Unit 2: Relationships
Artist: Mary Cassatt
Portraiture: Printmaking
Artist: Rene Magritte
Surreal Journey Postcards: Collage
Artist: Do Ho Suh
Pop-Up Homes and Habitats: Mixed Media
Unit 2: Relationships Reflection
Unit two focused on the big idea of relationships. We looked at works of art by Mary Cassatt, Rene Magritte, and Do Ho Suh to build an understanding of their relationships within their art before we went to work. Working with the print making was my favorite art piece from this unit, I actually ended up making two projects and I foresee myself making more in the future as a leisurely activity. My focus for this piece is my dog Gus and it shows the carefree relationship we have. Every where I go, Gus follows. He's my best friend. "We compress years of experience, thought, and emotion into a few compact narratives that we convey to others and tell to ourselves" (Pink, 2006, p. 115), in a way I feel that this piece was a narrative of the relationship I have with my dog. During the Rene Magritte pieces I really enjoyed the collaboration that was done with my peers. Beginning this project I had all these different ideas flowing when I was looking through the magazines and I was a little upset when I learned I had to give the pictures I had found to others. However the final product came together and showed a story I had not ever imagined. After reflecting upon this experience I thought it really demonstrated Bang's (2000) discussion, "I had read a lot and thought a lot about what went on in pictures, but largely things seemed to either 'work' or 'not work' for unrelated reasons" (pg. 42). In this case all the different elements came together and worked very effectively. When working to create my own transportable 'home', inspired by Do Ho Suh I focused on my relationship with the outdoors and how comfortable I feel when I'm sitting out in a blind. There is no place I can appreciate the outdoors and all of it's beauty while also having quality alone time.
Throughout all of these pieces I feel I discovered a new side of my current relationships. I think that any of these three pieces of art could be used in a general education classroom. I think the Mary Cassatt art is a way for students to show a bit into their life outside and get to know one another. I think that the Rene Magritte piece would be awesome to allow students to work together and portray their interpretation on a topic such as the Civil War, this would hold students accountable by their peers. I am still working to discover my own interpretation on how I would use the Pop-up in my classroom.
Bang, M. (2000). Picture this: How pictures work. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books LLC.
Pink, D.H. (2006). A Whole new mind. New York, NY: Penguin Group Inc.
Throughout all of these pieces I feel I discovered a new side of my current relationships. I think that any of these three pieces of art could be used in a general education classroom. I think the Mary Cassatt art is a way for students to show a bit into their life outside and get to know one another. I think that the Rene Magritte piece would be awesome to allow students to work together and portray their interpretation on a topic such as the Civil War, this would hold students accountable by their peers. I am still working to discover my own interpretation on how I would use the Pop-up in my classroom.
Bang, M. (2000). Picture this: How pictures work. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books LLC.
Pink, D.H. (2006). A Whole new mind. New York, NY: Penguin Group Inc.