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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Laura KeeneyArtist. Educator. Student. Archives
August 2013
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