Artist Statements Lesson Plan

Title of Lesson: Artist Statements

Teacher: Emma Jebe
School: Prairieview-Ogden
Grade Level[s]: 5th
Date to be Taught: May 4th, 2017

Big Idea that drives Lesson/Unit:

Writing artist statements pushes students to individually reflect on their own work and further
develop their artistic identities. This reflection helps students evaluate their own artwork and
learn from it.

Key concepts about Big Idea:

Art thoughts come from those actively searching for them.
Artist statements reveal what students were trying to communicate and express through their
work.
Artist statements help students build the confidence to talk and write about all artwork, not just
their own creations.
Writing artist statements encourages students to practice talking and writing about art.

Fine Arts Goals Met by the Objectives:

VA:Cr3.1.5 Students who meet the standards understand that artists and designers develop excellence
through practice and constructive critique, reflecting on, revising, and refining work over time.
o Create artist statements using art vocabulary to describe personal choices made in art
making.

3-4 Essential Questions:

How can creativity and innovative thinking skills be developed?
How can art be used to express your identity?
How do artists grow and become accomplished in art forms?
How does collaboratively reflecting on a work help us experience it more completely?

Vocabulary Acquisition:
Artist a person who creates art
Identity condition or character as to who a person or what a thing is; the qualities, beliefs, etc.,
that distinguish or identify a person or thing
Artist Statement a general introduction to your work, a body of work, or a specific project. It
typically opens with an overview of the work's basic ideas and then goes into detail about how
issues or ideas are presented in the work.

Key Artistic Concepts:

Artist Statement
Artistic Identity

Artmaking Materials Needed:

Art Critique Cootie Catcher
Artist Statement Worksheets

Contemporary/Historical/Multicultural exemplars:

1
 Artist Statements Lesson Plan

Nick Cave; Exploring Identity Through the Arts

o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRBVoBhUv1w

Procedures:
DISCUSSION: (10 minutes)
o Schedule
First, we will watch a video about exploring identity through the arts.
Then, we will pass out our projects.
Next, we will write artist statements.
After, we will critique our works in groups.
o Ask the initial essential questions for the unit giving time for responses
o State the key concepts for the unit, explaining concept and asking questions
o Introduce and show Nick Caves Exploring Identity Through the Arts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRBVoBhUv1w
Describe how Nick Cave and his ideas contribute to the lesson
o [Student Name] Can you please pass out the Personality Portraits?
o [Student Name] Can you please pass out the Monochrome Moods paintings?
o [Student Name] Can you please pass out the Surrealist Spirit Animal paintings?
o [Student Name] Can you please pass out the sketchbooks?
DEMONSTRATIONS: (5 minutes)
o Explain the Artist Statement worksheet while giving examples.
o Explain how to use the art critique cootie catcher for when they finish their artist
statements.
ask for questions; ask if anyone needs clarification.
DESIGN/WORK SESSION: (18 minutes)
o Students will choose their favorite project (can choose from sketchbooks too).
o Students will fill out the artist statement worksheets while teacher walks around assisting
with questions or ideas when/if necessary.
Remind students to write their names on their papers.
o When students finish, they will get an art critique cootie catcher and practice critique.
CLEAN UP: (2 minutes)
o [Student Name] Can you please collect the cootie catchers and bring them here?
CLOSURE: (5 minutes)
o How can creativity and innovative thinking skills be developed?
o How can art be used to express your identity?
o How do artists grow and become accomplished in art forms?
o How does collaboratively reflecting on a work help us experience it more completely?