Project overview

Breaking the Mold: Mobile Hands-On Art Crates is an educational outreach program designed to bring art, history, and creativity directly into Austin elementary classrooms and reach beyond the walls of the museum. Inspired by the life and work of Neoclassical sculptor Elisabet Ney, this program connects three contemporary female artists (Virginia L Montgomery [VLM], Beili Liu, and Tammie Rubin) with key themes from Ney’s legacy. Each artist-designed interactive art crate—modeled after the traditional crates used to transport Ney’s sculptures—explores the intersections of art, history, science, and math. Paired with a dynamic curriculum, these art crates offer AISD students unique, hands-on learning experiences that foster critical thinking and creativity.

Menu of Cross-Curricular, TEKs-Aligned Lessons

1. Art through Portraiture: Science and Technology in the 19th Century will examine Ney’s work as a sculptor. The lessons will give students the opportunity to learn about the scientific and mathematical elements that informed Ney’s execution of portrait statues.

2. Women on The Frontier: Elisabet Ney’s Artistic Perspective on Texas History, students will learn about Texas History through technological projects.

3. Life as a Naturalist: Elisabet Ney’s perspective on art and science through nature, will focus on the connection between Ney’s views as a naturalist and her work as an artist.

Teacher’s Commitment

• Choose theme from the three options (each theme has 3 possible lessons to be taught).

• Timely communication in planning for guided classroom experiences (45-60 min) to take place in the regular classroom.

• Teachers/aides must remain during lesson for assistance and facilitation.

• Teachers/students are responsible for return and storage of materials in crate until museum staff can return to collect it.

• Access to evaluation and follow-up communication to assess student learning.

Ney’s Commitment

• Museum staff will handle logistics and timing of school visits in conjunction with school staff.

• Museum staff will deliver the Art Crate, bringing all materials needed to complete all three thematic lessons contained in each crate.

• Art crates are loaned to a school campus for a one-week period, and will be collected by museum staff when the loan period is over.