Painting for Peace

We have examined how artists express what they think and care about when they make art.

Have you ever made a picture for someone who was sick or feeling sad? Why did you make them a picture?  How does that make them feel? The book, Painting for Peace,  is a story where people drew pictures to make a whole community feel better.

In late 2014, the St. Louis Area, was feeling a lot of Tensions (People were stressed, upset, angry, sad, about events where people were not treated fairly or equally).  A chain of events would lead to protests and property destruction as well as multiple discussions, forums, lawsuits and investigations, putting a spotlight on our city and our country’s continued struggle with racial inequality.

Friday, Author and Meramec mom (her kids went to Meramec), Carol Swartout Klein, will visit our school.  She is going to share her book, Painting for Peace in Ferguson.  She was inspired by the artists and community that came out to send messages of HOPE after events took place in Ferguson, Missouri. 

“Our whole city was hurting, and the whole world was looking at us. And sometimes, when you don’t know what else to do, creating something beautiful in the face of so much ugliness is the only thing you can do.” —Andy Cross

Artists, residents and families from our community saw this as an opportunity to communicate their HOPE and came out and painted beside one another. 

How do you think the artists knew what to paint? How did they decide what image they wanted to portray? Did they all paint the same way?

Some shops and restaurants simply needed messages to show they were open for business.

Some artists used quotes to send a message.  This quote is by Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King Jr.  
What does this quote mean to you?  (Think about a ripple effect)

Many messages were illustrated.  The picture helped to further send the message.  The painting of the Earth shows we are citizens of the world and we are all in this together.

Some mural messages were simple.  LOVE

The image of a bird showed up a lot!  A bird can represent PEACE.

A Facebook message was a call to action for for many.  People bought paint and supplies or donated leftover house paint they may have had in their basement or garage.

Participants felt like they were helping to build back the community, while others felt they were helping the city to heal.

Creating murals was a way for people to be express their feelings without anger or destruction.  The people that chose to paint were upset and so were the people that broke windows.  Both groups  chose to respond.  One group responded with art! 

In the book, Painting for Peace, The author quoted Fred Rogers.  He once said, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things on the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” 

What do you think this means? In "Painting for Peace in Ferguson," lots of people came together to help create these images. Who are the helpers in a community? Who helped in this story?

It doesn't have to be a big work of art to send a message of hope- but it can turn into a grand project.

Subway Therapy: New Yorkers sending out messages of kindness, courage, unity, togetherness, courage...all of this started with a single post it note.

What message will you send with your art?  

Will your art give someone hope?  

Will you be ready to stand up and respond with your voice or your art?  

How will you be a helper?

Right Tool or Material for the Job

The Right Tool or Material for the job.

In a TAB Art Studio, artists understand to use the right tool and material for the job.  

There can be exceptions but still artists need to know the correct tool for the job.

When you hear the words Medium, Material and Tools in the art room, what do they really mean?

Tool:  a handheld device that aids in accomplishing a task

examples: ruler, scissor, saw, stencil, 

Material/Medium: the matter from which a thing is or can be made

examples: yarn, paper, wood, beads, paint

Drawing Materials

*Think about if you are drawing large or small.

*Crayon:

*Marker:

*Pencil: 

Coloring Large Areas and for texture rubbings

Using the point for detail work and small areas

Adhesives 

When attaching materials, do you want the attachment to show?  

Tape, Staples and Brass fasteners will be VISIBLE.  These should be part of your design!

Glue should not show.  Craftsmanship!

Small delicate items.  Paper to Paper

Paper to Paper

Gemstones, Foam Shapes, Thick paper, Popsicle sticks....What else?

Heavy duty!  Wood, Thick Cardboard, Plastic

When we cut materials in art, we are SAFE!

*We cut wood with a saw.  

*Safety goggles and a Vice are required!

*We cut back and forth across the top--not the side.

Shears are for cardboard

Scissors for Fabric.  Fibers ONLY scissors!

*No jabbing or poking into materials

Cutting Large Sheets of paper

Artists use various papers.

*Use the right paper for the job!

Sketch Paper        80 pound paper

Fibers:

Little Needle Little thread

Big needle Big string (yarn)

What is a WOW Piece?

It's that time of year that we need to examine our work and look to see if we are making WOW Pieces of art.

Click here:

What is a WOW Piece

Artists Care

a few weeks ago, we did a mini-lesson about what do artists Care About and Think About when they make art?  We talked about how artists RESPOND to their world.

Right now a lot of people are hurting, angry, trying to make sense of a big situation.  This could be the perfect time to RESPOND and make art?

This is not a political conversation but how we care for those that are hurting and scared.  We take care of one another. We are like a family here at Meramec School and this is National Kindness Week.  This is the perfect opportunity to express ourselves and send a messages to comfort others while spreading kindness.

Right now there are people that feel satisfied, some people are very sad and disappointed and some people are left trying to make sense of it all.  Think of a baseball game. There is a winning team and team that has to come in second place.  What do baseball players do at the end of a game?  (sportsmanship)  Think of how we treat one another and can come together.  

Think of a time in your life when you were hurt, angry or upset by something?  
Was it something someone said or did?  
Was it something that seemed unfair or not right?  
Was it a time when someone you care for was hurting or suffering?

What did you do to make it better?

*Did you try to talk to a person and hear their side of the story?
*Did you listen?
*Did you try and understand another person's point of view?
*Did you care for the other person?
*Did you say I love you?
*Did you say I support you?
*Did you say you matter?
*Did you try and comfort one another?

At Meramec we follow the Meramec 5

Kindess, Respect, Responsibility, Safety, Cooperation.

Love it not political * Kindness is not political * Peace is not political

We are going to create an installation art piece here at Meramec.  We will use the symbol of the heart to send messages of:
Respect
Healing
Gratitude
Love
Hope
Courage
Comfort
*You will write a message on a heart.
*You will design and decorate the heart.
*You will place your heart in a spot at Meramec where someone will get the message that they are safe, they are comforted, they are respected, they are loved, they are encouraged, they are cared for, they are honored, they are courageous, they matter.

*Think of the perfect spot in our building where your message will be received.


What is our responsibility when someone is hurting?  
Despite differences, how can we find common ground?  
What is our responsibility as artists and citizens?  
What is our responsibility as artists to stand up for the rights and beliefs of ALL citizens?

Workday-your artistic process

Last week, we talked about how artists are inspired by the world around them.  We looked at the big question, WHAT DO ARTISTS CARE AND THINK ABOUT WHEN THEY MAKE ART? Artists react and respond to their life, their community and the world.

What happens when you are not responding, not motivated, or not inspired to create artwork?  It can be frustrating.  

Right now, as an artist, I am stuck.  I have a small studio in my attic where I make jewelry and right now, I don't even feel like going up to my studio. 

What I have done in the past when I get stuck, I look at images of work by other artists, go for a walk, talk to my artist friends or purchase new supplies.  Sometimes just cleaning my studio can give me new perspective.  Some artists need a deadline or due date to be motivated. 

Think about how you get started on your art.  I imagine at times, you have such strong ideas that it is easy to get started and you are able to do so quickly.  
At other times, the process to get started can take time. Waiting a week between art classes may challenge you when it comes to getting back into your work

Pay attention to some of the strategies Julie Mehretu (mair-eh-two) uses to get started on her art.



Accomplished artists can have a hard time getting started or re-started on their work.  

What did artist Julie Mehretu do to get back to work into her art?

*She works with other people (assitants)
*She puts herself at the studio everyday (sometimes just being there inspiration will come)
*She continues to look at her work (keep looking, something might catch your eye)

What do you do when you art STUCK or don't feel INSPIRED?


* ?

* ?

* ?

Artist Chuck Close said:

"Don't sit around and wait for inspiration; just sit down and get to work."

Chuck Close at work in his studio.  Chuck Close works in a large scale making portraits of his family and friends.  He believes in working everyday even if it means cleaning the studio--ideas and inspiration can come while being in the studio space.

*What tool is Chuck Close using to create this portrait of Fanny --His wife's grandmother.

Chuck Close is working from the  ____________ to the ___________.

Today,  this is how Chuck Close works!

Chuck Close suffered an aneurysm, a health issue in his spine which left him paralyzed.   Chuck used his art as therapy to help him recover and get strong enough to paint.  Today he paints with the assistance of an arm brace and a mechanical system that raises and lowers his large canvases.  *For some this may ended their art career or caused them to give up.

If you don't feel inspired or feel stuck on a work of art; 

could you explore materials?

work with colors?

 or even organize and clean.

What strategies will you use to stay motivated?  What are some strategies you can keep in mind for when you feel stuck?  

What do ARTISTS care about and think about when they make art?

Artists respond to what's going on in the WORLD,  just like you!

How do you respond to your life?

*You make a birthday or get well card for someone special.

*You draw a picture of your home, a dream you had or maybe your family.

*You might paint a picture of your feelings if you are mad, joyful or upset.

*You make a poster to help raise money for a charity.


There have been some events that have happened in the St. Louis area and around the world where artists have responded. Some of these events have made people angry and sad.  Artists came out to make things better.  Artists found a way to speak for the community.  Artists found a way to respond and express how they were feeling.  Artists found ways to try and bring people together.

 
WHAT DO ARTISTS CARE ABOUT AND THINK ABOUT WHEN THEY MAKE ART?


They care and  think about making ART that communicates:

Keith Haring

*Artists make us ask ourselves if we are standing up for injustice, standing up for what we believe in,  or  standing up for others.

 Banksy
"There is always hope"
*Banksy's stenciled works are controversial.  Some people think they are awesome and some people think they are vandalism.  When people disagree in this way, we can say something is controversial.  They often show up as a response to political events or injustices, usually something we might see or read about in the news.

They care and think about making ART that speaks for our community:
*Protest v. Riot.  There is a difference.

Google images - South Grand and Ferguson Murals
*Artists came together and this helped to bring people of the St. Louis community together--this gave signs of hope to the world.  Artists worked towards helping the city heal.

They care and think about making ART that helps us empathize: 

Ai Wei Wei
*What does empathy mean?  Thousands of life vests represent Syrian refugees.

They care and think about making ART that calls us to take action:

Shepard Fairey
*Art can have a visual or written message that invites us to react.

They care and think about making ART that informs us:  

El Anatsui
*Art can teach us.  "draw connections between consumption, waste, and the environment"

They care and think about making ART as a response: 

Pablo Picasso

*Reacting to war, Picasso put his thoughts and feelings into his work.

JR

*"I wish for you to stand up for what you care about by participating in a global art project, and together we'll turn the world...INSIDE OUT."   The concept of the project is to give everyone the opportunity to share their portrait and a statement of what they stand for, with the world. 

– JR, TED2011

--large format street "pastings"



What do you respond to? What do you care about and think about when you make art?  How will what you feel strongly about show up in your artwork?