Knock on My Door Sculpture
Submitted by: Linda McLean
Media Specialist / Art Teacher
Title: Knock on My Door
Presenters: Cindy Scarpace & Linda McLean
Grade: 5th; Unit: Sculpture
Time Needed: 2 or 3 Sessions
Enduring Idea: Students will study the famous Detroit Artist, Tyree Guyton
Michigan Benchmarks:
All students will
1. Apply skills and knowledge to perform in the arts
2. Apply skills and knowledge to create in the arts
3. Analyze, describe and evaluate works of art
4. Understand, analyze, and describe the arts in their historical, social, and cultural contexts
5. Recognize, analyze, and describe connections between the arts and everyday life
Creativity Connection:
Students discuss the different opportunities in life. What is your path in life? What does it mean to “walk through any doorway?"
Vocabulary:
Detroit Artist - Tyree Guyton, Doors of Opportunity, artist feelings, artist vision, group sculpture, 3/D
Visual Aids:
The Heidelberg Project: A Street of Dreams
Tyree Guyton
Materials:
5 x 11 (12.7 x 28 cm) corrugated cardboard, 8 x 11 (20.3 x 28 cm) white Drawing Paper
Optional - inspirational words - stamps such as; Joy, Believe in yourself, Live, Love, Laugh, Take Time to Smell the Roses, Harmony, Believe in your Dreams. ☺
Different colored stamp pads. See bibliography for more books on the Heidelberg Project.
Procedure:
Read selected poems from The Heidelberg Project: A Street of Dreams by Linda K. McLean
Discuss Tyree Guyton’s artwork. The poet’s feelings and the artist’s visions of the artwork. What does “The Door of Opportunity" mean? What was Tyree Guyton’s dream?
Students sketch on 8 x 11 (20.3 x 28 cm) white paper the ideal door for their future, their opportunity in life. Select colors to be painted. What visions are behind their artwork?
Students paint one side of 5 x 11 (12.7 x 28 cm) corrugated cardboard.
The next class, paint the other side of cardboard. After paint dries, use oil pastel, or mixed media for their message. Use scrap 2 x 2 (5 x 5 cm) cardboard for stand with slit, so 5 x 11 (12.7 x 28 cm) cardboard will dry both sides if necessary.
Discuss movable art. Make 2 slits in each cardboard to make into a class sculpture (or grade level)
Optional - add inspirational words on door with a stamp or hand written such as; A Street of Dreams, The Dots, The Doors of Opportunity. Students write a poem about their door. Bind poems into a booklet.
Assessment:
Did students have a deep understanding of their door? Did their poem explain their artwork?
Lesson © Linda McLean & Cindy Scarpace
