Teaching About Issues: Environmental, Social, and Economic

Artists in this lesson

1. Andy Goldsworthy: Environmental art

2. Maya Lin: Environmental art

3. Vik Muniz: Documentary Wasteland

4. Shigeru Ban: Sustainable architecture

5. Ai Weiwei: Political and social awareness

Environmental looking at the artist Andy Goldsworthy

The good in the environment

video about artist installation piece in California based on earthquakes.

Questions:

1. Why did this artist create this art piece?
2. What issue was he informing his audience about?
3. Looking at his other works what is he interested in?

Power Point TES a UK Teaching resource website

Creating an environmental sculpture: In 5th grade I teach about Andy Goldsworthy we review this in 8th grade by looking at the slide show of 5th grades class sculptures.

Students Look at the sculptures 5th grade created. what found materials did they use? Any materials that caught your attention? Did they showcase the environment around our school?

Slide show from 5th grade:

Artist: Maya Lin How people impact the environment

Studio of Maya Lin

Question:

What is the difference between Goldsworthy and Lin?

Artist Vik Muniz: The Largest dump in the world in one of the most poorest areas. Humans impact on the environment

1. Wasteland trailer everyone watches before

2. Economist Interview with artist: WASTELAND

3. We all discuss what we have learned

Shigeru Ban: Sustainable architecture

So far we went from clean environments in nature as art, to an artists that focuses on how people change their environment. To an artist that focuses on how people are affected by environment, Now we are looking at the artist architect Shigeru Ban which focus on reusing and recycling to create beautiful structures to revitalize the environment.

Student

Ai Weiwei: Creating a natural “fake” environment as a message to the viewer

If you have a Scholastic Art Magazine they have a wonderful online video if not or with that video

Great video of experiencing the Sunflower Seed Sunflower Seed Exhibit

Review:

What was your favorite artists?

What was the most important message you took from these artists?

What did you learn about that was new?

Now reflect and pick a topic form the corporal or Spiritual works of mercy and create a miniature piece based on showcasing that message.