July 31, 2011

Coffee Talk Sunday

Do you remember that SNL skit Coffee Talk? As I'm drinking coffee and reading my blogs I was thinking of a topic. . . 

Have you ever incorporated a contemporary artist in the elementary art curriculum?
Who was it and how did you do it?


BLOG, We'll Talk, No Big Whoop. 

18 comments:

Unknown said...

Feel free to make your own coffee talk topics on your blog. I'll comment :)

Susan Bivona, Art Teacher said...

Did you see this post from ART 21?
http://blog.art21.org/category/teaching-with-contemporary-art/

Unknown said...

Well, my favorite contemporary artist was and still is Laurel Burch, tho' she's passed on to the big art room in the sky, rest her soul. I love doing jungle and cat projects based on her art with TONS of patterns. I also really admire David Hockney's landscapes and have done a compare/contrast landscape project with him and Grant Wood. Both have been extremely successful.

Marcia Beckett said...

I try to incorporate art history in to most all of my art lessons. The whole lesson might not be entirely about the artists, but I show a part of it. Denise Fleming: http://vividlayers.blogspot.com/search/label/paper%20pulp%20pictures

Faith Ringgold: http://vividlayers.blogspot.com/2011/05/memory-drawings.html

a variety of artists who do art about water: http://vividlayers.blogspot.com/search/label/underwater

We will also take trips to the local art museum once in awhile and then we will talk about the contemporary art we see there as well.

Unknown said...

Love the links:) Thanks!!

Mr. E said...

One of my jobs for the curriculum rewrite back in 2007 was to come up with a contemporary artists list that was sorted by theme based/big ideas. For our latests curriculum rewrite...I updated the list. THERE IS SOOOOO MUCH OUT THERE!!!! And they aren't a bunch of old dead white guys!!!!! :) ha ha It takes a lot of searching, but it is worth it to bring the diversity to your teaching.

Unknown said...

Oooooh! I wish you could share it ;)

Unknown said...

Thanks Susan I just briefly checked it out I'll have to look into art 21 more. I know if I taught middle I would definitely already be using it! There is a lot of art 21 that could be used for elementary that I have to include. Never knew they had a blog too!!
Pat, I never did Laurel Birch yet. . . I'm putting it on my list maybe 2nd grade? DAVID HOCKNEY'S LANDSCAPES ahhhh love it. . . why have I not taught him! Every year gets better. I keep the old projects that are too fun and important to lose then get to add new ones. I love the freedom we have within the curriculum.

Marcia I do Faith too. . . last year I didn't because I was gone in March (which seems like the month I always teach her in.) that kind of worked though because I think I want to start teaching her in grade 3 instead of grade 2. Now that the grade 2 didn't see Faith last year they will be introduced in grade 3. I do quilts in the whole month of March. It sort of just snowballed that way. . . with Faith, underground railroad quilts (which have such a rich story) the crazy quilts last year. . . maybe I'll do textiles all February and March this year. . . quilts (contemporary and historic) and all those great weaving projects that have been coming up.

Christie - Fine Lines said...

We used San Diego artist Kim MacConnel and Pasadena artist, Steve Roden for these 1st grade collages. It really would work with any grade level. It was one of the kids'
favorite projects!! I like using local artists because then the kids can potentially see the artists' work in exhibitions.

http://kids-finelines.blogspot.com/2011/03/happy-words-scramble-results.html

Angie said...

We studied Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson for collage. Awesome website for students, too. http://aminahsworld.org/

We studied Red Grooms' Carousel when I taught in TN, drawing famous people as a carousel person. Actually, i think I might teach him again.

And, of course, Faith Ringgold and Chuck Close. I know there are others, can't think right now. I would like to study Sandy Skoglund this year, but I haven't figured out what exactly yet.

Mary said...

I love the work of Jesse Reno. I especially think boys in the tough age of 9-14 really respond to his style. I have a skateboard design idea with his style on my back burner.

Katie Morris said...

I totally missed that your blog split until today! Two of my favorite projects with contemporary artists:

Hanoch Piven-
http://artteacheradventures.blogspot.com/2010/11/4th-grade-piven-inspired-self-portraits.html

Andy Lakey-
http://artteacheradventures.blogspot.com/2011/06/2nd-grade-tactile-paintings.html

Unknown said...

Sorry Katie I had lamamomma blog which was AWESOME but it was so personal (and funny) and I had to get rid of it because there were some stalkers on it:) Fortunately stalkers don't comment on art project stuff. Good ONES!!! This is turning into quite a list! Maybe in a while I'll have to set up a new post with links and pics???

Unknown said...

Mary just checked out Jesse sooooo cool! Let me know (us know) what you do with him. . . I'm at a lost. Maybe I'm not having a creative day but I'm drawing a blank!!! Can't wait to see your idea!

Unknown said...

Christie/fine lines: LOVE that project I remember thinking I loved that when you did it.

I "pinned it" too! That's a keeper.

Unknown said...

Wow Angie that site is amazing. Have you seen any of her books? Would you recommend any?

Katie Morris said...

That would be great, I like lists like that!

Anonymous said...

I did Chuck Close with older elementaries, and used George Rodrigue-inspired dogs for younger elementaries and Laurel Burch cats for olders. Wayned Thiebaud is my favorite pop artist, and the kids are always in awe to find out his age! When school starts we will be taking inspiration from contemporary aboriginal artists Danny Eastwood and Susan Betts. I find contemporary artists to be very accessible for the students!