PICTURE THIS
Have you ever noticed how a building makes you feel? Architects often design and plan buildings so that the people who enter them will have a unique sensory experience. Sometimes our attention is drawn to a building's exterior as we approach it from the street. Other buildings captivate us with their interior spaces, such as lobbies and entryways. Like artists, architects take into consideration shape, light, texture, color, and balance when designing a building. Many buildings also contain actual artworks, such as sculptures or murals, which enhance the design. The combination of art and the artistic design of space helps to make a tour of a building an enjoyable, memorable experience. A well-designed building can be viewed as an enormous, three-dimensional work of art that is both functional and beautiful.

Take a tour of some of the well-known architecture of North America. First, click on the button that will print out your worksheet. Then, click on the Great Buildings site listed in your Artist's Passport below. Visit five or six of the buildings on the tour. Then answer the questions on your worksheet. When you have finished, return to the Artist's Passport and click on Public Art links. These sites will show you artworks located at buildings in different cities. Choose the city you are curious about, and look at some artworks located at various buildings and other public spaces. Answer the questions on your worksheet.

Artist's Passport Web Links

Great Buildings

Public Art:

Austin, TX
Chicago, IL
Seattle, WA
Miami, FL
New York City, NY
Los Angeles, CA