Untitled,+by+Carlos+Mérida



Carlos Mérida, Mexican, born Guatemala, 1891-1984 Untitled, 1944 = = = Teachers' Responses =

Angela Hayes:


4 days. 1 day introduction of the project and giving students the handout*, they worked independently for the next 2 days, handed it in on the 4th day. A few asked questions throughout the duration of the assignment.
 * Time spent with students:**

Students were given a handout explaining that they are to create a mini-gallery show using the 2 works of art listed above and 2 new pieces of their own discovery. They have to justify their choices in no more than 1000 words, and give their show a theme or title.
 * Activity description:**

At first they freaked out thinking that they’ll never find anything to link the 2 pieces together in a theme since they looked so different. They were also worried about the time they were given for the project (only 3 working days). After they took a day to research the pieces and discussed their findings with me they seemed more at ease. In the end I think that 17 out of 19 really nailed it with their choices and the written defense of their choices.
 * Students' response: **

I think the clincher was the discussion we had on the first day that I reinforced the duration of the project. I told them that they were the salesmen of the show, that if they had the conviction that their choices made sense and that they could sell me on it then it would work. I was also a little concerned that I was pushing them time-wise, but they didn’t have any problems in the end.
 * Reflections on instructional practice:**

This project was front-loaded with an assignment where they had to curate an imaginary movie festival so they weren’t coming in cold with the idea of curating a show with a justification for the choices they made. I really enjoyed the results of this assignment because the traditional, old-hat way of having students to a comparative study in art is to give them 2 works of art to compare and contrast. We’ve done this already a couple times, but now the reason for their analysis is more authentic and has resonated in their own work and growth as artists.




 * Art Show curation (Handout*)**

Below are two different works by two different artists. Your task is to find two other works of art by two other artists that would “go” with these pieces as a mini gallery show. Why did you pick those works? How do they fit in? Justify! Remember: - Formal Analysis - Purpose and Function - Cultural Context - Conceptual and Material Significance Your justification must not exceed 1000 words. This should go in your Journal and it is due Thursday. Back to Menu