21st Century Ideas for Art Lessons, Art Journal Entries and Risk Pods

Week 2

Artist/Educator: Emily Brewer

Collage/Assemblage
Color as Light
Color as Limit
Color Theory
Composition

Conceptual Art
Consistency of Visual Language
Craft
Creativity
Cross Culture Fertilization

1) Principle: Conceptual Art

(Written Lesson Idea)
Lesson Artists/Examples: Alfredo Jaar, Banksy, Holocaust Memorial, Brewer (own work)
Extra, Read All About It! Student artists will research current local or global events
from both sides. They will choose a cause that they want to stand for and bring about
awareness. After their research they will draw up a few different sketch plans for how
they want to represent this cause. This is a your choice work, meaning it could be 2D,
3D, or installation.
2) Principle: Collage/Assemblage
Lesson Artists/Examples: Do Ho Suh, London Crime Statistics sculpture
Statistics In groups of 4, student will research statistics in an area that interests them.
Using found materials such as food wrappers, cardboard boxes, shopping bags, old
clothing, recyclables, pop cans, natural materials, etc., student artists will work in groups
to create an outdoor sculpture that represents their researched statistic.
3) Principle: Color as Limit
Lesson Artists/Examples: Limit color photography, The Sixth Sense
Black & White Films Show students clips from old black and white films like Charlie
Chaplins films, Alfred Hitchcocks films, the original Little Rascals, and Citizen Cane.
Student artists will then create their own movie, but they will use limited color to draw
attention to important objects or events. Watch scenes from the Sixth Sense that show
the importance of the color red.
4) Principle: Composition
Lesson Artists/Examples:
Changing the Composition Student artists will choose 3 of the previous artworks and
put them together in Photoshop to create a new work. They must change the
composition of each to tell a story of this body of work. They may add elements as
needed, but must use all 3 works.
5) Principle: Cross Cultural Fertilization
Lesson Artists/Examples:
How Good is Your Aim? Student artists will have the opportunity to collaborate on an
artwork with influences from another country. One by one student will dip a Nerf dart in
a paint color and throw it at a world map (excluding the US). Where the dart lands is
where they look for inspiration in a new work. The work will be their own idea, but they
have to use elements from that country (or part of the world) in their work.

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21st Century Ideas for Art Lessons, Art Journal Entries and Risk Pods
6) Principle: Craft
Art Journal Reflection
Whats the Difference? Freewrite: Craft vs. Fine Art, whats the difference? Pick our
student artists brains about their definitions of certain terms, then discuss as a class.
Maybe encourage a friendly debate component to the discussion.
7) Principle: Color Theory
Art Journal Reflection
All Color is Relative First off, give students a graphic organizer to help guide them in
talking about what they already know about color. This will help you know where
everyone is at so that they dont have to sit through a lecture theyve heard a hundred
times. Then watch a TED Talk - Beau Lotto: Optical illusions show how we see. Have
student participate when he has the audience participate.
8) Principle: Color as Light
Art Journal Reflection
What Color is Light? Freewrite. Then view some example of how different colors
represent light.
9) Principle: Creativity
Risk Pod Exploration
Play Time First watch TEDxULB: Petronela Zainuddin- Creativity comes when you play,
then take a time out and play! Out on a table have 6 different random (numbered) piles
of items like old t-shirts, plastic wrap, shaving cream, post-it notes etc. In groups of 3,
students will roll 2 dice and choose the items from the numbered piles. They will then
combine these two items and create something new.
10) Principle: Creativity
Risk Pod Exploration
Improv Studio In teams of 4, students will be asked to create something like a 3D
house. They will have the opportunity to gather items that they will need and put them
in a box on their table. During the game, teams will be answering art related questions.
Teams that answer a question wrong will have something taken away and will have to
improvise.
11) Principle: Creativity
Risk Pod Exploration
Brain Games Play brain games to help stimulate creative thinking. Places to starthttp://www.diegm.uniud.it/create/games.htm,
http://creativitygames.net/creativity-games/676-creative-bingo-calls
12) Principle: Consistency of Visual Language
Risk Pod Exploration
Challenge Accepted What if and why not? Have student artists use at least 2 different
style techniques within one work to see if they can create one coherent piece. Lay out a
variety of options for students to play around with.
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21st Century Ideas for Art Lessons, Art Journal Entries and Risk Pods

LESSON CRITIQUES
Critique of Lesson
The Humor Project
The most compelling thing(s)...
Love the idea of working with humor. So many art projects at this age are so deep and
meaningful that they are usually about very serious topics. This is a good break from
that.
One thing I might change
One thing that I might change would be the types of humor quiz and the 40 min lecture.
Im wondering if there would be a better, more interactive use of time.
Critique of Lesson
A Blank Canvas
The most compelling thing(s)...
Ooo, metaphors I like the idea of the book bag critique. It is relevant to the students
and it will help them to understand what is and is not a good example of a metaphor.
One thing I might change...
I kind of wish the culminating activity was more substantial than a three word artist
statement. I like the idea of the limiting it to three words, but I wish the culminating
activity was more of an activity.
Critique of Lesson
Worth Repeating?
The most compelling thing(s)...
EQ -How does media control what is remembered?
The freedom to argue for another media or time period.
One thing I might change...

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My Videos:
TED Talk Beau Lotto: Optical illusions show how we see
Art Journal Reflection
7) Principle: Color Theory

TEDxULB Petronela Zainuddin: Creativity comes when you play

Risk Pod Exploration
9) Principle: Creativity
YouTube Video GMM: Is This Art?

(Pair with Art Assignment: I Could Do That week 1)

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21st Century Ideas for Art Lessons, Art Journal Entries and Risk Pods
Art Journal Reflection
Freewrite what their definition of art is. Then have a class discussion. Challenge their
answers and ask questions like Would size, placement, location etc. make a difference?
What about artist intent?

In-class Videos:
PBS Art Assignment: Critique
Art Journal Reflection
After the video and students look at an artwork. Have them write down why questions
to think about. The have them go back and try to answer them. Then have a class
discussion. When participating in a critique, students can use these questions and
responses as guidelines. Instead of just asking the artist questions, this will help them be
more aware of whats actually going on. For example:
Q Why did the artist use texture in their painting?
A Maybe they want people to touch it and interact with it.
I noticed that you added texture right here on your painting, is that because
you want people to touch it?

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