"Art Sparks: Voices of Change"

12th Grade

Project
4 weeks

"Art Sparks: Voices of Change"

Anna Ranck-Buhr

Purpose

Students will explore how art intersects with social change by creating pieces that convey resistance and justice. They will use various artistic mediums to express their perspectives on societal issues, inspired by minority artists and street art. Through collaboration and reflective discussions, students will hone critical thinking and artistic skills, culminating in a public exhibition that showcases their voices and ideas.

Learning goals

Students will explore and articulate personal beliefs through art using photography, digital art, and comic drawing. They will develop research skills to understand the context of resistance art and its impact on social movements. Through discussions and reflections, students will refine their artistic messages, culminating in a public exhibition. Peer reviews and feedback will enhance their ability to communicate narratives and contribute to a collaborative art piece.

Standards

Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.7: Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
National Core Arts Standards - VA:Cr2.1.HSIII: Engage in making a work of art or design without having a preconceived plan.

Products

Students will create individual art pieces on wood that reflect their personal beliefs about social justice, using mediums like painting, sculpture, or installation. They will design Shepard Fairey-inspired posters and comics that convey their viewpoints on resistance. Final products will be showcased in a digital art gallery and a collaborative mural or installation, presenting their narrative to the school or local community.

Launch

Kick off the project with an immersive gallery walk showcasing impactful resistance and street art by minority artists. Facilitate a discussion where students reflect on the themes and emotions evoked, linking them to current social justice issues. Conclude with a brainstorming session where students identify personal causes they care about and sketch initial ideas for their art pieces.

Exhibition

Display student artworks in a school-wide exhibition, with artist statements that explain their messages and the social issues they address. Include a digital gallery showcasing Photoshop creations and comics, projected on screens. Invite community members and peers to participate, encouraging dialogue about the role of art in social change.

Week 1	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4
Activities	Activity 1: Begin with a gallery walk featuring a curated selection of impactful resistance and street art, particularly focusing on works by minority artists. Students reflect on the themes and emotions evoked by the artworks.	Activity 2: Facilitate a brainstorming session where students identify social justice movements and causes they are passionate about. Encourage them to sketch initial ideas for their art pieces, linking these ideas to the art observed during the gallery walk.	Activity 3: Conduct small group discussions on the role of art in social change and resistance. Guide students to explore how different art forms and artists impact resistance movements.	Activity 4: Initiate research activities where students delve into historical and contemporary resistance art, documenting their findings in research journals. Emphasize the influence of minority artists and street art.
Deliverables	1. Deliverable 1: Submit a reflective journal entry summarizing insights from the gallery walk and brainstorming session. 2. Deliverable 2: Develop a draft concept sketch for an individual art piece, integrating ideas from research and discussions.
Preparation	1. Prep Task 1: Curate and set up a gallery of resistance art, street art, and works by minority artists for the gallery walk. 2. Prep Task 2: Prepare discussion questions and prompts to guide class and group discussions. 3. Prep Task 3: Provide access to research resources, including online databases and articles on resistance art. 4. Prep Task 4: Set up a digital platform for students to share their sketches and receive feedback.

Week 2	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4
Activities	Activity 1: Conduct a digital art workshop focused on using Photoshop to create artworks that convey social justice messages. Provide tutorials and hands-on practice sessions.	Activity 2: Facilitate a peer review session where students present their draft concept sketches to small groups. Focus feedback on how effectively their art communicates the intended message.	Activity 3: Host a session on comic drawing skills. Guide students in creating a comic strip that reflects personal viewpoints on social justice issues.	Activity 4: Organize a visit to a local makerspace for students to explore materials and tools for their art pieces, providing inspiration and practical experience.
Deliverables	1. Deliverable 1: Submit a digital artwork draft created using Photoshop, emphasizing a social justice theme. 2. Deliverable 2: Complete a draft of a comic strip illustrating a personal viewpoint related to resistance or empowerment.
Preparation	1. Prep Task 1: Ensure access to computers with Photoshop and organize a workshop focusing on digital art techniques. 2. Prep Task 2: Develop guidelines and criteria for peer review sessions to facilitate constructive feedback. 3. Prep Task 3: Prepare materials for the comic drawing session, including step-by-step guides and examples. 4. Prep Task 4: Coordinate with a local makerspace to arrange a visit, ensuring availability of materials and tools for student use.

Week 3	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4
Activities	Activity 1: Facilitate a workshop on creating Shepard Fairey-inspired posters. Guide students through identifying key phrases or symbols representing their social justice message, and integrating these into their poster designs.	Activity 2: Host a collaborative session where students begin working on their individual art pieces on wood. Encourage experimentation with mixed media, including painting, sculpture, and installation techniques, to explore how different materials can convey their messages.	Activity 3: Organize small group critique sessions where students present their Shepard Fairey-inspired poster drafts and wood art pieces to peers for feedback. Focus discussions on the effectiveness of visual elements in communicating their intended messages.	Activity 4: Lead a session on writing artist statements. Assist students in articulating the message behind their artworks and connecting it to broader social justice themes, preparing them for the exhibition.
Deliverables	1. Deliverable 1: Submit a finalized Shepard Fairey-inspired poster that includes a key phrase or symbol representing their social justice message. 2. Deliverable 2: Complete a detailed draft of an individual art piece on wood, incorporating feedback from peer critique sessions and experimenting with mixed media. 3. Deliverable 3: Write a draft of an artist statement that explains the message and inspiration behind their artwork.
Preparation	1. Prep Task 1: Prepare materials for the poster workshop, including examples of Shepard Fairey works, design templates, and access to digital and physical art tools. 2. Prep Task 2: Organize resources and materials for the wood art session, ensuring access to paints, sculpting tools, and other mixed media supplies. 3. Prep Task 3: Develop a structured guide for peer critique sessions, including discussion prompts and criteria for evaluating the clarity and impact of visual elements. 4. Prep Task 4: Create a template or guide for writing artist statements, providing examples and tips on connecting personal messages to social justice themes.

Week 4	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3
Activities	Activity 1: Facilitate a final peer review session where students present their completed artworks and artist statements to the class. Encourage a supportive environment for giving and receiving feedback, focusing on the clarity and impact of the messages conveyed.	Activity 2: Organize the setup for the public exhibition. Guide students in curating their artworks, arranging them in a cohesive narrative, and preparing presentation spaces, both physical and digital.	Activity 3: Host a reflective discussion where students share their experiences, challenges, and learning outcomes from the project. Encourage them to discuss how their perspectives on art and social justice have evolved.
Deliverables	1. Deliverable 1: Submit final versions of individual art pieces on wood, complete with artist statements. 2. Deliverable 2: Curate a digital gallery featuring all student artworks, ensuring each piece is accompanied by its artist statement. 3. Deliverable 3: Participate in the public exhibition, presenting artworks and engaging with visitors to discuss the social justice themes addressed.
Preparation	1. Prep Task 1: Arrange logistics for the public exhibition, including securing a venue, setting up display areas, and coordinating any necessary technology for digital displays. 2. Prep Task 2: Provide materials and support for students to finalize their artworks and artist statements, ensuring access to any additional resources needed. 3. Prep Task 3: Develop a framework for the reflective discussion, including key questions and prompts to guide conversation.