PYP Exhibition: Art and Activism



Teaching about art and activism can help students to become more engaged, empathetic, and creative young humans who are better equipped to address the complex challenges of the world around them. In IB Schools, the PYP Exhibition is a perfect time to use visual arts to raise awareness and change behavior in a positive way.

Why is teaching about activist art important?


-Promotes critical thinking:  By teaching about art and activism, students are exposed to new perspectives and are encouraged to think critically about the world around them and challenge dominant narratives.  This is a wonderful artistic tie-in with any DEIJ initiatives that are happening at your school.


-Fosters creativity: Creative expression can be an important outlet for students to explore their own ideas and emotions. By learning about different forms of activist art, students can be inspired to create their own works of art or engage in their own activist projects in various forms.

-Encourages civic engagement: Art and activism can be used to promote social change and address issues of inequality and injustice. By teaching about art and activism, students can learn how to use their voices and talents to make a positive difference in their communities.

-Expands cultural understanding: Art and activism can be deeply rooted in culture, and learning about different forms of art and activism can help students to better understand and appreciate diverse cultural perspectives.

-Enhances communication skills: Art and activism often involve effective communication and persuasion. By learning about different forms of art and activism, students can develop their own communication skills and learn how to effectively convey their own ideas and messages.

Each year, my students complete a 6-week unit all about Activist Art, and it culminates in a large exhibition that is also a celebration of the end of their primary school experience-- this is known as PYP Exhibition or PYPX.  Visual Arts is a key component of PYPX and a great opportunity for each child to take an issue of global significance and create a piece of conceptual art that might change minds and inspire action.


https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Creating-Activist-Art-Bundle-9294355?utm_source=Princess%20Artypants%20Blogger&utm_campaign=Blog%20PYPX
The Chains of Poverty by Evan, Grade 5


In art class, the students spend the first 3 weeks diving deep into the tools and techniques that activist artists use to play with the emotions of a viewer and make them think deeply about an issue.  By the time the second half of the unit rolls around, they have enough background knowledge about their issue (they are studying it in depth in their homeroom) to create some activist art! 


Lesson 1: Creating Deeper Meaning in Art is spent taking a look at juxtaposition, transformation and dislocation and how activist artists use these techniques to create powerful images.  

https://www.adsoftheworld.com/campaigns/biodiversity-and-biosafety-awareness-polar-bear


Lesson 2: Using Emotion to Raise Awareness Through Art is spent looking at what we call "emotional appeal" and diving into artists (and advertisers) can use images, sounds, colors etc to manipulate the emotions of their audience. 


https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/i-am-not-a-virus-how-this-artist-is-illustrating-coronavirus-fueled-racism

Lesson 3: Using Symbosl to Create Activist Art (the last lesson before we dive into their individual projects) is spent on symbolism in art.  How do artists share their message in a "non-obvious" way?  This concept can be tough for some children to grasp, so the lesson is highly scaffolded.  The students begin to think of symbols that are connected to their issue and how they can combine the symbols together. 


All 3 lessons can be found here.


Once the groundwork is laid and the students have a deeper grasp on their issue, the real fun begins.  The students take their ideas from Lesson 3 and present them in small groups to get ideas from their peers. 


Here is one example from last week: Jev's issue was the overconsumption of sugar.  He wanted to use real candy as a symbol for sugar and a dead body as a symbol for death. Immediately and thankfully, when he shared his idea the kids came up with other ideas to symbolize death (a tombstone). When Jev protested that he really wanted to make a human form his classmates suggested having a hand covered in candy wrappers emerging from the ground next to a tombstone.  Brilliant idea. The cherry on top was when the final suggestion was to write on the tombstone, "Rest in Sweets." 


https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Creating-Activist-Art-Bundle-9294355?utm_source=Princess%20Artypants%20Blogger&utm_campaign=Blog%20PYPX






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