Wednesday 9-12 (The Walker), 12:30-3:30 (Southwest High School)
Friday 12:30-3:30 (Southwest High School)
At the Walker, I shadowed and assisted in a tour and art lab focused on the Allen Ruppersburg: Intellectual Property exhibit. Before the tour, the students separated into groups and these groups began with an exercise in which the students said their name and something they were interested in. The tour focused on the idea private and public identity. The students were given the opportunity to discuss their feelings and thoughts on selected works, as well as ones that interested them. Discussions began with observations and delved into analysis and feelings. The lab was about making empty journals personalized with appropriated materials from magazines, customized to represent each student. Combined with a sheet on which the students pondered their public and private identity, this exercise allowed the students to work with similar media as well as connect to the ideas of the artist. Students were comfortable to express very personal thoughts, such as how divorce and mental health have affected them and shaped them into the person they are today.
At Southwest high school, I gave the first part of my lesson. I showed students my portfolio to help them understand what I mean by illustration as well as to understand me so we could connect, before I presented a powerpoint on elements of design that they would use to create an illustrated band poster (band of their choice) utilizing one or more elements of design, to prove they understand them. This also gives the students a new perspective on illustration, which many students had misconceptions about, equating all illustration to children's books This lesson provided the students with design vocabulary they could use later on in their art.
After the presentation, I spoke with each student as they worked on thumbnails for the final piece, to discuss how they can personally fit their art practice in with this assignment, what interests or gives them reservations about this assignment, and so forth. The students seemed more excited about the project after I spoke with them. One student was excited to incorporate collage once they realized they could for this assignment. I'm glad I got the opportunity to engage these students in my practice and I can't wait to see what they turn out with.