My art in the curriculum

“Illuminations one subject through another is quite different from pushing subjects together and hoping they might have something in common. The cross curricular links must be genuine and not forced. The very nature of each subject elicits a different response and understanding and skills are developed in different ways”

(Wyatts R, Cox 2007, p6)

Some examples of links to the primary curriculum, with relevant programmes of study in blue.

Literacy
"The value of English in the Curriculum? What can I say? Without English, nothing. And without good English, noting very well" (Anne Fine in Dfee, 2000, p43)

Writing and following instructions.
En3 1a Put their ideas into sentences.
En3 3a To use capital letters, full stops, question marks and to begin to use commas.
Imaginative stories involving where the snowball came from.
En1 8a telling stories, real and imagined.
En3 1a Use adventurous and wide ranging vocabulary.
En3 9b To create imaginary Worlds.
To use drama to convey scenarios involving the snowball.
Writing a recount of the day the giant snowball landed.
En3 1d Use a clear structure to organise their writing
En3 7a How word choice and order are crucial to meaning.
Interview questions for witnesses to the event.
Hot seating characters.
Work on similies and Calligrams.
Onamatopia
Poetry - Descriptive, Shape, Rhyming


Numeracy
"Maths is the study of patterns abstracted from the world around us - so anything we learn in maths has literally thousands of applications in arts, sciences, finance, health and leisure" (Professor Ruth Lawrence in DfEE 2000, P61)

Using bubblewrap for arrays.
Mathematical word problems and investigations.
3D Shape work
Ma3 2a describe properties of shapes that they can see or visualise using the related vocabulary.
Ma3 2c To create 2D and 3D shapes.
Topics involving greater than, smaller than,
Ma3 4a Estimate the size of objects and order them by direct comparison using appropriate language
Ma3 4 c Estimate, measure and weigh objects.

Science

"Science is valuable because it meshes with all our lives and allows us to channel and use our spontaneous curiosity"
(Professor Susan Greenfield in Dfee, 2000, p76)

Science Investigations and questioning
Sc1 2a Ask questions eg what if? How? Why?
Fair testing
Sc1 2d Recognise when a test or comparison is unfair.
Sc1 2h Make simple comparisons.
Sensory Exploration.
Sc1 2f Explore using sight, hearing, smell, touch... as appropriate and make and record observations.
Materials and their properties
Sc3 1a use their senses to explore and recognise the similarities and differences between materials.
How bubble wrap / sellotape is made.

Design and Technology

"Design and Technology is about making things that people want and work well. Creating these things is hugely exciting: it is an inventive, fun activity." (James Dyson in Dfee 2000, p90)

Designing and constructing sculptures
1a Generate ideas by drawing on their own and other peoples experiences.
1c Talk about their ideas.
2c Explore the sensory qualities of materials.
3c Talk about their ideas and say what they like and dislike.

ICT
Photographing the sculptures in varying locations and editing them


History
Preservation and bonding methods of previous eras.
2bIdentify differences between ways of life at different times.

Geography
Weather
Planets
The earth and it rotation.

Art
"Art and design is the freedom of teh individual, the freedom of expression and the freedom to fail without retort" Simon Waterfall,DfEE, 2000, p116)

"The arts are a creative playground for a growing mind" (Koster, 2009, p212)

Design and constructing sculptures.
Link to the work of other artists eg Mark Jenkins and Anthony Goldsworthy
5aExplore a range of starting points for practical work
Onamatopia art - Eg Lichtenstein.
5d Investigate different kinds of art, craft and design.
3a Review what they and others have done and say what they think and feel about it.
Photographs sculptures in varying locations.


I think these ideas work well as they dont push together links that dont go.
I know that i would have to make my teaching hands on in order for learning to be at its best.
According to Jensen 2001 in Koster (2009),

"The brain is capable of simultaneously processing information from many senses, we learn best when sensory, visual and spatial information are combined. Providing hands on activities stimulate the senses and make learning memorable"
(*Jensen 2001 in Koster 2009, p6)

References
DfEE (2000) The National Curriculum Handbook for Primary Teachers in England.TSO.
Koster, J, B(2009) Growing artists 4th edition. Teaching the arts to young children. Cengage Learning. Delmar.
Wyatts R, Cox, S (2007) Teaching art and design 3 -11. Reaching the standard series. Continuum International.

Chalk Boulders Moonlight Walk

Even as I have been preparing for my Viva I have found some more artists work which I feel I can relate to mine. Surprisingly, It is by, amongst other people Anthony Goldsworthy again.
It is a collection of chalk boulders (2002) produced for a moonlight walk between Cocking and Singleton, Sussex.




I like the way in some of my photographs my snowball looks as white as chalk. These constructions too remind me of snowballs. It shows how one thing can be portrayed in many ways.These sculptures do not have the title snowball, they may not be. Again it all seems to come down to perception.

I also found this Midsummer Snowball by Anthony Goldsworthy. I originally thought all of the snowballs were constructed from snow. This one is made from sheep's wool so clearly not.

Birmingham - Snowball Adventures

Yesterday I took my snowball into the heart of Birmingham City Centre.


I took a range of photographs from including my ball in a composition that was already taking place, juxta posing the object next to some of the city's landmarks, as well as asking people to interact with my ball.

In some instances I had people chasing after me to interact with my art. I was overwhelmed by the support I received whilst carrying out this project. People seemed more than willing to participate in my art making and smiles and eyes appeared to be raised wherever the snowball went.

All of the people involved are just members of the public who were around Birmingham on the day. None of them are known previously to me.

I wonder if I had chosen a different destination would the response have been so welcoming? I think the beautiful weather added to the atmosphere of the day also.

This is my favourite action shot of the day. I think it has a certain energy coming from it and i think it is really well constructed. This is totally down to the two individuals involved in the image. They seemed to really take on board the interaction and appear to be putting everything they have into it.

This is a member of the Bullring security team. He approached me after my ball was sitting alone next to the bullring and I was observing peoples reactions to it. I asked him if he wanted to interact with my art, this was stance he decided to adopt.This interests me as this seemed to be a preferred idea for a few of the men

These two Eastern European students were taking a cigarette break in the sunshine after a spot of shopping. I incorporated my snowball into the scenario and experimented with different angles. I favour this one most. I think the iamge works well. I like the way the two girls are carrying on chatting and smoking like the snowball isnt there.It has an element of humour to it.




Placing the ball in a prominant location in the city centre and observing people's responses to it.

I knew I couldn't go into the city without photographing my snowball alongside the famous Bullring bull. I think in this photograph it looks like the bull is laying the ball. I don't particularly like this image, but I think it is quite iconic as you can show people the image of the bull and they will know where the location is, and therefore will be instantly know where my snowball was at this current time.

I saw this vintage looking food stand and thought it would be wonderful to incorporate my ball into a composition with it alongside. I feel however, let down by the overlal outcome as I dont feel the result to be anything remotely riveting.

This picture was taken quite sneakily and required alot of speed and efficiency because so many people were walking by. this photograph was also taken without the balloon having any idea at all, which i thought was quite fun.

Another prominant feature of Birmingham, The Iron Man by Anthony Gormley. This piece always makes me smile because when I was at college my History of Art teacher adored it because it looks like 'it has been dropped out of the sky at an angle' This is what I remember each time I encounter or even think of it. I like the way the sculpture dominates the photograph and the similiarities between the head of the sculpture and the spherical nature of the snowball.

This picture is shocking. But this is as close to getting my snowball in a shop window as I was going to get. The fact you can see the base of the window display and the glass are what let the image down.

I placed my art here, because I like the way sphere shaped jars held sphere shaped sweets and my snowball too is a sphere. I don't feel it looks to much like a snowball in this instance though as the light is too reflective.

This is one of the fountains in Victoria Square. Because there was no water in the fountains I made the most of incorporating these features into my Birmingham images. I feel the image to be average. I am quite impartial to it.

This man really wanted to be part of my art. Gemma and I were walking around the city and he came chasing after us enquirying about what we were doing. He insisted on being part of the art.

This is one of his many frames. I like the way he appears to be really embracing the interaction.

Fun in the Sunshine :)

This is the man from the previous image sitting alongside another man. These two men did not know each other. I enjoy the way that my snowball connects them, if only momentarily.

I love the way this family unit is connected together independently but they are also all tied together through participation in my art. It looks very constructed but it isnt and I really like how happy the people appear to be.

The preferred stance for the men in Birmingham that day.

Having a snooze. This photograph makes me smileas it was different to any of the previous explorations to date.

This is another one of the photographs I particularly like. I think the fountain in the background works as well as the snowball. The two men seems to be unaware of either of the pieces of art as they sip coffee in the sun.They were more than happy to participate in my art journey.

Black and white composition with fountain.

I quite like the way the snowball looks like a head of a snowman. The structure could easily be classed as a figure when compared with the likes of sculptors such as Henry Moore.

Ball on Location.

I placed my art on the steps of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. One of the people that worked there came out. She was not happy. Ooops.

I took a few pictures of this girl who was enjoying the sunshine with her music and a book. I wanted to retain that sense of relaxation so I incorporated my art into a secenario that was already present. Again I like the way the girl appears oblivious to the construction along side her.

It took several attempts to position the snowball here. We received several chuckles and interested looks as we tried immensely to position the ball effectively. I think the trying paid off and I like the final result.If you look closely you can see the edge of Gemma's hand holding the snowball in position. It just wouldn't stay!

Overall i really enjoyed the whole experience and Gemma enjoyed accompanying me too. Definitely an enlightening experience.

Clent

Francis Alys - I thought this man was ingenious

Stills from the movie Paradox of Praxis 1 where the artist pushes a block of ice through the streets of Mexico city until it melts. A way of marking out the existence of the passing of time. I think this is an ingenious way to represent such a thing.




"Alÿs’s work starts with a simple action, either by him or others, which is then documented in a range of media. " (Tate Modern Online, 2010)


Alÿs responds to fleeting and contingent circumstances from the viewpoint of a passerby who is both involved and separate.





When Faith Moves Mountains,2000-2002

Francis Alÿs in collaboration with Cuauhtemoc Medina and Rafael Ortega.

Five hundred volunteers walk over a huge sand dune in Lima, Peru, digging with spades and shifting the dune a few centimetres as they go.They moved a 1600 ft sand dune over 4 inches from its original location.

The Green Line 2004,

Alÿs walked along the 1948 armistice line between Israel and Palestine, trailing a line of green paint behind him, and provoking commentaries on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

Other pieces of his art include releasing a fox into the National Portrait Gallery at Night and capturing its wonderings on CCTV, (Nightwatch)

This a video i found on You Tube about some of the artist's creations. It is about 4 minutes and definitely worth a look. The ideas are so varying but make total sense in my eyes to be justified as art. They are things I have never heard of before.





An Exhibition of his work will be shown at Tate Modern from the 15th June 10pounds pp. I think i will definitely be going for a look.

In the of Bruner (1979) this would be considered to be creative.

"Creativity is inventing something so unique that it is astonishing to the viwer or user and produces 'effective surprise'" (Bruner, 1979, p54)

References

Bruner (1979) in Koster (2009) Growing Artists. 4th Edition. Teaching the arts to Young Children.Cengage learning. Delmar.

Cildo Meireles

Thanks to Jaz I got sent a link to the following piece of art, I have had it for a few days now, but have just found time to write it up.

The piece i am featuring is part of a more vast piece of art, a labyrinth called Through 1983-1989/2008,by Cildo Meireles,



I have included this in my artist research as this particular aspect of the piece has quite a close resemblance to my own piece I have been working on.Although a lot more rugged and totally made of cellophane (my piece is sellotape)I was glad to have been pointed in the direction of this piece.


Here is a bit of knowledge about the 'clear sphinx' part of the piece.

" The cellophane ball, a Clear Sphinx, with which Meireles proposes a formal enigma, the mystery of soft glass. In its cell-like structure, with Clear Sphinx as its nucleus of light, this expansive installation evokes the microscopic."(Tate Modern, 2010, Online)

And my favourite part...

"The enormous ball can also be read as a cosmic metaphor, signifying the infinite, which lies at the heart of devices of limitation.
Guy Brett asks ‘Are we relieved of the social minutiae of each different barrier by the transparent abstraction we discover at the centre? Or are we reminded of the human need constantly to frame and contain experience in order to be able to live in the ferocious universe?" (Tate Modern ,2010, online)

I like the way, something so similar to my own work has been used in a totally different way and represents something totally different. It shows art is all down to interpretation.



Tate Modern Website

Ball Video

The powers that be tell me that I cannot rotate this video, but I have uploaded it because I like the way the 'snowball' looks like it is just casually walking alongside Jaz. I like the way their movements compliment each other until they gradually come to a stop together. I enjoy the way Jaz is walking oblivious in the the viewers eyes to the sculpture rolling next to him, but at the same time is quite aware of the whole scenario unfolding around him.