ART OF THE MATTER
Mixed-Media Byzantine Mosaic of the Virgin Mary Submitted by Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art
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he Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art and Shawnee Outlook are bringing readers a glimpse into the museum’s offerings and feature a project for them to try at home. For more information about the museum and its programs, visit mgmoa.org or call (405) 878-5300. This month, we are going to work with all kinds of materials. When you make art with several materials, it’s called “mixed-media” – and it can be lots of fun. The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art is currently hosting a beautiful special exhibit titled “Blessed Virgin: Images of the Virgin Mary,” so we are using that as our inspiration. A couple of the pieces in the exhibit are from the Byzantine era, between 330-1450 A.D. That was a long time ago! Artists at that time loved to create mosaics, which are art pieces made up of small pieces of stone, gems and tile. Because painting with tiles was a little limiting, the Byzantine style simplified features and details. We are going to make an image of the Virgin Mary using the same style, but with materials we have at home. We can use small pieces of colored paper, dabs or paint, squares made with colored pencil or marker or anything else you can imagine. Instructions: Start with a blank piece of white, or light-colored paper. Using a pencil, draw an oval in the middle of the sheet that takes up about ½ of the sheet, this will be Mary’s head. About 1/3 of the way down, draw her eyes. The Byzantine style was to draw almond shaped eyes with heavy eyebrows. Next, draw two vertical lines from just below the inside of the eyebrows to create the nose. You can put a little mark at the bottom of the nose if you want. Then, draw the mouth. The Byzantine style of mouth was pretty flat, but we can make a big smile if we want. Don’t forget to add a neck and shoulders. 14
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ABOVE, BELOW and BELOW RIGHT: Pieces like these from the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art’s current special exhibit, “Blessed Virgin: Images of the Virgin Mary,” inspired this month’s mixed-media art project readers can try at home.
