Preparing
the Students
A. Background
“Paint the Corners” is a baseball analogy
that represents varying skills, different
perspectives and individual opinions. The
phrase refers to the black line that is
painted around home plate. When the pitcher
throws a ball and it crosses the plate over
this line, it is usually called a strike by
the umpire because it is said to be “on the
paint” - meaning that it is just barely in
the strike zone. The pitcher is then said
to be “painting the corners.”
Similarly, artistic expression and the
definition of art may be different according
to personal taste and culture. Art can be
appreciated for its subject matter, but more
importantly it should be evaluated on its
unique merits. Fine art depicting the game
of baseball is gaining increasing respect
because it reflects significant milestones
in America’s history and is engrained in its
culture. As baseball is deeply American, so
too are examples of artistic expression that
show how the sport is entwined in the fabric
and character of our society.
B. Vocabulary
Abstract
Aesthetics
Artifact
Asymmetry
Caricature
Commercial Art
Era
Expression
The Great Depression
Harlem Renaissance
Illustration
Integration
Interpretation
Jazz Age
Medium
Memorabilia
Museum
Perception
Preservation
Retro
Technique
Technology
Three-dimensional
C. Suggested Pre-Program Activities
1)
Choosing an era from the table in this lesson,
create a timeline to depict the life and
impact of a famous artist or a series of
historical events.
2)
Find
examples of a medium and experiment with it in
an artistic way to better understand its
texture and application. These might include
paint, wood, plaster, clay, paper, etc.
3)
Have
students familiarize themselves with
well-known players in baseball history. Each
student should be responsible for studying a
different player. When all students complete
their research, have them present their
profiles to assemble a montage of player
biographies. This could also be done with
famous artists.
4)
Create a museum in the classroom by displaying
a collection of artwork representing different
artists and mediums. Have students develop
exhibit text for each work that describes the
artist and style (e.g. abstract or realistic),
the era, medium, size, etc. Students should
review the work and list their opinions.
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