Faces in the 'Hood Assemblage Art

Submitted by: Linda McLean
Media Specialist / Art Teacher
Title of Lesson: Faces in the 'Hood
Grade level / Age: 3rd-6th grades; 8 - 12 year olds

Goals / Objectives:

Students will study the work of famous Detroit artist, Tyree Guyton and the iconic images of faces in his work. Students' art creations will reflect the uniqueness and sameness of all human faces.

Materials Needed:

1. 12 x 18 (30.5 x 45.7 cm) black Construction Paper or other sturdy material for background.
2. Materials suitable for collage construction of human face such as magazine photos, Felt pieces. found objects, cloth pieces, or scrap papers of various textures, etc.
3. Scissors, Tacky Glue, Drawing Pencils, White Glue

Lesson Description:

1. Read selected poems from, "The Heidelberg Project: A Street of Dreams," by Linda K. McLean (Nelson Publishing and Marketing, 2007).

2. Discuss the poems "Faces in the Hood" and "Look At Me" emphasizing the diversity of the human face and the sameness that we all share.
3. Discuss Tyree Guyton's primitive style of art and the found materials that he uses in his work.
4. Have students lightly sketch the outline of a head, neck, and shoulders on their background paper.
5. Using the collage materials, fill in the facial features, skin tone, hair, and clothing using the mosaic technique to compose a portrait of the human face.
6. Glue pieces into place with liquid glue onto the background material.
7. Optional: add words of inspiration on the portrait as noted in Guyton's works. See further information at The Heidelberg Project website.
8. Share your "Faces in the Hood" with on your own Heidelberg Street as a display in the hall or classroom.

9. See bibliography for more great books on the Heidelberg Project.

Assessment(s):

Is the student's portrait a recognizable human face?
Do students understand mosaic technique?
Can you see similarities and differences?
Can you explain the work of artist Tyree Guyton in relation to his primitive, unique expression of ideas as found within the Heidelberg Project?

National Visual Arts Standards Covered:

Standard 6: Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines.
Standard 4: Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures.
Standard 5: Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others.
Standard 1: Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes.