HOW TO MAKE POLITICAL ARTGr. 10 Civics, “Take Action”

FIND

YOU

R INSPIRATIO

N!

Do some research! Take a look at what's already out there. Have other artists tried to tackle this issue before? What approach did they use?

FOCU

S YOU

R ISSUE

.

Try to communicate one message only. Make sure that the point you're trying to make is singular. If you're audience doesn't get it, your art won't be effective—or it will be accessible only to a small group of people. That sort of defeats the purpose.

THIN

K OF YO

UR TARG

ET AUD

IENCE

The kind of art you make for a gallery show or gala performance is very different from commercial art. Political art, as a genre, is unique. Think about reaching as many people as possible, and making your message clear and accessible to a large audience.

BE BOLD

.

Art is meant to make people think, so don't be afraid to challenge your audience. With that being said, remember that being bold is very different from being vulgar or crude. Given that this is a high school project, not something you're making for a private gallery or performance, don't go out of your way to be offensive.)

FOLLO

W TH

E ART WH

EEVER IT TAKES YOU

Sometimes art has its own agenda. Many students who have created art pieces for this project have said that they started out the creative process with one topic in mind, but then the art pulled them in another direction and they felt that they had to switch gears. If that happens, go with it — just remember to keep your teacher up to date with the direction you’re going in.

WRITE AN

ARTISTS' STATEMEN

T

This piece is called “X.”

My inspiration for this piece was….

The reason I chose to create this was…

The materials I chose to work with were…because….

In my piece, X symbolizes / is meant to portray…

What this piece means to me is…

This should be a one paragraph summary of your work, explaining the topic you chose and why, and telling the audience about the creative process you followed while you were making your piece. You will read this to the class when your project is due.

If you’ve made a piece of visual art, the statement should be displayed next to your piece. If you're doing a performance, you could read it to the class either just before or just after.

A good site for info on how to write an artist's statement: http://www.mollygordon.com/resources/marketingresources/artstatemt/

PLEASE KEEP IT RELATIVELY SMALL

If you're creating visual art, make your piece no larger than an 11 x 16 piece of paper. If it's an object, make it no larger than a bread box. Pretty please?

AND NOW, FOR SOME MORE EXAMPLES OF POLITICAL ART…

LET’S REVIEW! Find your inspiration

Think of your audience

Focus your issue

Be bold

Follow the art wherever it takes you

Write an artist’s statement

Please keep it small