Lesson Plan 1: The Artist and Society
There is a body of writing -- words, rhymes, and journals -- that exist outside the realm of scholarship and published works. Likewise, a wealth of art has been created outside the walls of galleries, museums, and professional studios. In this unit, we will take a closer look at definitions of "art" and "artist" while raising questions about the relationship between the artist and society. The work of Henry Darger -- created in isolation, yet rich in imagery and derived in part from the popular culture of his time -- will serve as motivation for lessons that include art criticism and a creative hands-on project. » View Lesson Plan
Throughout history, people have been fascinated with ideas surrounding good and evil. These ideas are considered in a variety of art forms including fairy tales, fables, the latest books, television programs, cartoon strips and video games. Good usually triumphs over evil but not without many challenges along the way. Concluding a series of harrowing trials and complex adventures, narrated in thousands of pages of original text and several hundred compelling watercolor paintings, Henry Darger's characters, the seven heroic Vivian Girls, emerge triumphant. » View Lesson Plan