Project Principle: Thinking "outside the box" is something that artists are asked to do every day. There are some artists that take the box and completely redefine the possibilities of what can happen outside the box. Some artists even simply blow up the box and disregard it completely. Cai Guo-Qiang is just such an artist. His work in all fields, drawing, painting, sculpture, and even art as events (performance art or kinetic temporary sculpture) has redefined the entire concept of contemporary art. He takes risks physically, socially, artistically, and personally with his work. In this project, we will look at the possibilities inherent in art making on levels that may be foreign or scary to you.
Discussion Questions: What is the most frightening thing about making art? What gets your adrenaline rushing during the art making process? Is there any type of art that you want to try but have been reluctant to do so? Is art cathartic because it asks us to take risks?
Activity 1: The Chinese Avant Garde artist Cai Guo-Qiang works with interesting and frequently dangerous materials. Watch the PBS video documenting his work (see button below). During the video, take notes on what most interested you about his process. Use these notes during discussion in class.
Activity 2: As a class, we will separate into groups of five. In this group, you will discuss and decide on a central theme for an art piece. The piece is to commemorate a world tragedy within your lifetime. How will your group construct a work of found object sculpture to best exemplify this tragedy? Determine what objects you would need to do this. Assign each group member to acquire certain objects (try and think what you may have at home that would accomplish the task). Bring the objects in the following day of class.
Activity 3: Using the objects gathered, the group will begin assembling the sculpture that you all have designed. During the process of building the sculpture, you will take pictures of the process (include scans of sketches and brainstorming ideas).
Activity 4: The group will create and present a Power Point (or Prezi, Google doc presentation) of the work in progress. The group will guide the class through the project, its significance, and how it this conglomeration of objects exemplifies the tragedy chosen by the group.
Rubric for Presentation
Rubric for Found Object Sculpture
Discussion Questions: What is the most frightening thing about making art? What gets your adrenaline rushing during the art making process? Is there any type of art that you want to try but have been reluctant to do so? Is art cathartic because it asks us to take risks?
Activity 1: The Chinese Avant Garde artist Cai Guo-Qiang works with interesting and frequently dangerous materials. Watch the PBS video documenting his work (see button below). During the video, take notes on what most interested you about his process. Use these notes during discussion in class.
Activity 2: As a class, we will separate into groups of five. In this group, you will discuss and decide on a central theme for an art piece. The piece is to commemorate a world tragedy within your lifetime. How will your group construct a work of found object sculpture to best exemplify this tragedy? Determine what objects you would need to do this. Assign each group member to acquire certain objects (try and think what you may have at home that would accomplish the task). Bring the objects in the following day of class.
Activity 3: Using the objects gathered, the group will begin assembling the sculpture that you all have designed. During the process of building the sculpture, you will take pictures of the process (include scans of sketches and brainstorming ideas).
Activity 4: The group will create and present a Power Point (or Prezi, Google doc presentation) of the work in progress. The group will guide the class through the project, its significance, and how it this conglomeration of objects exemplifies the tragedy chosen by the group.
Rubric for Presentation
Rubric for Found Object Sculpture