Project/Unit description/Expedition: Students will be exploring the purpose of masks, and how decoration, shape, and texture play a role in conveying that purpose. Students will be taking inspiration from masks of different cultures to design a mask of their own.
Essential Understanding. Artists observe masks of different cultures to explore purpose in design. Artists explore purpose to create a work of art. Inquiry/Learning target.
Given prompts students will be able to create sketches that represent purpose behind their design.
Given examples of artwork, swbat discuss what the difference between different cultures masks, and why they might have been made. (Japanese, Inuit, Native American, Chinese, African, and Italian.)
Key Concept(s). Observe,Create ,Purpose,Culture
Skill(s). Ideation, Planning, Compare and Contrast
Art Focus. Students will discuss purpose and design between different cultures masks. Students will then take inspiration from those masks, to create purpose within their own work. Literacy Focus. Students will be given prompt worksheets to explore how they will portray purpose within their own masks. Worksheet will break down students planning into purpose, elements, and examples.
Documentation:
To the left a student is ideating potential purposes for his own mask creation. He describes in the video below that he will "use a lot of color to scare away evil spirits." This was demonstrated as used by Japanese cultures in their mask making. Other potential purposes for his mask are to "calm himself down." In addition to calming the student down he stated "he wants the mask to attract kind spirits and good luck." We are excited to see the mask come into it its 3D form.
This student below is shown assigning purposes for their masks. This student has following the Italian example of a mask purpose by "being able to use it for a party." He had stated that he had traveled to Italy and liked the Venetian Masks. In addition, the student has created his own purpose for his mask help him feel the power of nature. The student was deliberating how he was going to use visual elements to channel these powers in his creation.