Ancient Selfies: Self-Portraits in the style of Ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman Art

In contemporary life, anyone can take a "selfie" using a smartphone or other electronic device. During ancient times, artists and artisans did not produce "selfies" (self-portraits). Portraits were only created for upper classes and those in power. Just as our "selfies" provide insight about our culture, we can learn about ancient belief systems, music, art, fashion, lifestyles, architecture, flora, fauna, socio-economic, and political structures through their use of color, stylization, and function. After an interactive comparison of these ancient cultures and how they relate to our contemporary life, the students will create self-portraits in the style of Ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman Art. CDs of ancient style music will be played for each culture based on scholars' interpretation. For all ages!

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  Mixed media visual artist, composer, curator and writer, Tina Seligman has been a teaching Artist-in-Residence at Flushing Town Hall since 2000 and has served as a FTH Education Representative since 2018. Passionate about integrating art forms, her workshops for visiting classes combine hands-on projects with academic curriculum, art history, and related music to offer a multi-sensory experience focused on critical thinking. She has created and facilitated art programs for CASA, Parents as Art Partners, and NYSCA Artist-in-Residence Mentor grants, as well as for in-school residencies including as a set designer for CASA productions. In 2004, she was invited to serve as a panelist for the Arts in the Schools Grant Program through Queens Council on the Arts.  
  
  In 2020, Tina had solo exhibits at the GAC Gallery in Bayside and in 2018 at Flushing Town Hall.  Her artwork has been exhibited in Manhattan, Queens, and Long Island and her work resides in corporate and private collections. Her video collaboration with Dan Rubin was included as an Experimental Short in the 2016 New York Independent Film Festival. Artist George Xiong used Tina’s composition September Etude for flute, recorded by Jo Brand, as an accompaniment to a video about his series of contemporary Chinese seal paintings. Tina has curated two exhibits at Flushing Town Hall and as an art journalist, she has contributed to Art of the Times magazine and an essay for Duoling Huang’s book The Cultural Landscape. Tina’s poetry has been published on P.S. 1 Contemporary Museum’s website, in The Moon as Text, and in Cicada Haiku Quarterly, among other periodicals. She earned a BA in Art at Queens College and attended the Art Students League.

  Tina Seligman