I am doing five lessons inspired by the work and big idea of Damian Ortega: Perspective: where our perspectives on current events, communities, and the material world are altered to see an expansive universe composed of the actions of many. My lessons are also inspired by the works of Theaster Gates, Michael Rakowitz, and Nick Cage because of the community consciousness and layered meanings in their work and also because of their untraditional use of materials.
The lessons are all linked in that they deal with layering of or rearranging of materials as well as meaning. This sequence will introduce a number of skills in art making including sculpture, installation, painting, textiles, and clay. The lessons will also work to introduce ideas of traditional as well as contemporary art making including material usage, content, and context.
The lessons are also all linked in there a expression of the Olivia Gulde’s “Principles of Possibilities: 1. Deconstructing Culture, 2. Empowered Making, 3. Investigating Community Themes, and 4. Play.
Material Research:
- Sculptures from One Material Made By Someone Locally:
Researching both projects was a lot of fun, but this one was delicious too! I had three kids make one each, each one out of a different food material. These exact materials were not made locally, but I know there are local versions that I would use in a real classroom scenario. For this project I would provide a list of locally made items. The kids could each choose something from it and make whatever they wanted to, but they can only use that one material. This was very successful and fun. These guys made a popcorn alligator, a Tostitos snake, and a matzoh snake.
2. Reconstructed Objects:
This project is where the kids bring in an object or I would provide a bunch and they take it a part and turn it into something else. We found two VHS tapes and a VHS rewinder at the dump and turned them into a few different things. The tapes were turned into two different owls and then a dump truck. The Rewinder was turned into a boat with a trailer. This project is to facilitate the understanding of a whole made of parts and reconstructing culture.
