Organic Methods
Big Idea: Organic Methods (an honest way of thinking, making, creating, and communication of the students feelings).
Inquiry Question: What methods will the students use to create and communicate the way they feel to others around them?
Project Story: Ms. Shenequa and Ms. Netter (art teacher) collaborated on the idea of sharing Contemporary Artists the students can relate to that are not traditionally taught in the classroom. Ms. Shenequa wanted the students to see how other artists are creating and making using the basic skills taught in art class by Ms. Netter. We wanted to teach the students a bit about culture, language, and vast methods to making.
Academic Standards/SEL: 7th VA: Cr2.3.7: a. Apply visual organizational strategies to design and produce a work of art, design, or media that clearly communicates information or ideas.
8th VA: Cr2.3.8: a. Select, organize, and design images and words to make visually clear and compelling presentations.
Blind Contour Drawings
Ms. Shenequa had the students learn how to do blind contour drawings. She shared with the students a variety of objects and portrait virtually that they were timed 5-10 minutes to draw without picking up their drawing utensil off the paper. See below the students drawings in response to what they had to draw.
Ms. Shenequa was one of the references for the students to draw from.
The students blind contour drawings of Ms. Shenequa (referenced on your left).
More drawings of the students contour drawings of an African mask referenced.
The students drawings of the ice cream (referenced on your right).
A picture of Ms. Shenequa holding ice cream was one of the pics the students referenced.
The students learned about Visual Artist, Nari Ward, who works in sculpture and installation art using found materials. The students did blind contour drawings of three of his works.
This student was inspired by sculptor, Nari Ward, We the People art piece. There is a video clip Ms. Shenequa had the students watch (on your right) to learn about Ward's art piece.
Behind the Artist Studio
The students learned bout different Contemporary Artists working in a variety of mediums from fibers/textiles, ceramics, painting, and drawing to name a few. These artists were from all over the U.S and the world. Ms. Shenequa had the students look behind each artist studio and website to take a closer look of their works.Please take a look below to see the artists, the students work, and comments in response to what they learned.
A couple of students work in response to watching Abigail DeVille and Firelei Báez art practices.
The students learned about sculptor and installation artist Abigail DeVille (on the left) and painter and sculptor artist Firelei Báez (on the right) art practices. Please click on the links above to listen and watch these amazing artists in their studios speaking about what they love to do and the issues we continue to grapple with in our society today.
A couple of students work in response to watching Abigail DeVille and Firelei Báez art practices.
The students watched an extensive video about American Artist, Mark Bradford, who paints with paper speaking about race, class, gender, and more. (Ms. Shenequa did skip a few parts due to content so please if child is watching a parent is there). Below are a few students comments and teacher on what they saw and learned about Bradford.
The students learned about American visual and performance artist and curator, Derrick Adams. They went behind his studio in Bed-Stuy, NYC. Adams wleaork speaks about Black Joy and celebrates the black people resting and living their best life. See below the students and teacher comments below in response to Adams work.
The students learned about Jean-Michel Basquiat who was highly regarded as one of the most influential artist in the 80's. Basquiat talked about racism, classism, lack of economic support in the BPOC communities, and his personal struggles in Brooklyn, NY. The students participated in a guided drawing activity of Basquiat's dinosaur with a crown drawing. 👑
The students learned about Jamaican-born artist Ebony G. Patterson and Chicago-based artist Nick Cave. Ebony's large scale sculptural and installation works centers around the idea of gardens and death. While Nick's sound suits centers around the struggle of being a black man in America. The students wrote a few words as to how they felt about these two works after watching the following videos above.
