The Big Idea:

How do artists use everyday objects to explore the world around them?

Activity overview

Betye Saar and Edward Weston featured simple, everyday objects in their work, infusing those items with meaning. After studying these two artists in Voices and Images of California Art, you will select an everyday item that interests you and research how and why it is important to our culture. You will present your findings in the format of a museum object label.

Look closely

Click on each artist button at right to view detailed screens about the artist and his or her works. Be sure to click on all images, view all videos, read all documents, and use the zoom tool to look closely at the works of art.

In this activity you will:

1. research an everyday object and decide what pieces of information are most important
2. write a label that reflects your research
3. display your label and object to the class
4. gather comments about your work

You will be graded on:

1. research notes
2. content and style of label
3. responses to peers' work