Unit 3: Stories
Artists: Thomas Hart Benton & Diego Rivera
Group Murals: Drawing and/or collage (sharpie and watercolor paint)
Artist: Faith Ringgold
Story Quilts: Watercolor (crayon resistance with watercolor paint)
Artist: Jean Shin
Mini sculptures from found objects (string, finger nail polish, and Q-tips)
Unit 3: Reflection
For our third unit, we focused on stories. As we noticed in
Unit 3, stories help influence our artwork and who we are as artists. I took
note of the stories from the artists we learned about and stories that play an
important role in my life and tried to express those in my artwork. One author,
Pink (2006), states that stories provide “context enriched by emotion, [and] a
deeper understanding of how we fit in and why that matters” (p 115).
I really enjoyed this unit! For our first studio, we reflected on Thomas Hart Benton and Diego Rivera and created our own comic that expressed an education-related issue. My comic hosted a scene in a store that sold back-to-school supplies. It was a fun piece because it shows the difference in student supplies and teacher supplies. As a future teacher, I definitely related! For our second studio, we looked at Faith Ringgold and created our own picture quilt. In my piece, I chose to share a special story about my dog and my hamster. These were the first pets that my boyfriend and I had together and they loved playing around on the floor with each other. Our hamster is no longer living, so this is a special story that I love talking about. For our last studio, we reflected on Jean Shin to create mini sculptures from found objects. My group created a “before cosmetics” and “after cosmetics” piece that used found objects like fingernail polish, Q-tips, and string. I didn’t relate to this piece personally but I have seen what cosmetics can do and this piece portrayed that relationship very well.
I think it is important for teachers and students to share their own stories in the classroom and using any of these studios would be effective in that nature. All three of these studios would be useful to use in the classroom but I think Ringgold’s story quilt would be beneficial for students. I chose to pick a special moment in my life that I love to share about and I think that would be a great way for each student to reflect on a special moment to them. Pink (2006), states that, “what begins to matter more is the ability to place these facts in context and to deliver them with emotional impact” (p 103). When students do this, they will effectively relate to our Stories unit.
Reference
Pink, H. D. (2005). A Whole New Mind. New York, New York: The Penguin Group Inc.
I really enjoyed this unit! For our first studio, we reflected on Thomas Hart Benton and Diego Rivera and created our own comic that expressed an education-related issue. My comic hosted a scene in a store that sold back-to-school supplies. It was a fun piece because it shows the difference in student supplies and teacher supplies. As a future teacher, I definitely related! For our second studio, we looked at Faith Ringgold and created our own picture quilt. In my piece, I chose to share a special story about my dog and my hamster. These were the first pets that my boyfriend and I had together and they loved playing around on the floor with each other. Our hamster is no longer living, so this is a special story that I love talking about. For our last studio, we reflected on Jean Shin to create mini sculptures from found objects. My group created a “before cosmetics” and “after cosmetics” piece that used found objects like fingernail polish, Q-tips, and string. I didn’t relate to this piece personally but I have seen what cosmetics can do and this piece portrayed that relationship very well.
I think it is important for teachers and students to share their own stories in the classroom and using any of these studios would be effective in that nature. All three of these studios would be useful to use in the classroom but I think Ringgold’s story quilt would be beneficial for students. I chose to pick a special moment in my life that I love to share about and I think that would be a great way for each student to reflect on a special moment to them. Pink (2006), states that, “what begins to matter more is the ability to place these facts in context and to deliver them with emotional impact” (p 103). When students do this, they will effectively relate to our Stories unit.
Reference
Pink, H. D. (2005). A Whole New Mind. New York, New York: The Penguin Group Inc.