"Have it Your Way" Short Writing: 50 Points, Due Saturday, April 25, by Midnight.

Copy/paste 62.8 words--the insights/thoughts/word you find most compelling--said by artist(s) on this blog (you have four choices; use one or two artists--click on the comments on the posts below). Write 314+ words agreeing, disagreeing, extending, and/or reacting to their insightful words. Really think hard and critically. Do not type fluff to fill the 314 minimum. Invest some time and thought. Be as original as you possibly can.

Andrea Offermann of Germany, Tomer Hanuka of Israel, Tomislav Torjanac of Croatia, and Joanna Barnum of the United States will undoubtedly offer you stimulating thoughts to work with. Like these four, you are becoming better and better thought criminals all the time.

Student-Artist Interaction: Andrea Offermann's Interpretation and Artwork

Andrea Offermann--How are art and literature connected? How does the analysis of one help the analysis of the other? How were you able to transfer your reading of Life of Pi to the canvas? How does this book lend itself to visual creation? Please tell us about your reading and painting process. Thank you very much.

BVHS Students--Post questions for Ms. Offermann here, if you would like.

This is Offermann's painting "Pink Elephants". "This image plays with our belief of what is real. Which world is the real world? The world inside the elephant? Or the world around it? How do we prove which is real? And after all, what does real mean?" (www.tinyshowcase.com/artwork.php?id=670).

Complementary Artwork for Life of Pi

Yann Martel has said that much of the artwork submitted in the global Life of Pi art competition complements (adds to) the reading/interpretation and doesn't replace conceptualizations. What Life of Pi artwork has stimulated your interests? Why? How? (This is a painting by Andrea Offermann, entitled "Screaming Match." You'll read/see it soon. Offermann earned second place, I think, in the contest for the illustrated version of the novel. Tomislav Torjanac of Croatia was the winner of the prestigious contest.)

Student-Artist Interaction: Tomislav Torjanac's Interpretation and Artwork

Tomislav Torjanac won the global contest and was chosen to illustrate the new edition of Life of Pi. Tomislav Torjanac--How are art and literature connected? How does the analysis of one help the analysis of the other? How were you able to transfer your reading of Life of Pi to the canvas? How does this book lend itself to visual creation? Please tell us about your reading and painting process. Thank you very much.

BVHS Students--Post questions for Mr. Torjanac here.

Art's Relevance in Today's--and Tomorrow's--World

Is art relevant today? How? Why/why not? Will art remain relevant? Should art be promoted and developed in schools? (By "art," I mean written art, i.e. novels & poetry; visual art, i.e. paintings and sculptures; and performed art, i.e. plays and oral interpretation--and music, of course.)

Art in Literary Analysis

What role can art play in the analysis of literature? This is a painting that reveals a lot about the boys of Lord of the Flies. A critical reader and viewer can make a lot of meaning from combining art and text.