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Global Scale Problem:
Global Scale Problem:
Freedom of Expression (Censorship): How can people raise awareness of global issues and share proposed responses?
The freedom to create and to experience works of art is essential to our democracy.
At present this freedom is under attack. Private groups and public leaders in various parts of the nation and around the world are attempting to remove certain artworks from public display, to censor exhibitions and to label particular works as “controversial”. These actions arise from a view that censorship is needed in order to avoid the subversion of politics and the corruption of morals. Free communication is essential to the presence of a free society and culture. Freedom of expression is guaranteed by the Constitution-including visual expression. In this elective, artists will explore what “freedom of expression” means. They will consider the vulnerability of this freedom in our current global culture and articulate why this freedom is worth fighting for through the creation of unique visual art works. J-term will culminate with a large-scale collaborative experience and exhibition that unpacks the complexity of this critical issue straight on, aiming to prompt robust discussion and reinvigorating what we at times take for granted.
Goals:
Goals:
Students will gain a deep appreciation of the privilege to express themselves freely through visual art.
Students will recognize that in many places in the world, including parts of the USA, people are not able to express themselves freely verbally or otherwise.
Students will use the tools of visual art to communicate their understanding of what freedom of expression means at both individual level and on a larger scale at local and global community levels.
Outcomes:
Outcomes:
In this arts elective students explore the power of visual art to communicate big ideas in a meaningful and impactful way. Together, we will consider What’s worth fighting for? and explore how creative works can address critical local and global issues. While practicing technical skills related to a selection of fine art media, including 2D, 3D and digital art, students will also understand the role that artists have played throughout history as changemakers. Final projects will be shared publicly to raise awareness, challenge beliefs and shine light on new ways of seeing, thinking and making.
Week 1: Middle Grades
Week 1: Middle Grades
Practicing with Clay
Practicing with Clay
Students began working by familiarizing themselves with the clay and the best practices for creating art pieces. Students are working toward creating their own climate change teapots with the goal of conveying important messages. Students have been exploring different materials to showcase representation through different elements.
Students began by rolling out their clay into long strips.
Next, students lined the inside of their guide bowls by coiling the clay strips.
Coiling the clay strips help the bowls maintain their shape and provides more support after drying.
Later, students will add details, color, and/or images that convey an important message.
Week 2: Middle Grades
Week 2: Middle Grades
During week two of the J-term students began to dive into creating their own climate change teapots. Students molded their pots and began adding textural details, shapes, and characters.
mgART.movWeek 3: Middle Grades
Week 3: Middle Grades
Stencil Art
Stencil Art
This week, the middle grades art students have been working on stencil art. Each art piece focuses on highlighting a world issue.
Week 1: Upper Grades
Week 1: Upper Grades
During the first week of J-term, students were exposed to thought-provoking exercises that challenged them to think about freedom of expression and issues that are worth fighting for.
Guest Speaker: Meredith Mowder
Guest Speaker: Meredith Mowder
Visiting Art historian, Meredith Mowder, elaborated on the potentiality of activism within Nick Cave's work. Nick Cave's works have become internationally celebrated for his elaborate installations and textile works, including his iconic sound suits, which blend sculpture, costume design, and instrument-making.
Project Runway Challenge
Project Runway Challenge
"The Body Extension," was inspired by the Guggenheim's current exhibition of Nick Cave’s larger than life, protective, sculptural soundsuits, which often elongate and warp the human form. Visiting art historian, Meredith Mowder, elaborated on the potentiality of activism within Nick Cave's work. In teams of three, students were asked to design a cardboard extension for a part of their body that could bring attention to a particular issue. For instance, one team sculpted a comfortably shaped mask for the Covid era while another team designed a pair of binoculars that would invite the viewer to stare directly into their eyes as an act of bonding.
Week 2: Upper Grades
Week 2: Upper Grades
Activists Challenge:
Activists Challenge:
One of the art activist challenges asked students to create an original piece of art that interacts with today's news through drawing, cutting, and collaging on top of a newspaper page. Students were introduced to contemporary artists such as Fred Tomaselli and Mira Schorr for inspiration. They also had the opportunity to visit the Whitney Museum and converse with Marcela Guerrero who curated No existe un mundo poshuracán: Puerto Rican Art in the Wake of Hurricane Maria. Once the student projects were completed, graphic artist, Luba Lucova, visited Avenues to explain the thought process behind her work and provide valuable feedback to students on their work.
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