We like to think of the museum as one of the largest classrooms on campus, and we are eager to assist you as a faculty member in discovering the many ways that you might use JCSM’s programs, exhibitions, and collections as part of your curriculum. Your interactions with JCSM can take many forms including class tours, assignment collaboration, and direct engagement with the object.
Our collection of 2,000 artworks provide unique learning experiences and creative prospects that could expand your classroom experience, across a variety of disciplines. With strengths in American modernism including examples of social realism; works on paper reflecting a diverse depictions of the south, including themes of race, religion and class; a collection of 20th century Mexican art; contemporary art and photography that ranges from Andy Warhol to Diane Arbus; a selection of bronzes from Tibet, historical European pieces that range from the 15th to 19th century; and, our Audubon prints and that of other artists who followed or preceeded Audubon in his study of science and nature. We encourage you to take the time to browse the collections page and online database for more information.
If you find works of art in the museum’s permanent collection that you think might be useful in your teaching you can request an appointment for the piece(s) to be made available for study at the museum with a small group of students. This opportunity for direct examination of a work of art which is available to all areas of study enables a unique learning experience as well as inspires understanding of different cultures throughout history.
Our educators and docents will help make JCSM’s collection connect to your curricular goals. Find information about guided tours and register for a tour here.
We can arrange guided tours and special presentations by JCSM curators and staff to enhance your classroom discussion across a variety of disciplines. Here are some examples of program collaborations with university faculty. With advance planning, JCSM is happy to discuss opportunities to collaborate on programming. If you are interested in doing so, contact Scott Bishop at 334-844-7014.
JCSM partners with community members and faculty from the Department of English on the third Thursday of each month for poetry readings by students, faculty, and invited poets. The series is the only monthly poetry offering in the Auburn-Opelika area.
In commemoration of the extinction of the passenger pigeon, JCSM presented an exhibition devoted to the passenger pigeon, to other bird species that have vanished forever, and to the poignant lessons of loss pointed out by the power of art. The Auburn University Museum of Natural History and Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Sciences and Mathematics generously partnered with JCSM for this collaborative exhibition. Museum programming included a faculty panel, documentary screenings, and hands-on art activity for youth, and a lecture by Joel Greenberg of Project Passenger Pigeon.
Students of College of Liberal Arts associate professor Adrienne Wilson perform movement inspired by sculpture presented on the grounds and in the galleries.
Our k-12 Educational Curator can work with you to develop a program for your classroom or organization that fits your needs and goals. Program offerings range from hands-on activities in connection to your guided tour to outreach lessons at your location to help bring JCSM to you. Contact xoefiss@auburn.edu to connect with us and start planning your program and view examples of our k-12 and community outreach below.
The teens from Our House visited JCSM at the beginning of October. On a tour of the galleries, the teens discussed what inspires artists and how they develop the ideas behind their art. These ideas sparked discussions about current events, their personal interests, and how to view artwork and create a personal connection.
After their visit, the k-12 Curator of Education visited Our House for an outreach workshop. Teens learned about the work of artists such as Jenny Holzer and made connections to their visits and the artwork they say at JCSM. They were given a choice of materials to play with typography – or the design and use of text in artwork. Each teen thought about a message that they would want to share with others and to display in Our House. Check out images of their museum visit and artwork below!
Drake Middle School sixth graders practiced visual literacy skills while looking at work from the JCSM permanent collection and select works from the exhibition Leo Twiggs: Requiem for Mother Emmanuel. Then, students designed and created a faux batik piece that spread a message important to their community that they wanted to share with others.
