Make your Art Appreciation course as inspiring as the rich world of art that it covers. Art Matters enables students to experience art actively and meaningfully, weaving together innovative pedagogy and compelling stories about a wide assortment of artworks and artists to show students that art is everywhere, art is vibrant, and art matters. Art Matters presents a contemporary approach to art appreciation, offering a compelling narrative, a wide range of works created by numerous artists from around the world, and an active and meaningful learning experience. Through stories, examples, thoughtful pedagogy, and in-depth discussions of process and history, Art Matters motivates students to experience art actively and meaningfully. By asking questions and exposing students to different viewpoints and ideas, the author gives them the tools to speak, write, think critically, and form conclusions about what they see in familiar and unfamiliar works. Important updates to the second edition include: Two new thought-provoking "How Art Matters" stories on the graphic design for the 2020 U.S. Census and Faith Ringgold's For the Women's House "Practice Art Matters" activities that now build in complexity throughout each chapter, enabling students to develop progressively more sophisticated skills A reconceptualized Chapter 2 that introduces how to understand art Nearly 100 new artworks - including an Asmat shield, Harley-Davidson motorcycle, and works by Marie-Guillemine Benoist and Kader Attia - that add to the large variety of objects and artists

Art Matters presents a contemporary approach to art appreciation, offering a compelling narrative, a wide range of works created by numerous artists from around the world, and an active and meaningful learning experience. Through stories, examples, thoughtful pedagogy, and in-depth discussions of process and history, Art Matters motivates students to experience art actively and meaningfully. By asking questions and exposing students to different viewpoints and ideas, the author gives them the tools to speak, write, think critically, and form conclusions about what they see in familiar and unfamiliar works.

[Art Matters] really connects students to the importance of art and helps them appreciate the way art reflects its time and culture. Starting with the controversy of Maya Lin's Vietnam Memorial [in Chapter 1] really intrigues all of the students and sets them up for understanding different points of view with art right away." - Julie Sawyer, University of Massachusetts, Lowell