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Artopia

Artopia is a comprehensive web-based arts experience designed for middle school students, covering the visual and performing arts.

Visual and Performing Arts for Grades 6-8

Artopia is a comprehensive web-based arts experience designed for middle school students, covering the visual and performing arts. Students will learn art history via animated one-minute movies, be guided on how to closely examine important works of art, and view videos of professional artists at work.This project was supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. 

Please note many of the web videos include transcripts.

More in this Series

Series Dance - Artopia
Dance - Artopia

Step inside Artopia's Dance lobby!

Series Media Arts
Media Arts

Step inside Artopia's Media Arts lobby!

Series Artopia Music
Artopia Music

Step inside Artopia's Music lobby!

Series Artopia's Painting Lobby
Artopia's Painting Lobby

Step inside Artopia's Painting lobby!

Series Sculpture
Sculpture
Series Theater - Artopia
Theater - Artopia
Resource Type
Acting Outside In | Artopia

Video

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Acting Outside In | Artopia
Working outside in involves finding some external inspiration and internalizing that into an artistic performance.
Steven Gross

Video

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Steven Gross
After a lot of hard work, the set for Dancing at Lughnasa is finally ready. Gross explains why he loves his craft.
Originality | Artopia

Video

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Originality | Artopia
Winston Wingo talks about two very classical styles of sculpture.
Step 3 3

Video

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Step 3
Episode 3
Kristin Gudjonsdottir demonstrates another way to flatten out clay by using a rolling pin. She also demonstrates how she uses a sculpting knife.
Step 4 4

Video

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Step 4
Episode 4
Kristin Gudjonsdottir demonstrates how she flattens out the clay to make extra pieces.
Step 5 5

Video

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Step 5
Episode 5
Kristin Gudjonsdottir demonstrates how she connects the pieces of her sculpture together.
Puppetmaking | Artopia

Video

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Puppetmaking | Artopia
This video walks through the process of making a puppet on some tight time constraints.
Comparing Roles | Artopia

Video

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Comparing Roles | Artopia
Tobolski has played a wide variety of roles, and she learns something new from each one.
Theater Rehearsal | Artopia

Video

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Theater Rehearsal | Artopia
This video illustrates how the rehearsal process is translated into a final performance.
Seamstress | Artopia

Video

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Seamstress | Artopia
The costume mistress at the theater explains the process of making costumes for the puppets.
Trustus Theater | Artopia

Video

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Trustus Theater | Artopia
Visit a rehearsal of the 2004/2005 Trustus production of The Rocky Horror Show and meet director Randy Hanna and choreographer Anita Ashley. Trustus is a small professional theatre in Columbia, South...
Sculpture is Physical | Artopia

Video

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Sculpture is Physical | Artopia
Winston Wingo explains how he begins his sculpture with a series of drawings. He then selects a drawing that he wants to bring into a three dimensional artform.
Sculpture is Physical | Artopia Chasing the Bronze | Artopia

Video

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Chasing the Bronze | Artopia
Winston Wingo explains the process and the tools needed to chase or provide a finishing for a bronze sculpture.
Classical Training | Artopia

Video

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Classical Training | Artopia
Von Howard explains the complex relationship between classical and modern dance styles and how he incorporates the difference influences.
Executive Director | Artopia

Video

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Executive Director | Artopia
John Douglas Scollon, the executive director of the Columbia Marionette Theatre, discusses what it is like to work at the theater.
Work Style | Artopia

Video

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Work Style | Artopia
Christian von Howard talks about his work style when it comes to choreography. Von Howard uses athletic, aerial movement in his work influenced by a great variety of styles.
Lost Wax Process | Artopia

Video

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Lost Wax Process | Artopia
Watch the lost wax process from creating a mold to pouring hot wax to breaking the mold to retrieve the final piece.
Sculpture is Physical | Artopia Creating a Polish | Artopia

Video

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Creating a Polish | Artopia
Winston Wingo demonstrates his process for polishing a sculpture to get the finished look he desires.
Sculpture is Physical | Artopia Man Versus Machine | Artopia

Video

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Man Versus Machine | Artopia
Winston Wingo explains that he considers himself one of the Futurist sculptors. His influences include Henry Moore, Umberto Boccioni, and Arnaldo Pomodoro.
Cecil William's Studio Tour | Artopia

Video

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Cecil William's Studio Tour | Artopia
Cecil Williams owns Cecil Williams Photography in Orangeburg, South Carolina. He explains how his profession has evolved over the years.
Collections & Inspirations | Artopia Creating a Studio | Artopia

Video

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Creating a Studio | Artopia
Heidi Darr Hope grew up in a family of artists. She decided to take some art classes as an adult. As she grew in her art, her studio has also evolved as well.