
is an excellent launching pad for the study of comic book material. Philosophical and access issues include comic formats, the development of a
collection, and the perennial question: Do comic books belong in libraries?. Recommended comics catersfor a range
of audiences, and will direct teachers to positive role models and an appropriate age guide. Comic book genres is a listing of
titles with their superbly reproduced covers, including the categories of Super-hero, Fantasy,
Horror/supernatural,Humour, Science fiction, Action/adventure, and
Manga.Annotated web site links will extend the user’s search. F. Campbell
USER LEVEL:
Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA;English
SYLLABUS: English 7–10; English Stage 6; Visual Arts 7–10; Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Comics; Library resources – Selection
PUBLISHER: Lavin, USA
REVIEW DATE: 16/03/05 [025.2] SCIS 1157283
Computer arts: tutorials
The popular, cutting edge Computer arts magazine is now online! Their excellent tutorials across a large range of computer applications,
including Photoshop and Illustrator, are now only a click away and free of charge. Each tutorial provides step by step
instruction, supported with screen captures and all the necessary files to complete each activity. They are a perfect resource for teachers wanting
to learn new technical skills within a particular program or as an extension activity to push the skills of students. This site is definitely worth
a look by teachers and students working in the creative art and technological arenas. N. French
USER LEVEL: Stage 5 Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA; TAS
SYLLABUS: Graphics Technology 7–10; Photographic & Digital Media 7–10; Photography, Video & Digital Imaging
CEC Stage 6; Visual Design CEC Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Computer art
PUBLISHER: Future, UK
REVIEW DATE: 04/04/08 [776] SCIS 1341992
Cooper-Hewitt, National Design
Museum
More than 250 000 works form a comprehensive collection of historic and contemporary design objects in the museum’s online
Collections. Most relevant for students, with a substantial number of works, the collections encompass Product design
& decorative arts; Drawings, prints, & graphic design; Textiles and
Wallcoverings. The diversity of material can be used to generate ideas for new works, and students learning about the history of
design can use the site as a resource to expand their understanding of design. Exhibitions is the other area of significance for
students. Material dates from 1975, and recent exhibitions host podcasts and blogs relating to the works and curatorial concepts of the exhibition.
This is a useful way for students to gain insight to the role of the curator and to consider the way in which design concepts have been explored.
R. Kirsten
USER LEVEL: Stage 4 Stage 5 Professional
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Visual Arts 7–10; Visual Arts Stage 6; Visual Design 7–10
SCIS SUBJECTS: Design; United States – Galleries and museums
PUBLISHER: Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, USA
REVIEW DATE: 17/12/07 [745.4074] SCIS 1336416
Dan Flavin: a retrospective
Documenting a recent exhibition of 44 works in fluorescent light, this
excellent site illustrates Flavin’s close links to twentieth century Minimalism and abstraction. A fine essay resource can be read
in Dan Flavin; Family guide has a short literacy activity, and Press materials contains a well
written biography and summary of the exhibition. Special feature gives descriptive exhibition notes in short pages, with superb
reproductions. Here, the text shows the development of the artist’s ideas and art making practice in the context of postwar America, and includes
critical analysis. Hardware vividly describes the physics of colour in the works, and, in Light, space and architecture,
Flavin’s dynamic use of exhibition space is explained. C. Thomas
USER LEVEL: Stage 5 Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Visual Arts 7–10; Visual Design 7–10; Visual Design CEC Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Art, Modern – 20th century; Artists, American; Installations (Art); Light in art
PUBLISHER: National Gallery of Art, USA
REVIEW DATE: 25/05/05 [709.2] SCIS
1203502
Designer Aboriginals: the website of Bronwyn
Bancroft
Painter, illustrator, designer, and educator, renowned Aboriginal artist Bronwyn Bancroft has exhibited her work
internationally. A descendent of the Bungalung people of NSW, she grew up in Tenterfield, as is outlined in her Biography. The
stunning Paintings included in the site are her most recent, and differ in style from her previous works. In the exhibition,
My DNA, she moves away from the literal images in some of her works and concentrates on texture and luminosity. She writes a descriptor
about each of the paintings underneath, making this a useful site for case study research in visual arts. Her Selected commissions
are listed, as well as sample images of her Book illustrations.Links to other sites could be valuable for
Aboriginal studies, and teachers would need to check these for suitability. L. Pratt
USER LEVEL: Stage 5 Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA; HSIE
SYLLABUS: Aboriginal Studies 7–10; Aboriginal Studies Stage 6; Visual Arts 7–10; Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Art, Aboriginal; Art, Australian;
PUBLISHER: B. Bancroft, Australia
REVIEW DATE: 16/03/05 [759.94] SCIS 1168026
Dia
An excellent site for researching
international contemporary artists, Dia has two galleries: Beacon, which houses its permanent collection of art from the 1960s to
the present; and Chelsea, which contains an Archive of exhibitions . The spaces are designed to
house large scale works, and site users can view Richard Serra ’s monumental Torqued Ellipses , and installations such as
Andy Warhol ’s
Shadows. Some critical information is provided on the exhibitors. Artists’ web projects give access to numerous
contemporary artists who have used the Internet as their medium. It includes a page on Aboriginal photographer and filmmaker, Tracey
Moffat, who exhibited Free-falling at Dia in 1997. It contains her images as well as an essay, and biography. L.
Pratt
USER LEVEL: Stage 5 Stage 6
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Art, Modern – 20th century; Art, Modern – 21st century
PUBLISHER: Dia Art Foundation, USA
REVIEW DATE: 16/03/05 [708.147] SCIS 1165850
Digital Roman Forum
A scholarly
and comprehensive insight into the buildings of the Roman Forum is provided by this website. Students are able to access the digitally
reconstructed Forum through plans, timelines and aerial photos. Each building is described in terms of its history and how the reconstruction was
undertaken, with model information. Quicktime is needed to view the movie or 3-D views. This would be an invaluable resource for
Ancient History students completing the Roman historical periods, as its overview of the development of the Forum is excellent. Stage 6 Visual Arts
students may also find this site a useful adjunct to their art history and practical art components, while Design and Technology students could
find this an interesting approach to model making and design problems. B. Hull
USER LEVEL: Stage 6
KLA: CA; HSIE; TAS
SYLLABUS: Ancient History Stage 6; Design & Technology Stage 6; Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Architecture – Models; Architecture, Roman; Civilisation, Roman; Computer simulation; Rome
(City) – Historic buildings, sites, etc
PUBLISHER: University of California, USA
REVIEW DATE: 04/04/08 [722] SCIS 1341633
Folk art and
craft
The site is an outstanding resource for TAS and Creative Arts teachers and students, giving them virtual access to some of the best art and craft
in the world. A mix of traditional and contemporary works, with international contributions featuring strongly, the site's material is a
cross-cultural collection from the Smithsonian's online art and design encyclopedia. There is a helpful A-Z list, which will focus research on this
large site. Topics with direct relevance to NSW syllabuses include Photography, Sculpture,
Painting, Ceramics, Fashion design, Graphic design, and Garden
design. For example, the latter leads to seven fine examples, providing site users with information and images of rose, butterfly,
rooftop, natural, and historical gardens, all useful to illustrate garden design in Technology (Mandatory) 7-8. Each of the site's topics has
historical and modern works, with much potential for educational use, especially in senior syllabuses. The site is also valuable as a directory of
contemporary artists and current projects around the world. C. Thomas
USER LEVEL: Stage 5 Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA; TAS
SYLLABUS: Design & Technology 7-10; Photography, Video & Digital Imaging CEC Stage 6; Technology (Mandatory) 7-8; Textiles
& Design Stage 6; Visual Arts 7-10; Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Fabrics; Fibres; Folk art, American; Textile crafts
PUBLISHER: Smithsonian Institution, USA
REVIEW DATE: 24/04/09 [745] SCIS 1132986
Holography
collection
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has the largest and most comprehensive collection of holograms in the world. This section of the museum's
site contains a collection of works representing the artistic and technical evolution of holography, created by some of the world's foremost
holographers. Users can explore the invention, ideas, and innovation of holography through interactive exhibitions, public programs, experimental
projects and other collections of the museum, including Architecture and design and Hart nautical.
Multimedia contains videos and webcasts of scientists discussing emerging technologies. Collections database
provides a search facility to over a million objects in the museum's collection. A. Parnis
USER LEVEL: Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6
KLA: CA; TAS
SYLLABUS: Design & Technology 7-10; Design & Technology Stage 6; Visual Arts 7-10; Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Holography; MIT Museum
PUBLISHER: MIT Museum, USA
REVIEW DATE: 24/04/09 [774.074] SCIS 1407848
Learning Flash 5
A well laid out tutorial for Flash 5, this thorough web site is an excellent teaching and learning tool. Set out in chapters, the site will help
students understand the effect of Flash 5 on web site and media development, while gaining an understanding of digital imaging standards. Students
can learn the fundamentals and advanced features of Flash 5, including drawing tools, the use of colour, animation, sound, selections, and
timelines. Publishing movies and linking to HTML are chapters that senior technology students will appreciate. The web site is a useful supplement
to the lessons included with the Macromedia Flash 5 software package. A. Kokkotas
USER LEVEL: Stage 5 Stage 6
KLA: CA; TAS
SYLLABUS: Information & Software Technology 7–10; Information Processes & Technology Stage 6; Visual Design Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Computer animation; Computer graphics; Flash (Computer program); Interactive media
PUBLISHER: TrainingTools.com, Canada
REVIEW DATE: 01/03/06 [006.6] SCIS 1244101
MCA: Museum of Contemporary Art
Art education is a strong focus of the gallery, and the Education component of the MCA website has many downloadable resources.
Users can listen to the samples in the Artists voice and order a free DVD about the artist. An overview can be obtained of past,
current and future exhibitions at the gallery. The written text is precise, and would allow teachers to gauge syllabus relevance before taking
students to view a particular exhibition. Age specific educational activity sheets for exhibitions are available for downloading, and an array of
programs run at the gallery meet syllabus requirements for both primary and secondary students. This is a worthwhile site for older students and
teachers to explore. N. French
USER LEVEL: Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Visual Arts 7–10; Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Art, Australian – Exhibitions; Art, Modern – 20th century – Collections; Sydney (N.S.W.) –
Galleries and museums
PUBLISHER: MCA, Australia
REVIEW DATE: 16/07/07 [708.9944] SCIS 1254715
Messa di voce, Tmema, Blonk, La Barbara: an audiovisual
performance & installation for voice and interactive media
Highly evocative, this great site will fascinate Music students who are interested in very contemporary sound, and Visual Arts students who are
pursuing study of the performance arts. There is not an extensive amount of information here, but the Overview gives us the bones
of the inspiration behind the two main contributing artists, that is, to produce an interactive sound and sight performance that is wordless but
full of sounds. In Video documentation, users can access a number of short videos that show something of the performances carried
out between 2003 and 2005 in various parts of the world. The site will suit advanced students who are ready to explore these unconventional
artistic forms. K. Ashley
USER LEVEL: Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Music Stage 6; Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Performance art; Video art
PUBLISHER: Tmema, Blonk, La Barbara, USA
REVIEW DATE: 02/09/08 [702.81] SCIS 1376551
Mike + Doug Starn
Two American artists present their practice as photographic artists on this website. The site is a beautiful balance between metaphor and material.
Works often combine photography with the disciplines of sculpture, painting, video, and installation. Essays and notes about the conceptual nature
of their work complement the site’s visuals. The Starns' longtime investigation of themes such as light and darkness, and nature and technology is
woven through each section of the site. Books and catalogues has key texts about the Starns’ work, giving users the ability to
flip through images from the books, read summaries of essays and reviews of the publications. Stage 6 students will appreciate the art writing
thread which continues in Selected press, where they can read essays, articles and reviews of the Starns’ work. R. Kirsten
USER LEVEL: Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Photography, Video & Digital Imaging CEC Stage 6; Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Photography, Artistic
PUBLISHER: M. Starn & D. Starn, USA
REVIEW DATE: 30/04/07 [779] SCIS 1293167
Munch-museet
A clearly set out, easy to use resource, this is a useful site for Visual Arts students. The site details current Research
projects and Conservation. The latter gives a fascinating overview of the restoration of Munch's works The
scream and Madonna which were stolen and lost for two years. These are familiar works to NSW Visual Arts students and the information
on the processes is well presented in detail. Education has cogent explanations of visual examples. The Life and
work section is densely written, but under the link there are films to view online. This is an upbeat site, clearly signposted through
each header that appears on the home page. K. Ashley
USER LEVEL: Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Visual Arts 7-10; Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Munch, Edvard; Painting, Norwegian
PUBLISHER: Munch Museum, Norway
REVIEW DATE: 02/09/08 [759.81] SCIS 1376541
National Portrait Gallery
The website, and the gallery itself, are wonderful new resources. The site is beautifully presented, showing touches of historic Australia merging
with modern and trendy technology. The site allows students to explore Australian lives and art, and the concept of Australian citizenship, through
engagement with the inspiring lives of the Australians who have shaped our history, culture and identity. The site's Education
section has a variety of useful Resources and Downloads, including an online portrait collection that uses video,
multimedia, animations, interviews and film footage to present the stories surrounding the lives of the artists and subjects in the National
Portrait Gallery's collection. In Downloads, Portraits in the history classroom is specifically tailored for History 7-10
students. This excellent site supports the L4L laptop project, use within a connected environment, and teachers planning an excursion to Canberra.
D. Giorgi
USER LEVEL: Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA; HSIE
SYLLABUS: Creative Arts K-6; History 7-10; Modern History Stage 6; Visual Arts 7-10; Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Portraits
PUBLISHER: National Portrait Gallery, Australia
REVIEW DATE: 30/04/09 [704.9] SCIS 1037747
New Museum
Showing the works of a contemporary art gallery in New York, this site features current exhibitions online. Visual presentations are supported by
written text on the selected artists, their themes and their artworks. Students will find the information brief and easy to read. Museum as
hub provides links to other galleries, in South Korea, Mexico, Egypt and the Netherlands. Like the New Museum, these galleries also
provide information on artists and exhibitions in their online gallery space. The site is easy to navigate and the information provided on these
contemporary artworks is suitable for senior student and professional use. N French
USER LEVEL: Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Art - Collections; Art - Galleries and museums
PUBLISHER: New Museum, USA
REVIEW DATE: 02/09/08 [708.147] SCIS 1372386
Nicki Greenberg
Acclaimed for her graphic adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The great Gatsby, this contemporary Australian writer has a fascinating
website. Greenberg explains her creation and use of bizarre creatures in her graphic representation of Fitzgerald's novel. She also includes
information on the process of developing these weird visual characters. Her Comic art gallery presents other graphic tales online,
providing interesting examples of the sequential art narrative style. The News/blog link hosts valuable content on the artist's
own creative processes and links to the websites of other significant Australian graphic narrators, including Shaun Tan, Bruce Mutard and Queenie
Chan. A very well presented and engaging site, this is well worth a visit. C. Sly
USER LEVEL: Stage 5 Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA; English
SYLLABUS: English 7-10; English Stage 6; Visual Arts 7-10; Visual Arts Stage 6
PUBLISHER: N. Greenberg, Australia
SCIS SUBJECT: Authors; Authors, Australian; Illustrators; Illustrators, Australian
REVIEW DATE: 17/12/08 [823] SCIS 1381202
No flying, no tights: a website reviewing graphic novels for
teens
A visually appealing and well designed resource, primarily designed as a reference point for teachers and parents, the
site contains useful information in a comic book style presentation. Reviews are listed by genre, which, apart from the usual categories, include
Nonfiction , Historical fiction , and Realism. Reviews vary in length and their
colloquial style will appeal to adolescents. Similarly, information in What’s the deal?, will provide an interesting stimulus for
discussion on characters, narratives, or the writing itself. The site may be useful for units of work on popular culture, youth culture, and
picture books in English. Within the site, Sidekicks has material for younger students, and The lair caters for
older students and adults. F. Campbell.
USER LEVEL: Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA; English
SYLLABUS: English 7–10; English Stage 6; Visual Arts 7–10; Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Comics – Bibliography; Comics – Reviews
PUBLISHER: Brenner, USA
REVIEW DATE: 16/03/05 [016.7415] SCIS 1157293
OpenEnded Group
Digital artworks for public spaces are brilliantly shown on this well constructed, informative and stimulating site. Prominent choreographers such
as Merce Cunningham, Trisha Brown, and Bill T. Jones provide an initial point of interest for Dance students. Works are invaluable
for students selecting the Option: Major study dance and technology in the Dance Stage 6 syllabus. They include descriptions,
animation excerpts, artist’s statements, vibrant images, and essays for acclaimed works such as Ghostcatching, Hand-drawn
spaces, and Biped. Works records some of the history of virtual technology and dance, and provides a rich
source of inspiration for what is possible in the medium. Ideas has material that is not always easy to obtain when studying
dance, including essays, interviews, and lecture notes. Works in In progress are an additional and rich source of ideas for
students working with multimedia, installations, and performance art and its interaction with music. R. Kirsten
USER LEVEL: Stage 6
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Dance Stage 6; Drama Stage 6; Photography, Video and Digital Imaging CEC Stage 6; Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Art, Modern – 21st century; Installations (Art); Theatre – Stage setting and scenery
PUBLISHER: OpenEnded Group, USA
REVIEW DATE: 09/12/05 [776.092] SCIS 1230579
P@NOPTIC: searching Rubens
Resources for African art, classical art and architecture, architectural history, cinema, sculpture and reference materials are to be found at this
site. Study options at ANU are also provided. From here you can also visit other art history departments and museums, as well as view architechural
images, scupltures, and all manner of cultural artifacts. This is a sophisticated site, clearly aimed at the university student, or art historian,
which could be useful for teachers and the very capable student seeking specific and local resources regarding the classics. A. Cutcher
USER LEVEL: Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Art - History
KEYWORDS: Art history
PUBLISHER: Australian National University
AUTHOR: Michael Greenhalgh
REVIEW DATE: 10/5/04 SCIS 1037624
Peter Murphy’s panoramic VR
weblog
From the premiere of Matrix Revolutions in November 2003 to the launch of streetradio.net in March
2004, Peter Murphy’s virtual panoramic photographs provide a wonderful set of images relating to current and popular issues. Updated on a regular
basis, the thumbnail pictures are links to larger Panoramic images, accessible with QuickTime. Text accompanying the
pictures has links to other sites, including news articles and Murphy’s own personal leads. These have many potential uses for Society and culture
students, and English students. Photography and computer students could find some useful links in My vr theory blog in virtual
reality computer software. My other website contains more panoramic pictures and links to articles on virtual
reality modelling languages (VRML). L. Pratt
USER LEVEL: Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA; HSIE; TAS
SYLLABUS: Information Technology Stage 6; Photography, Video & Digital Imaging Stage 6; Society & Culture Stage 6;
Software Design and Development Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Earth – Pictorial works; Voyages and travels – Pictorial works
PUBLISHER: P. Murphy, Australia
REVIEW DATE: 16/03/05 [910.22] SCIS 1168018
Picture Australia
Nearly one
million Australasian images in 29 collections, from the nineteenth century to the present, can be accessed on this extensive site. About
us and FAQs will help users judge the parameters of the site and usefulness of content. Material is clearly laid out in
Picture trails, where twelve themes, such as Indigenous Australia, Travel, Sports, Arts
and literature, History,and The environment, provide thumbnail images. More information
then leads to the Original image at its source. Extensive Links to Australian libraries and supporting
organisations also help the location of useful images. Teachers will find a free package in Promotional materials, and wide
ranging visual support for all key learning areas. C. Thomas
USER LEVEL: Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Visual Arts 7–10; Photography, Video & Digital Imaging Stage 6
SCIS SUBLECTS: Art, Australian – Collections; Australiana – Pictorial works
PUBLISHER: National Library of Australia
REVIEW DATE: 16/03/05 [708.994] SCIS 1033729
Picturing women
Dealing with how women are represented in portraits, fashions and narratives, this site promotes discussion on female image and identity. Images of
women across historical periods are presented with sample questions that encourage students to consider the different ways in which women are
depicted. Teacher resources provide additional support and lesson plans. The juxtaposer and other interactives provides activities
for students so they can analyse images more closely. The written text is concise and informative with open questions to prompt discussion.
Although the site does not deal with contemporary female figurative artworks, the selected artworks are still relevant to a study on the cultural
representation of females. N. French
USER LEVEL: Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Gender identity - Exhibitions; Humans in art; Women - Portraits
PUBLISHER: Eduweb, USA
REVIEW DATE: 02/09/08 [305.4074] SCIS 1372388
Poetry magic
Densely written and satisfyingly illuminating, this site will have strong appeal for English teachers and serious student poets. The site has a
straightforward layout and it gives an academic introduction to the writing as well as the business of poetry. It does not publish poetry. The site
concentrates on a helpful analysis of writing, as shown in Approaches, Cycle of writing, and Shaping the
piece. Students creating poetic works of an experimental or performance nature for English or Visual Arts will find some fine ideas here.
The site’s general list of topics, plus the detailed material in Need for theory, supports English Stage 6: Extension 1
students with information on Critiquing and Postmodernist poetry. The 50 Poets briefly discussed
include some interesting names beyond the usual expectations. C. Thomas
USER LEVEL: Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA; English
SYLLABUS: English Stage 6: Extension 1; Extension 2; Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Poetry – Study and teaching
PUBLISHER: LitLangs, Chile
REVIEW DATE: 30/04/07 [808.107] SCIS 1200142
Queenie Chan
Large and enthusiastic manga images are boldly reproduced on this artist’s site. Students can read 16 Online manga stories,
analytical information about artworks in FAQ, and formal and informal illustrated Essays on manga. The strength
of the site for students is the stories. These are clever and entertaining constructions that will withstand critical analysis in classrooms.
Stories could be used in various ways by Visual Arts and English teachers. For example, Greenhouse, a 10 page story with no
dialogue, is a good text for learning about the art of reading images slowly. The site offers much useful comment on artistic practice.
About me is an unusually comprehensive explanation of practice and artistic processes. The metalanguage of the artist’s journal is
for serious manga fans. C. Thomas
USER LEVEL: Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6
KLA: CA; English
SYLLABUS: English 7–10; Visual Arts 7–10; Visual Arts Stage 6; Visual Design CEC Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Graphic novels; Manga
PUBLISHER: Q. Chan, Australia
REVIEW DATE: 04/04/08 [741.5] SCIS
1340654
Radio Africa &
podcasts: experience Africa with your ears!
The site showcases the traditional art and music of Africa. Music streams in Radio Africa, in complete tracks that demonstrate the
diverse and complex nature of African music. Users can select Recording info for information about the track playing.
Playtime! gives information about traditional instruments, complete with images and audio examples. Art and
programs includes online exhibitions of artworks that may be viewed in traditional, contemporary or mixed collections.
Collections gives background information about the diversity and imagery used in African art. Podcasts are available to listen to
or download. The podcasts include interviews with curators and cultural observations relating to contemporary African art. R. Kirsten
USER LEVEL: Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Music 7–10; Visual Arts 7–10; Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Art, African; Music, African; Songs, African
PUBLISHER: National Museum of African Art, USA
REVIEW DATE: 17/12/07 [780.96] SCIS 1336441
Staedtler Australia.
Education
Geared for Visual Arts students and hands-on activities, this site has some exciting projects with explicit links to syllabuses. Technical
worksheets detail how pens, graphite, erasers and pencils are made, with a supporting short movie on How pencils are made.
Creative worksheets are age graded with extended instructions and plenty of colourful visuals. These projects use a variety of craft activities and
they are carefully designed for specific users, from Stage 2 to Stage 12. At senior level the language is technical and the tasks fairly
complicated, but they are also rewarding. L. Doyle
USER LEVEL: Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Creative Arts K-6; Visual Arts 7-10; Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Handicrafts - Problems, exercises, etc.; Pencils and pens - Design and construction
PUBLISHER: Staedtler Australia
REVIEW DATE: 02/09/08 [681] SCIS 1373618
The American Museum of
Photography
The strength of this site is its collection of online photographic exhibitions. Most of the galleries have historical works, with a focus on
American history and images dating back to the 1850s. The exhibitions are curated by theme, and topics include pulp magazine art (with exhibition
notes in the style of crime fiction), architectural photography, spirit photography, and Photographic fictions. The latter offers
a range of exhibits and readings on manipulated photography, which could form a useful comparison to contemporary digital media practice. The
readings give explanations of the techniques of trick photography. The site offers superb images of masterworks, plus information on styles and the
practicalities of preserving photographs. The site’s guided tour with annotated notes is a helpful place for initial investigation. R.
Kirsten
USER LEVEL: Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Photographic & Digital Media 7–10; Photography, Video & Digital Imaging CEC Stage 6; Visual Arts
Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Photography – Collections; Photography – History
PUBLISHER: American Photography Museum, USA
REVIEW DATE: 30/04/07
[779] SCIS 1282982
The comics reporter: Tom Spurgeon’s web site of comics
news, reviews, interviews and commentary
Student artists and teachers who are working with narrative graphics will find this site interesting. Containing news and views on mainly
contemporary comics and cartoons, the site also has limited material on manga and graphic novels. The site changes daily and it is worth watching
for discussion on issues pertinent to NSW schools. At time of review the site had a very interesting and balanced letter on the library censorship
of two well-known graphic novels. The site has a long alphabetical list of CR reviews, and in Commentary and
features, the Comics Reporter’s top 50 comics for the year 2005 offers an annotated list which could be useful for
teachers selecting resources. All about comics is a handy introductory section which contains Making mini-comics,
a terrific and practical guide for Visual Arts students. C. Thomas
USER LEVEL: Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA; English
SYLLABUS: English 7–10; Visual Arts 7–10; Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Cartoons and caricatures; Comics
PUBLISHER: T. Spurgeon, USA
REVIEW DATE: 30/04/07 [741.5] SCIS
1290642
The smart ass guide to art
Illustrating an unpretentious look at a limited range of artists, this site provides a fresh critical viewpoint that students will fully enjoy. The
author of this site is committed to presenting criticisms in an entertaining fashion and critiques Degas, Ensor, Gentileschi, Giotto, Hals,
Mondrian, Picasso and Titian. Although small, it is very accessible to students. Much of the writing is anecdotal background information, but it is
an excellent place to start, and to generate discussion regarding the nature, value and types of critiques available to a variety of audiences. As
such it is well placed when examining the practice of art criticism. A. Cutcher
USER LEVEL: Stage 6 Professional Community
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Art criticism
KEYWORDS: Art criticism
PUBLISHER: Incompetech, USA
REVIEW DATE: 10/5/04 SCIS 1037660
Stage designs of Richard Finkelstein
An inspirational resource for design and drama students, this site is a descriptive gallery of Finkelstein’s work on 50 dramatic productions. Two
plays on the new Drama Stage 6 syllabus are here: As you like it and Private lives. Each has terrific production
images and the designer’s notes on the production’s context. The former also contains a detailed description of the set and the play’s
Conceptual foundations. As a resource for the study of The individual project: Design in Drama Stage 6, and the Module: Stage sets
and props in Visual Design Stage 6, this web site is an excellent illustration of what can be done. Some productions, such as The merchant
of Venice, include photographs of the model of the setting and a comparative photograph of the built set. English students studying these
texts will appreciate the vivid images and creative range of the designer’s interpretations. C. Thomas
USER LEVEL: Stage 5 Stage 6
KLA: CA; English
SYLLABUS: Drama 7–10; Drama Stage 6; English 7–10; Visual Design Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Dancing; Design – Biography; Theatre – Stage setting and scenery – Design and construction; Theatre – Stage setting
and scenery – Pictorial works; Websites – Design and construction
PUBLISHER: Richard Finkelstein, USA
REVIEW DATE: 01/03/06 [792.02] SCIS 1233680
Sydney Architectural Walks: urban tours for walking
people
Virtually stroll around Sydney’s inner city with four young architects who have a passion for and intelligent knowledge
of its buildings. Tours include the Sydney Opera House, Aurora Place,
GovernorPhillipTower , and The Museum of Sydney as well as a
look at the harbour side environment, public places, and public sculptures. This site is a great way to study architecture in Visual Arts and
Technology (Mandatory), as detailed and artistic information about buildings and venues is included online. Linked sites provide excellent
information for research through picture galleries, access to detailed descriptions, as well as the ideas and inspirations of the architects whose
building are described. L. Pratt
USER LEVEL: Stage 4Stage 5 Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA; TAS
SYLLABUS: Technology (Mandatory) 7–8; Visual Arts 7–10; Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Architecture, Australian; Sydney (N.S.W.) – Buildings
PUBLISHER: SAW, Australia
REVIEW DATE: 16/03/05 [720.9944] SCIS 1165857
The artchive
Information about artists, periods in art and critical reviews on an array of artworks can be obtained on this site. Intrusive advertising, a bitsy
layout, and esoteric headings may impede student use, however those with a clear research goal could strike a rich vein of material.
Galleries provide virtual tours of some famous artists and their works, including The first Impressionist
exhibition,1874, with interesting critical statements made at the time, and the Sculpture garden with its ancient Greek
and Egyptian works. The Artchive is only a portal to art websites but Juxtaposition is a lengthy collection of
academic articles and images on art topics. Theory & criticism is similar, with an alphabetical list of artist critiques. N.
French
USER LEVEL: Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Painting– –History
PUBLISHER: M. Harden, USA
REVIEW DATE: 18/12/06 [759] SCIS 1288961
Vatican Museums
Virtual tours allow site users to explore the Holy See’s art collections. These online tours take site users into each area, such as the
Gregorian Egyptian Museum and the Sistine Chapel, showing the important artworks in situ, with a full 360 degree
view of the room. Students can stop and zoom into areas of interest for particular artworks. These include sculptures, frescoes, tapestries,
mosaics, paintings, and antiquities. Information is precise and incorporates specific artistic and historic language. Detailed notes make reference
to the Bible verses on which the artwork is based. This is a fantastic interactive site for Creative Arts students, and it effectively illustrates
related aspects of literature, history and religion in other KLAs. N. French
USER LEVEL: Stage 5 Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Visual Arts 7–10; Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Vatican City – Galleries and museums
PUBLISHER: Vatican Museums, Vatican City
REVIEW DATE: 16/07/07 [708.56] SCIS 1307352
www.thestylefile.com
An array of wonderful
illustrations to inspire students can be viewed at this site. Set up by several organisations to promote the talented work of illustrators, the
site is growing and presently contains about eighty illustrators. The Random slide show is perhaps the easiest way to get access
to the individual illustrators, or searches can be made in several categories: Name , Age group ,
Subject , Style ,or Media. Each illustrator has a file that displays four samples of their work.
A linking page gives Further information about the artist. Students can download selected artists into their own personal file
whilst browsing, or they can print the page instantly. Wonderful Screen savers can also be selected; these are changed on a
monthly basis. L. Pratt
USER LEVEL: Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Visual Arts 7–10; Visual Arts Stage 6; Visual Design Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Illustrators, Australian; Illustration of books
PUBLISHER: Society of Book Illustrators, Australia
REVIEW DATE: 16/03/05 [741.6] SCIS 1161016
Yahoo! art history
A useful starting point for students researching the practice of art history, since it gives categories, as well as suggested links to many very
salient sites this is a user friendly and well structured search engine. These include Eyes on Art (lesson plans and tutorials for
teachers and students). It also provides bibliographies, information on collections, museums, a link to criticism and theory, and over 300 links to
art periods and movements. A. Cutcher
USER LEVEL: Stage 5 Stage 6 Professional Community
KLA: CA
SYLLABUS: Visual Arts 7-10; Visual Arts Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Art
KEYWORDS: Art history
PUBLISHER: Yahoo! Inc., USA
REVIEW DATE: 10/5/04 SCIS 1037638
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