UNIT 4: CELEBRATIONS
Unit 4: Celebrations Reflection
For Unit 4, the overall theme was Celebrations. Our first studio's artist was Nick Cave. Cave is known for his Soundsuit creations. Cave's creations celebrated creativity and cultures. His Soundsuit's brought different materials together to make one sound. For this studio we created finger puppets using modeling compound/clay that celebrated something about myself. I chose to collaborate with Emma and we made a couple. While discussing the overall theme of celebrations, we decided our puppets celebrated relationships and happiness. According to Dalai Lama, used in Pink (2005), "I believe the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness." (p. 220). I found this quote to be very fitting for our interpretation of celebrating relationships and happiness.
Our second studios artist was Norman Rockwell. Rockwell's art celebrated everyday America. He showed everyday things and people that sometimes went unnoticed. Rockwell had three common themes throughout his art work. The first, celebrating the common and often overlooked; the second, celebrating change and invention; the third, celebrating tradition and the past. For this studio we used graphic design. I chose Rockwell's theme of celebrating tradition and the past. For my main theme, I used Holidays. In my graphic design I used personal photos from holidays and celebrations with friends and family. I made my creation in the form of a magazine cover. This studio would be great for older elementary students. I have seen students in my field classroom (5th grade room) do such projects for presentations they were working on. Also allowing students to use their own pictures is a good way to learn more about them. According to Bang (1991), " We see pictures as extensions of reality" (p. 60). When using their own photos, students are able to see their reality in their projects.
Our third and final studios artist was Miriam Schapiro. Schapiro focused on the celebration of women in her art. She was a key person to bring women's art to the foreground. For this studio I chose to make a mini replication of how I would decorate my classroom during my Reason for the Season lesson plan. This piece was a celebration of change and particularly the four seasons. My lesson plan focuses on the earth's rotation and why we have the four seasons, so I thought this was a very useful piece that I will most definitely use in my classroom.
Our second studios artist was Norman Rockwell. Rockwell's art celebrated everyday America. He showed everyday things and people that sometimes went unnoticed. Rockwell had three common themes throughout his art work. The first, celebrating the common and often overlooked; the second, celebrating change and invention; the third, celebrating tradition and the past. For this studio we used graphic design. I chose Rockwell's theme of celebrating tradition and the past. For my main theme, I used Holidays. In my graphic design I used personal photos from holidays and celebrations with friends and family. I made my creation in the form of a magazine cover. This studio would be great for older elementary students. I have seen students in my field classroom (5th grade room) do such projects for presentations they were working on. Also allowing students to use their own pictures is a good way to learn more about them. According to Bang (1991), " We see pictures as extensions of reality" (p. 60). When using their own photos, students are able to see their reality in their projects.
Our third and final studios artist was Miriam Schapiro. Schapiro focused on the celebration of women in her art. She was a key person to bring women's art to the foreground. For this studio I chose to make a mini replication of how I would decorate my classroom during my Reason for the Season lesson plan. This piece was a celebration of change and particularly the four seasons. My lesson plan focuses on the earth's rotation and why we have the four seasons, so I thought this was a very useful piece that I will most definitely use in my classroom.
References
Bang, M. (1991). Picture This How Pictures Work (P. 60). Boston, MA: Bullfinch Press/Little, Brown and Company.
Pink, D. (2005). A Whole New Mind. (p. 220). New York, NY: Penguin Group
Pink, D. (2005). A Whole New Mind. (p. 220). New York, NY: Penguin Group