Snarling, prancing, prowling, and peeking out from stone and thread, animals both real and fantastical fill medieval art with energy and imagination. As part of The Met Cloisters’ commitment to serving neighbors in upper Manhattan, fifth-grade students from P.S. 48 P.O. Michael J. Buczek were invited to immerse themselves in this lively world of hybrid creatures and respond with beasts of their own invention.
During two gallery visits, students studied the curves of a dragon’s tail, the proud stance of a griffin, and the shimmer of a unicorn’s tail woven into tapestries, taking careful note of how medieval artists used line, pattern, and material. Back in the classroom, students brought their ideas to life through printmaking that required layering textures and shapes to create bold, whimsical creatures, each one stamped with the imagination of its maker.
The Met Cloisters gratefully acknowledges P.S. 48 art teacher Félix Portela, Met teaching artist Pamela Lawton, and the entire P.S. 48 community for their support of this program.