Serving Art Educators
and Students Since 1994
Guyton Style Ceramic Shoes
Submitted by: Linda McLean
Media Specialist / Art Teacher
Title: Walk A Mile In My Shoes
Presenters: Linda McLean& Cindy Scarpace
Grade: 3-5; Clay Imprints
Time Needed: 2 or 3 Sessions
Enduring Idea:
Students will study the famous Detroit Artist, Tyree Guyton to understand his theme of shoes on Heidelberg Street.
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:
Student imagine what it would be like without shoes. Think about the many feet that have walked for Civil Rights in this country.
Vocabulary:
Detroit Artist - Tyree Guyton, poet’s feelings, artist’s vision, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Civil Rights, soles, souls, tread, imprint, symbol, texture, design.
Procedure:
Read selected poems from The Heidelberg Project, A Street of Dreams, by Linda K. McLean (pages 4 & 19). Additional books: Rosa, or If A Bus Could Talk (see bibliography).
Discuss Tyree Guyton’s artwork. Discuss the poet’s feelings and the artist’s visions of their work. What does “The Souls of the Most High” mean? What was Tyree Guyton’s vision in “We Walk in Peace?”
Display the different shoes that are on hand and what they are used for i.e. a worker boot, a stiletto, a tennis shoe, etc.
Look at the sole of the shoe for patterns. Demonstrate making an imprint of a sole pattern onto clay slab. Show how to use a clay tool to cut the shape of a shoe. Place a small hole at the top of the shoe form. Stamp with inspirational words if desired.
Students follow the example and let the clay dry.
Next session, glaze and/or decorate the shoe before firing in the kiln.
Attach final shoe form to a cord for necklace.
Visual Aids:
The Heidelberg Project: A Street of Dreams
Tyree Guyton
Optional books: Rosa
Materials:
Collection of old shoes of various purposes, some with interesting sole designs.
Moist Clay, Clay Modeling Tools
Optional - inspirational word- stamps such as; Joy, Believe in yourself, Live, Love, Laugh, Take Time to Smell the Roses, Harmony, Believe in your Dreams. Peace.
Assessment:
Are students’ projects in the shape of a shoe? Is there texture, color, and design on the final product? Can student describe the symbolism of the shoe?
