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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
Collections & Inspirations | Artopia Work in Progress | Artopia

Video

Grades

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Work in Progress | Artopia
Heidi Darr-Hope shares an area of her yard that used to be a barbeque pit that she turned into a mosaic shrine.
The Gates, Central Park, New York City | Artopia

Video

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The Gates, Central Park, New York City | Artopia
Christo and Jeanne-Claude have collaborated on works of art since 1961. Their most recent work is The Gates, Central Park, New York City, 1979-2005 . Although The Gates remained in Central Park for...
Erica Tobolski, Actress | Artopia

Video

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Erica Tobolski, Actress | Artopia
Like many actors, Tobolski was drawn to theater at a young age. She explains how she turned her passion into a career.
Collections & Inspirations | Artopia

Video

Grades

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Collections & Inspirations | Artopia
Heidi Darr Hope talks about how much she has loved collecting objects since she was a child. She was really thrilled to start using objects from her collections in her art work.
The Urban Situation Series | Artopia

Video

Grades

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The Urban Situation Series | Artopia
Wingo’s art is varied. Here he shows his urban situation series, which differs from many of his more classical pieces.
Step 6 - Making the Glass Piece | Artopia - Episode 6 Step 1 1

Video

Grades

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Step 1
Episode 1
Sculptor Kristin Gudjonsdottir demonstrates how she wedges her clay.
Step 2 2

Video

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Step 2
Episode 2
Kristin Gudjonsdottir demonstrates how she uses a pattern for her mixed-media piece.
Step 6 6

Video

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Step 6
Episode 6
Kristin Gudjonsdottir explains what a kiln wash does and then demonstrates how she creates her glass piece.
Step 7 7

Video

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Step 7
Episode 7
Kristin Gudjonsdottir demonstrates some areas she wants to repair on her piece before firing.
Work Style | Artopia What It Takes | Artopia

Video

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What It Takes | Artopia
Von Howard believes the most important traits in a dancer are drive and work ethic.
Inspiration & Mentors | Artopia

Video

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Inspiration & Mentors | Artopia
Cecil Williams talks about his experiences and the importance of books and mentors. Williams hopes his work will inspire a younger generation and introduces a young man who works at his studio.
Hope, a Snake and Writing | Artopia

Video

Grades

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Hope, a Snake and Writing | Artopia
Heidi Darr-Hope explains how she took an old curiosity cabinet and transformed it into a shrine she called, Hope, a Snake and Writing.
Turbulence | Artopia

Video

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Turbulence | Artopia
Christian von Howard talks about the piece, Turbulence, that he choreographed in three days. The Power Company performed this piece at the Columbia Museum of Art.
Getting Serious | Artopia

Video

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Getting Serious | Artopia
In high school, Von Howard discovered his passion for dance. He describes how he continued to develop his craft.
Civil Rights Photography | Artopia 1

Video

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Civil Rights Photography | Artopia
Episode 1
Cecil J. Williams did a great deal of civil rights photography. Even as a young boy, before he understood what was going on, he took many important photographs.
Civil Rights Photography | Artopia 2

Video

Grades

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Civil Rights Photography | Artopia
Episode 2
Cecil J. Williams is a native of Orangeburg, South Carolina. He began taking documentary photographs of his community at the age of nine. By 15, he was working professionally as a freelancer for Jet...
Aunt Jemima | Artopia

Video

Grades

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Aunt Jemima | Artopia
Tonya Gregg wanted to do an Aunt Jemima series because she felt this painful image for many African Americans could be considered beautiful with a different presentation.
Europa | Artopia

Video

Grades

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Europa | Artopia
Tonya Gregg explains the various aspects of her painting Europa.