Design a New Gateway for the Bronx Zoo
Artist: Paul Manship
Art Work: Paul J. Rainey Memorial Gateway, 1934, bronze
Location: Pelham Parkway entrance of Bronx Zoo
Grades: 4-6
About the Art: The gateway is a fantastic structure with two openings, surmounted by openwork lunettes and bounded by tree-like forms. Around the whole structure, 22 different animals are used as decorative motifs. Originally, zoos were parks made more appealing by the addition of live, often exotic animals; both the animals on display and the sculptural animals found throughout the park and its architecture served decorative purposes. Today, however, with increased interest in the preservation of endangered species and other ecological issues, the zoo’s responsibility has broadened to assume a larger, scientific, educational and activist role.
Questions for Discussion: Working in groups, have students identify and name the 22 animals, or as many as possible. What clues are there to show why these animals were chosen to be on the gate? What are endangered species? Why are they endangered? Where do endangered species come from? What does the zoo do to help protect endangered species?
Sample Art Activity: Imagine the Zoo needs a proposal (design) for a new gate to show where endangered species come from. They would like the gate to look inviting and informative. What kinds of animals will be represented? Which animals are endangered and need a safe environment? In small groups, create models for new gate designs using recycled materials.
Purpose: To demonstrate understanding of how art is a visual representation of an accumulation of content knowledge.
Materials: I: Sketch paper and pencils, markers, crayons. II. Recycled small cereal boxes, construction paper, scissors, glue, staplers. III. Tempera or acrylic paints, liquid soap, brushes, water containers.
Teaching Strategies:
- After sketching individual ideas, separate children into groups of three or four.
- Groups should choose a continent and create a small model.
- Help them separate tasks if they do not have much experience working in groups.
- Make sure students paint all sides of their model gates.
- Then in a whole class discussion, ask for someone to make notes while the ideas are proposed and discussed.
- From the notes, groups develop the ideas as below in Extensions.
Closure: Send your final proposal to us at Lehman College Art Gallery so we can photograph the models for publication. Exhibit sketches, small models, final proposal and life-size model in classroom or hallway. Organize a reception to announce the new gate design and invite parents and caregivers.
Extensions: For natural learning: Draw the animal heads life size for use on the gateway model, using reference material from the Internet and library. For spatial & kinesthetic learning: Create a life-size model of the gate to be displayed inside the classroom doorway, using grocery boxes. For verbal learning: Write the proposal including a cover letter and description of the full-size model. For logical learning: Create a large flowchart of the whole process of creating the proposal. Create another large flowchart of the process of making the life-size model. For technology learning: Research endangered species on the Internet, such as sites for the Wildlife Conservation Society (Bronx Zoo) and endangeredspecie.com.
National Art Education Learning Standards:
- Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols and ideas
- Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures
- Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others
- Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines
