Romare Bearden's 'The Block'
from the MET - "Beginning with quick line drawings of architectural details and more general overviews of the street's layout, Bearden envisioned the overall design of The Block as a series of small vignettes (simultaneously public and private, secular and spiritual, real and imagined) that one might encounter while walking the length of its eighteen-foot span. Outside on the sidewalk, and inside every building (seen through windows and imaginary cutaways in the walls), people of all ages go about their daily routines and rituals. While the finished collage contains moments of levity, enhanced by its bright colors and unexpected imagery and juxtapositions, it also acknowledges some of the harsher realities of living in an urban setting." - 'The Block' was finished in 1971, based on Bearden's time living in Harlem
Group Collaboration - this will require clear boundaries and expectations, so that the student work has enough support to emerge safely and thoughtfully. This is very much an experiment about what needs to exists structurally, and no matter what - we will learn a lot from this experience.
Day 1:
Look at Romare Bearden's work - conversation about what students notice, what parts really stand out and are familiar to them. This is a jumping off point to explore what they believe needs to be included in artwork about a neighborhood like the one they live in.
Possible neighborhood attributes:
Buildings - which include details like Windows, Doorways, Bricks
A Park - could include Trees, a Playground, a Soccer Field, a Pool
People + Animals - could include Birds, Raccoons, Group of Students, Mailman
Sky - could include Weather, Sun, Clouds, Stars, Moon
Vehicles - could include Cars, Buses, Bicycles
Road Stuff - like Streets, Stop lights, street signs
Assign a speaker for each team and have them discuss together which attribute they are most interested in being responsible for - 2 to 5 minute discussion - then return to the group to select.
*Design Challenge
Once neighborhood attributes are assigned, each team will have to work together to create a version that mirrors my mock up of each (may look very different, but use similar shapes and structures). 10 to 15 minutes
Clean up!
Final group check in about what they noticed trying to make it, what challenges came up and how they solved them. Each team shows what they made while discussing their process of discovery.
(Mock ups TBD)
Day 2:
Check in with group about what is happening, make sure we are all on the same page - look at the mock ups they made the previous week
Students will have 25 minutes to work in their teams to create the pieces of the neighborhood they are in charge of. Once a piece is finished, 1 student from each group can take it to the back wall where Mr. Pisacano will assist in the placement of each piece, to build our Community Collage Mural.
Final 10 minute call, to finish where they are and get everything that is ready onto the back wall.
Clean and Organize everything - then a debrief about what challenges came up for different students, how those challenges were worked through, what surprised students, what parts they really enjoyed etc.
Day 3:
Since 3 different classes will be working on this Collage Mural, this day is about looking at our work so far and talking (1) about what is working, what we notice and are surprised by in the piece so far and (2) what is missing/needs to be done for this piece to feel finished. There might be new ways to respond to what others have done so far that makes it more fun, or more specific. Are there people in some of the windows? A cat digging in a trash can?
Make sure each team can name what they are working on - then jump in! Mr. Pisacano will be at the back of the room to support installation of new pieces.
Clean up! Can happen earlier or later, depending on the quality of the energy in the room
Final moments to talk about what it was like working on a team, some things that worked, somethings they might do differently in the future etc.
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