Installation Art Workshop

 

 

Month #1: (4 hours weekly)

The focus of the first half of the month will be to give the students specific class assignments where they can become comfortable to express themselves in various materials. The second half of the month will be composed of an Image Lecture, further class assignments and a field trip. Throughout the month there will be class discussions, which will be a crucial component in helping the students develop ideas and express them in words.

 

 

 

Week #1:

 

Part #1: Pass out 4 materials and tell the students to express their thoughts with them. Maybe give them some sample ideas of what the materials can do. The purpose of this assignment is to help them channel their imagination and creativity. 

 

Part #2: Do a class critique. Give each student the opportunity to speak about the ideas and intentions behind their artwork. Then open the discussion to rest of the class where the students can give their opinion. At this point, they have little historical background, but it is a way to have them not feel confined by the “right” and the “wrong” but to learn how to naturally turn to any material for self-expression.

 

Which materials:

1-Clothes bottons

2-Paper

3-Cotton or Q-tip

4-Blue paint (goache)

 

Note: (Have glue and tape available)

 

 

 

Week #2:

 

Part #1: Have them do a project using 3 materials. The purpose of this assignment is to continue to help them channel their imagination and creativity and go beyond what is considered an “acceptable” form of expression.

 

Part #2: Do a class critique. Give each student the opportunity to speak about the ideas and intentions behind their artwork. Then open the discussion to rest of the class where the students can give their opinions.

 

Materials:

1-Text  (newspaper, collage, writing with ink, paint, grafitti)

2-Number (can be repetition, written as a number)

3-Rope

 

Note: (Have glue and tape available)

 

Week #3

 

Part #1: Using the floor and the wall use 3 materials to do artwork. This is to teach them how to use the architecture with materials.

Part #2: Do a class critique but this time have the students say what they see in the piece and then the artist can respond.

 

 

Material:

1-Fabric

2-Paint

3-Balloons

4-Sand/Earth

 

Note: (Have glue and tape available)

 

 

 

 

Week #4

 

Part #1: Do an Image Lecture accompanied by a brief history of Installation Art.

 

*Use the digital library, Mary’s video and do some research at the ICB Library to prepare Image Lecture. Preferably, present the material through visuals and have a description of the concept of each piece as well as describing it. (Size, Materials, Mediums)

 

Part #2:  Have 12 objects present and have the children write the feelings and associations they have with each object.

 

Materials by the Teachers Suggestions:

1-Cactus branch

2-Earth

3-Thread

4-Stone

5-Soap

6-Paper

7-Fabric

8-Old shoes

9-Watch/Clock

10-Umbrella

11-Mirror

12-Number: 13, 3, 5

13-Lipstick

 

 

*As part of the third week or an additional one hour in the week

 

Part #3: Take a trip to the zouk, local supermarket, and/or a walk around the city and have them write down names of materials they would like to use. Encourage them to observe their environment. (look at recycled materials, abandoned objects in the street) This is a way to have them develop the habit of finding new means of expression rather than going always to the conventional art shop. Also encourage them to look around their house. Like looking in the kitchen, bathroom, closet, and so forth and writing down names of materials that they would like to use in a project.

 

Note: Since most students have backgrounds in sewing, embroidery and carpentry discuss how these skills can be applied in making the installation.

 

 

Installation Art Workshop

 

 

Month #2

This month will be about accessing the project of each school and defining it through a plan.

 

 

Assignment: Each school needs to pick an emotion that they will convey through materials to address various themes.

Example: Fear, Frustration, Love, Sadness, Happiness, Jealousy, Passion, Pain, Anger, Sympathy, Joy, Pleasure, Desire, Shame,

Humiliation, Temptation

 

 

Week #1: (4 hours) The aim of this session is to figure out which emotion the project will be based on and ideas of how to realize it.

 

Part #1: 1-Have a class discussion on types of emotions. Then choose the three dominant ones and do a vote to determine the chosen topic.

*80% of the class should be the students expressing their ideas.

Part #2: Then in groups of two have the students discuss the properties of that emotion through “cultural, social, religious, spiritual, political” connotation and meanings.

 

For example:

Through “humiliation” or through “desire” how can we address themes about the human condition?

When you think of joy, what days of your life do you remember?

When you think of pain, what comes to mind?

 

Part #3: Then have each group share their ideas and have a class discussion. Appoint someone to take notes.

 

 

Week #2: (4 hours) The aim of this session is to do preliminary sketches, determine material and budget.

 

Part #1: Divide the class in half and have them figure out ideas of materials that can be used to describe that emotion.

Part #2: Then discuss these ideas as a class.

Part #3: Divide the class in half and have them come up with sketches. They need to understand a sketch is just the draft and not the final project. Come up with a budget and have material list for falling week.

 

 

Week #3: (4 hour) The aim of this session is to assign each student a component of the installation and to continue drafting sketches.

 

-Every student needs to identify which part of the installation they want to work on. Use sketch as guide but know it is an idea in motion. Nothing is fixed until you start to work on it.

 

 

Week #4: (4 hours) Continue to work on the installation.

 

Part #1: Continue to work on project for the next hours.

Part#2: Do a class discussion to figure out what is needed.

 

 

Week #5: (4 hours) Do final touch and complete the installation