This week’s #CBfromHome art activity is inspired by the salon hang in the museum’s Early American Art Gallery. Learn more about the history of salon hangs and how to create one yourself!
A “Salon-Style Hang” is a term that derived in 1667 from the French Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture in Paris. Students would display their artwork together, but to make everything fit, all of their work was hung as closely as possible from floor to ceiling. In 1725, the exhibition moved to the Louvre, and from that point on was known as simply the Salon.
The opening of the Academy’s Salon was a critical step in the development of public museums. Previously, it had been difficult for ordinary citizens to see artwork because it was owned by private collectors, but because the Academy’s exhibitions were free, anyone could see the Salon, regardless of class, wealth, profession, or gender.
Materials:
Instructions:
Step 1: Think about what you want your salon hang to look like. Does it have a theme? How will your art be hung?
Step 2: Grab your cardboard box! Pick what you want your wall color to be. Will it be painted? Will it have wallpaper? Glue or color how you’d like it to look.
Step 3: Once you’re done with the walls, design some tiny artwork. Create paintings or sculptures that will fit inside the box.
Step 4: Arrange your artwork! Before you glue your artwork down, think about the placement and how everything will look together.
Step 5: Finally, show off your mini salon hang! Pretend you’re a curator and display your museum to your family and friends.
Want to learn more about museum curation and collecting artworks? Here are some books we recommend for further learning!
Have fun!
Written by Dani Smith and Kim Ly, art instructors, Crystal Bridges.
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