Educational Technology and Distance Learning | February 23, 2017
Lesson Title and Summary:
African Art Motifs — Research African Art History at online museum sites and periodicals provided. Write a paper that describes five visual themes or commonalities seen in African Art, describe each, and explain why each is important to culture or community. For paragraph six, write about an African artistic motif that appeals to you and why.
Students and Subject Area:
This project is a good fit for High School Advanced Art class.
List of Online Learning Sources:
1) The Met’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History (http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/)
Also, please read:
“Introducing Open Access at The Met,” by Loic Tallon, Chief Digital Officer, February 7, 2017
http://www.metmuseum.org/blogs/digital-underground/2017/open-access-at-the-met?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=statusupdate&utm_content=20170215&utm_campaign=digitalunderground
2) Denver Art Museum Collections Page (http://denverartmuseum.org/collection/)
3) KuonaTrust - Centre for Visual Arts in Kenya (http://kuonatrust.org)
4) Philadelphia Museum of Art, “Vlisco: African Fashion on a Global Stage” (http://www.philamuseum.org/exhibitions/845.html?page=1)
5) Africa Fashion Week London, Day One of Africa Fashion Week London 2015, Olympia London (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMivGySVMNE)
6) Smithsonian National Museum of African Art (https://africa.si.edu/about/)
7) Ebony Magazine, “How Artist Miles Regis Is Sparking a Much-Needed Conversation on Race" (http://www.ebony.com/entertainment-culture/miles-regis-art#ixzz4ZZDr6ezd)
Common Core Standard:
Artistic Process: Responding
Anchor Standard 7: K-12.Re.7 — Perceive and analyze artistic work.
HSa.VA.Re.7.2 Determine the commonalities within a group of artists or visual images attributed to a particular type of art, time frame, or culture.
Materials:
Materials Used by the Teacher:
Links to the sites listed in this lesson plan. Pen and paper to take notes.
Links to the sites listed in this lesson plan. Pen and paper to take notes.
Materials Used by the Students:
Links to the sites listed in this lesson plan. Pen and paper to take notes.
Technologies Used by the Teacher:
Interactive White Board, computer with projector
Technologies Used by the Students:
Laptop or tablet for also viewing online content, as well as typing paper.
Timeline of Activities (Instructional Procedures):
1) First, we’ll view the The Met’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. We can specify African art and time periods in the search engine. Students should make notes about themes, motifs and commonalities while viewing photos of artifacts. Check class to ensure that they each made notes about one item for paragraph one of their paper.
2) Second, we’ll view the Denver Art Museum Collections Page and navigate to their African art collection. Students should make notes about themes, motifs and commonalities while viewing photos of artifacts. Check class to ensure that they each made notes about one item for paragraph two of their paper.
3) Third, we’ll view KuonaTrust - Centre for Visual Arts in Kenya. Navigate to the Artists page to view contemporary African art. Students should make notes about themes, motifs and commonalities while viewing photos of contemporary art. Check class to ensure that they each made notes about one item for paragraph three of their paper.
4) Fourth, go to the Philadelphia Museum of Art website and read “Vlisco: African Fashion on a Global Stage.” Does the fashion use any themes, motifs and commonalities that we’ve already seen?
5) Fifth, view a segment of the Africa Fashion Week London YouTube video. Does the fashion use any themes, motifs and commonalities that we’ve already seen? Check class to ensure that they each made notes about one item for paragraph four of their paper.
6) Briefly view the home page at Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. (This site doesn’t load very well, but it is important to introduce.)
7) View Ebony Magazine online and read “How Artist Miles Regis Is Sparking a Much-Needed Conversation on Race. Have the class take turns reading aloud. How does Miles Regis use historical themes in his contemporary work? Why? Check class to ensure that they each made notes about one item for paragraph five of their paper.
8) Ask class for final thoughts or questions. Have them move into independent study for writing their papers based on their notes.
Assessment Plan:
Students will be graded according to completeness of their writings according to a rubric.