Ready to tackle the Bonus Challenge for Week 2? You’ll need to visit the Google Cultural Institute and dive into the largest virtual art gallery on the web – the Google Art Project.

Your task is to track down different paintings, search for their common elements, and find a hidden message. As with all Bonus Challenges, if you or your team are getting stuck, just click the “I need a hint” link for some helpful tips.

Once you’ve completed the challenge, you may want to take some time to further explore this incredible online resource. Here are some tips for taking advantage of the Google Cultural Institute’s website:

• Curate – Our favorite function of the Google Art Project is the option to Save, Compare, or Share. If you were a museum curator, which pieces of art would you display? Click the Save button at the bottom of the screen to create your own virtual art gallery featuring works from around the world. Then Compare different paintings, or Share your gallery with others! (Here are some galleries that others have curated.) NOTE – the ‘save’ function requires you to have a Google account.
• Focus – Deep dives are a great way to learn about artists, art techniques, and even history overall. Who were the Renaissance artists? What is impressionism, and which works demonstrate it best? What is some of the earliest art produced in Asia? Is there a period of world history or a particular culture or region that interests you? What can the artwork from that time or geography teach you?
• Cross-reference – Are you participating in the Thorpe Studio Art Challenge as one of your Brain Chase electives? If so, you’ve already tackled light & shadows, and this week you’ll focus on multi-media or collage. Can you find any examples of these techniques in artwork around the world? Which artworks or artists best demonstrate these principles?
• Branch out – The Google Cultural Institute features more than just works of art. Follow the Historic Moments link to explore online exhibitions about significant moments in human history, or click on World Wonders to virtually visit significant heritage sites. You can also check out Google’s “Featured Content” for some fascinating deep dives into different exhibits from around the world.
• Caution – Like many art museums, the Google Art Project displays sculptures, paintings, and other artwork that may contain nudity. Please encourage your students to browse responsibly.

 

What is your favorite part of the Google Art Project? Did something work particularly well for your team or club? We’d love to hear about your experience! Please don’t be shy about sending us a note at info@brainchase.com with any thoughts or feedback.

Good Luck, Adventurers!

Team Brain Chase