-Will you map your physical, emotional, or intellectual life?
-What information will be contained on the map?
-What type of map will you model yours after?
-What size?
-What materials?
-What type of symbolism?

Interior, Mother and Sister of the Artist

Édouard Vuillard (French, 1868-1940)

Agrarian Leader Zapata

Diego Rivera (Mexican, 1886-1957)

Please respond to the two images above in the comments section of this post.  Responses should use each of the three types of criticism we have discussed:

• Contextual criticism
• Formal criticism
• Intuitive criticism

What is a map?  How does a map work?

Here are a couple of definitions of different types of maps…

A map is a visual representation of an area—a symbolic depiction highlighting relationships between elements of that space such as objects, regions, and themes.

Many maps are static two-dimensional, geometrically accurate (or approximately accurate) representations of three-dimensional space, while others are dynamic or interactive, even three-dimensional. Although most commonly used to depict geography, maps may represent any space, real or imagined, without regard to context or scale; e.g. Brain mapping, DNA mapping, and extraterrestrial mapping.

A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items linked to and arranged around a central key word or idea. Mind maps are used to generate, visualize, structure, and classify ideas, and as an aid in study, organization, problem solving, decision making, and writing.

A thematic map is a type of map or chart especially designed to show a particular theme connected with a specific geographic area. These maps “can portray physical, social, political, cultural, economic, sociological, agricultural, or any other aspects of a city, state, region,nation , or continent”.

What we will do:

For our next investigation you will be creating a map of your life. You will choose to map either your physical life, your emotional life, or your intellectual life.  Think about how map makers must be selective about the information they include in their maps.  They must choose only the information that is most vital.  Too much information and the viewer is overwhelmed and confused.  Too little, and the viewer can not decipher the meaning of the map.  As you think about making a map of your life, choose what information you need to include to make you map readable and insightful.  To begin this process please write a one page paper that responds to the following prompt:

Describe and detail what events/information would appear on a map of your physical, emotional and intellectual life.

Please check out the artist Stephen Cartwright for inspiration

Your sketchbook assignmnet is due Monday October 26th!!!!  Remember: You can not successfully complete this assignment in one or two nights.  You need the full two weeks we have had to truly engage your subject.  Talk to me if you have questions.

For your new assignment you will be creating five observational artworks in your sketchbook.  All five pieces will be of the same subject, and all will be completed while looking at the actual object/person/scene (NO PHOTOS!).  All five pieces you create should differ in some way. There are many options for changing each piece: different materials, different styles, different viewpoint, etc.  The only constraints you have are that each piece must be created from observation, each piece must fill the page compositionally, and each piece must be worked extensively.

In preparation for the three self portraits you will be creating, complete the following in your sketchbook for Tuesday, September 29th:

List nine figures from pop culture (fictional or non-fictional) that have impacted your sense of self, positively or negatively.

From your list of nine, select three figures that have made the biggest impact on your identity.  For each of these three figures brainstorm two or three ideas of how you could create an artwork that merges your identity with theirs in some way.  When complete, you will have six to nine ideas in total written and sketched out in your sketchbook.

REMEMBER:

Material

Process

Scale

What are you going to use?  What are you going to do to it?  How many or how big will it be?

We have all been shaped by media and pop culture.  Although their influence may not be immediately detectable, the movies, TV shows, & websites we view; the books, comics, magazines & newspapers we read; the games we play, all contribute to our individual self perception.

For our next project, we will be creating three self portraits that respond to this influence.  You will each choose three “alter-egos” based on some element of media or pop culture that has made an impact on your life and identity.  Embracing these “alter-egos”, you will create three self portraits, each of which illustrates your unique alternate identity.  How will you imagine yourself?  Do you see yourself as Batman, or Bono, or Bella Swan?

Your self portrait can be critical, humorous, or adoring.  It can be a painting, sculpture, drawing, performance, movie, photo, etc.  Be adventurous.

For further inspiration, look at the work of Cindy Sherman:

Storytelling through Wearable Art

For our newest project you will be creating a unique article of clothing or adornment that tells a story through its design and decoration.

First: We will spend time writing about a particular event in your life where you felt seriously challenged (emotionally, intellectually, or physically) but you figured out a way to succeed despite the odds.

Next: In your sketchbooks you will illustrate this event as thoroughly as possible.  From this illustration you will isolate some key visual elements, symbols that could stand alone to represent the event as a whole and your triumph.
Then: You will decide on a design for an article of clothing or adornment that you will create.  We will look at various examples from history and other cultures for inspiration.  You could look at Japanese kimono, Ghanaian Kente cloth, Indian sari, Tibetan pulu, etc.  Or you can come up with a non-traditional form of clothing: a cape, a space suit, leg warmers, etc.  Be as creative as you like.

Finally: You will create the piece from the cloth samples and then decorate it with your symbols of strength and triumph.

• A sequel is a work in literature, film, or other media that portrays events following those of a previous work.

• In many cases, the sequel continues elements of the original story, often with the same characters and settings.

• You will be creating a sequel to a great work from art history

You will:

• Choose one artwork from the images provided to research and develop a sequel to.

• Write a brief biography of the artist and talk specifically about the artwork you selected.

• Create an original artwork that reinterprets your source by continuing the story within a contemporary context.

Art Media One Sketchbook assignment:

Create 5 self portraits in your sketchbook
Minimum of 3 will be from observation
Each will focus on a different “self”
Due December 1st