Insightful Thoughts #2

Earlier in the week I gave students some time to critically think and write about the work of Kehinde Wiley. Here are some of the insightful things our students wrote:

"When I see his artwork I see many different styles. ...his paintings are both serious and exciting."

"His artwork takes a new view on older paintings. ...his work makes me feel optimistic."

"I like in his artwork how he uses African-America people in famous poses to show they are just as equal as everyone else."

"I think the mood is kind of heroic because of the position of the horse and poses."

Students, if you did not receive the grade you would have liked on this assignment, use the comments for extra credit.

Art Classroom: Artist of the Month {September}

Kehinde Wiley

Important Vocabulary: Kehinde Wiley, Portraits, Sculpture, Social & Political Issues, Contemporary Art
Name: Kehinde Wiley
Born: 1977 (Age 34)
Nationality: American
Media: Oil paintings & marble sculptures
Artwork Inspiration: His portraits are based on photographs of young men who Wiley sees on the street. He painted men from Harlem’s 125th Street, then South Central neighborhood where he was born. Dressed in street clothes, his models were asked to assume poses from the paintings of Renaissance masters.

Insightful Thoughts

Today, I gave students some time to critically think and write about the work of Swoon. Here are some of the insightful things our students wrote:

"The mood depends on the picture, like the boy looks like he's sad or waiting for someone, the couple looks very happy, and the mermaid skeleton is happy and sad because mermaids are peaceful but the skeleton is depressing, sad, and full of death."

"I like this because she makes art out of and on almost anything, and that really stood out to me."

"She inspires me to give things a new perspective and a new view of things. She take the normal way people perceive things and changes it totally."

"I like it because it is in a bad location but mixes it with good art. It stands out in a place you wouldn't expect."

"There is nothing in the work of art that I don't like because it includes so much detail that it explains everything about it for me."

"I see a macabre looking mermaid which I find eye-catching. I love the organic and technical feel of the piece."

{Swoon in the Bushes, photo by redboy}

Art Classroom: Artist of the Month {August}

Swoon

 

Important Vocabulary: Swoon, Street Artist, Installation, Interactive Art, Printmaking & Paper Cutouts.

Name: Swoon

Born: 1977 (Age 34)

Nationality: American

Media: Printmaking & Paper Cutouts

Artwork Inspiration: Artwork usually depicts realistically rendered people, often her friends and family, on the streets in various places around the world. Usually, pieces are pasted on uninhabited locations such as abandoned buildings, bridges, fire escapes, water towers and street signs.

Other Art Projects: Interactive installations such as “The Dithyrambalina,” a hNew Orleans.