Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens

Explore the grounds of the Polasek with your class! On this tour, your students will see the current exhibition in the Polasek’s rotating Art Gallery, view representational sculpture throughout the Sculpture Gardens, and tour Albin Polasek’s Historic Home and Studio. A 12-minute video on the life of Albin Polasek is typically included although it is not necessary for all tours/ages. Choose a lesson focus for your tour from the following options, lesson plans available below:

Texture Detectives (Grades K-2)

Your students will connect descriptive art/science terms and definitions to visual, real-world examples by using their senses. Students will respond to word cues, as they are asked to select, find and describe “texture” in our classical sculpture collection and through our natural garden environment. This real museum/garden experiences provide opportunities for students to make connections, to make predictions and inferences, and to ask more meaningful questions.

Sculpture Stories (Grades 3-8)

Students will use their infinite imaginations to come up with new stories about our Polasek sculpture. Their adventure begins by learning about some of the Slavic myths that young Albin Polasek grew up with as a child. Then they will see first-hand how he used these folktales to create his outdoor sculpture. After their tour of the historic home and sculpture gardens, we will ask your students to find their favorite outdoor piece and give them a new title or name, design and draw a new outfit/costume/hairstyle/or accessory for their figure, and finally write a new story for their character.  They will integrate factual elements from the existing figures, to translate into their own conceptual tale.

Designs that INSPIRE (Grades 6-12)

Students will design an inspirational tee-shirt or bumper sticker as if they were a graphic designer on the Polasek Museum staff.  They will use Albin Polasek’s signature theme of “Man Carving His Own Destiny” and the accompanying sculpture as a foundation to their design. They will apply what they learn during their historic home tour as they examine the classical works of Albin Polasek; soaking up inspiration first-hand. Our trained docent/educator will engage students in the artist’s historic studio and gardens and focus on “inspirational” works and the deeper meaning behind these sculptures. Students will reflect on their experience to carry out and create their design or slogan.

Art Meets Math – Proportions and Measurements (Grades 6-12)

The study of anatomy and proportion in sculpture has been utilized since the Classical Period when Greek and Roman sculptors began to portray the human body in a more accurate and natural manner.Students will analyze the anatomical advancements of the Greek and Renaissance periods in sculpture.  They will apply these concepts during their historic home tour and examine the classical works of Albin Polasek. Our trained docent/educator will engage students in the artist’s historic studio by exploring a selection of his sculpture tools, including proportion calipers.  Students will measure and evaluate select Polasek works and check their proportion against measurement standards.  Further measurement and scrutiny of the face will help them sketch a portrait using this applied mathematical concept.

Exploring the Gilded Age – Grades 9-12 

The Gilded Age, with regards sculpture, refers to a specific era in American history and also a specific style of artwork or art movement, that rose from this period of industrialized growth and lavish wealth. This period lasted from roughly from the end of the Civil War to World War I (1870s-1917). Affluent Americans of the Gilded Age associated a lush and romantic style with European aristocracy, which they often strove to emulate. Students will visually evaluate the works of art found in the Polasek Historic Home and apply the Gilded Age concepts they have learned to understand which works fall into this aesthetic movement and historical time period.  They will then create drawings based on this new knowledge and conduct research on their own.

* Please note that students will see nude classical sculpture that may be both religious and secular in nature. Sculptures will not be censored; however, thoughtful and educational discussion will be age appropriate.

***Please dress appropriately for current weather conditions but be prepared for all weather conditions. Students will be walking for part of the tour outdoors on paved walkways. Although the walking distance is short, it may be advisable to bring hats, comfortable walking shoes, sunglasses, and extra water for all students. 

*Program also available to homeschool groups.

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