Artist Research "If (insert artist here) had your life, and right here, right now, in Morocco he/she was in Ms. Keeney's art class at this school in 7th grade, what art would 'YOU' make?" As the end of the year comes around, I like to have my 7th graders take the chance to learn about and "teach" the class about an artist we havent studied and they would like to know more about. I limit their choices to more "modern" artists (they all initially want to choose Da Vinci) and my rule is they have to have been alive in the 20th century. These students spend some time researching their artist and organizing a creative presentation of their choosing in order to teach the class. Students really tend to love these projects and get really creative with their presentations.
In addition to the presentation, students need to create an artwork that adapts their chosen artist's vision, style, or ideas into the student's lives. Through this artist adaptation, students are forced to reflect on the styles and history of their artist in order to create an original artwork based on their own life and creative perception. Because students are "teaching" the class, they also need to prepare a mini art lesson that all students can participate in that recreates the artwork and/or life of their chosen artist. I just began this unit with 7th grade last week. I bring in my own computer and we have a few laptops at the school to use in the classroom for research as well. The computer lab is unavailable during this hour so we have to share computer time, which is why I allow students to work on my personal laptop. As I get home after a long day, I break out my computer to check some email and this introduction to a student PPT pops up on my computer screen.... the only thing I can think of is, "Gee, this kid is really trying to get some extra brownie points" (Knowing I'm an avid fan of Matisse).
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Landscapes: 4th Grade During this Unit, our 4th graders were studying different landforms and looking at different landscapes (specifically Denmark) in their classrooms. The homeroom teacher and I worked together and discussed ways to make different landforms relevant and understandable to our students when they might not have seen these landforms before. In art classes, we discussed different landforms and looked at many Moroccan as well as Danish landscapes. I had students describe what the landscape outside their homes looked like and how each one is different, each one has different elements that make them unique, even from our own back yard. Then, we each created our own unique landscape that included these certain elements, but didnt necessarily need to be something they have seen before, but that could exist.
Vocabulary: Foreground, Middleground, background Skills: color mixing, shading, proportion Artist CommissionThis weekend is my only sacred weekend I have off from school, so I decided to begin a commissioned piece that Ive been putting off for months. The buyer gave me the image on the left and wanted me do create something similar, with the sense of movement and using the dancers, but also wanted it to have its own flare and be a little different. The piece is for her daughters bedroom, for when they remodel it. Below is what I have drafted for the project so far. I decided to use less dancers and place them in more of a grid pattern because I didnt really understand the composition of the first image she gave me. I placed two dancers in the middle of the image because I think the buyer will create the metaphor as those dancers being her with her daughter. I also plan on painting dancing ribbon or around the dancers and throughout the piece to connect them and create more movement and flow throughout the work. I will see on Monday what she thinks!
Artist Trading Cards: A classroom unit, a graduate studies final project, and personal artwork development.Artist Trading Cards (ATC's) are ways to express, show, and spread creativity and individual expression while engaging in a globalized society. Throughout this unit, students explore different themes that relate to themselves as cultural and creative individuals while also participating in a global world by sending their artwork to other students overseas. This communication spreads understanding while also sharing a small part of your world with others. These artist trading cards were made by my 7th grade students at American Academy Casablanca. On April 22, they were shipped off to Westran High School in Missouri to be traded with High School students there. My students were able to choose their own theme, relating either to Moroccan Culture, personal creativity, or an artistic aspect they want to explore. In addition to the project, I created my own set of ATC's, and tied this wonderful exchange that was happening in my classroom to my Graduate Studies. I completed a final project researching the benefits of ATC's in contributing to local cultural celebration as well as participating in a globalized society.
Personal Artwork: ATC's
Community Research StudyThroughout my Community Research Project, I found out about so many different resources within Casablanca that I didnt know existed before. All of these organizations could possibly become resources for my students or for my classroom. This Culture Factory brings together and supports so many different kinds, forms, and ideas of art, that my students could really benefit by seeing how these different worlds blend together.
While conducting my research , I found out that I dont depend on the community as much as I could. Because I dont speak the language, its harder for me to reach out to community organizations or local artists to being into my classroom. I realized that its easier than I thought, and by this project forcing me to seek out these organizations and community groups, there are ways for my students to see the world of art growing around them. |
Laura KeeneyArtist. Educator. Student. Archives
August 2013
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