American Art (1900’s to present)

In this unit students will explore a mixture of different art movements starting after World War I (1920’s). Storytelling is the main theme for many of the American artists either through building the narrative from the subconscious or from personal stories. The artists and art movements that we will examine in this unit several artists that share their stories through fine art and craft.

Part 1: Research

Students will have two sets of readings and each reading will have questions. Both sets of readings will be on the test for this section.

1) American Storytellers Scholastic Art Magazine and Questions to go with Reading.

American Storytellers Questions in Google Classroom

2) Between the time of 1920-1940’s the world was changing due to many factors: economic, war, technology and human rights. Dada, Surrealism, and the Harlem Renaissance art movements expressed a lot of the change and mindsets of the time.

Slide Show Reading form DADA, Surrealism, and Harlem Renaissance.

To access the questions go to google classroom.

Part 2: Plan and Problem Solve

Materials: Sketchbook, pencil, eraser, and phone camera.

Create a rough idea for your collage, that is inspired by American Storytelling artists. Students can also use the Dada, Surrealism, and/or Harlem Renaissance art movements for their inspiration. This is going to be a collage project In your sketchbook, the theme will be based on a poem or song that inspires you. Once you find a poem/song print it out. Then, draw a quick contour line drawing and take a photo of it. Share it with me on google classroom under “rough sketch idea for collage”

The Poetry Foundation- Poets of the Harlem Renaissance

What will be your inspiration for your collage? Will you get inspiration from our current news, personal experience or dream, a song, poem, or a book?

Make sure to include the Poem or Song Title and artist name.

My inspiration for the collage came from a poem by Georgia Douglas Johnson “The Heart of a Woman.”

Part 3: Creating a Collage

Materials: Sketchbook, scissors, ruler, markers, pens, pencils, color paper, magazine, newspaper, ink drawings, fabric, computer images, and more.

The collage is an example of building up the composition with mixed media. In this collage you will use paint, paper, and images to create a collage based on a poem or song.

Here are some examples of interesting collages that may inspire your work.

In your sketchbook, on a clear sheet of paper free of any other drawings or sketches, students will create a unique collage based on the three art movements above. Fill the whole sheet of 9×12 paper.

Instruction video of Teacher creating collage.

Part 4: Document Process

Take a photo of your artwork and share on your weebly.