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| beckyguinn.org |
Today in Art class we discussed ways to help the community through art. How in the world can a visual artist serve others through creativity? Bringing beauty to others is one way (painting a mural, making a gift or a card...). Teaching your craft to someone is another way to help. Reaching out to a person in need to provide a walking cane, or even a home, are also ways that artists can help their communities. You can even use your art to expose an injustice, like photographer Charles Lee Moore did during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's.
Below are listed a few Alabama artists unique in their ability to serve others; click on the links to view the videos.
- Becky Guinn, Vimeo
- Artist Loses Hands, Feet, But Not Talent, CBS Evening News
- Walking By Faith: Becky Guinn, CBS 19 News
Art teacher Becky Guinn survived a medical crisis after suffering a severe allergic reaction: her arms and legs had to be amputated, but that didn't stop her from going back to the classroom or from continuing to paint! For years after she retired, she even had a program called "Hooked On Art" where she drove all over the state to provide art education for students whose schools had no art program. Here are several short videos about this amazing lady:
Larry Allen talks about beauty in this video shot by Mrs. Nichols in his studio in Leeds. Some time ago, a group of troubled students attending an alternative school visited him in his studio. This is what he told them: "Being in art, you have the power to create whatever kind of universe you want. Even if you are surrounded by ugliness, you can create beauty." We are so appreciative of Mr. Allen sacrificing his time to spend the day sharing his expertise with us a few weeks ago! (Here is a video of Mr. Allen's classroom visit to HMS.)
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| Charles Lee Moore took this famous photograph of Dr. Martin Luther King being arrested. Photo credit: npr.org |
Charles Lee Moore, (1931-2010), was a civil rights photographer from Hackleburg, Alabama. This video from PBS is called, "I Fight With My Camera." Mr. Moore's pictures made history when people from all over the world were shocked to see images of peaceful protestors being treated with violence. This artist was able to spotlight a great injustice, showing the world the truth of what was happening in Alabama in the 1960's. When he met Dr. Martin Luther King, he knew immediately that this man would make a difference, but he didn't know that his own photographs would make a difference! (Encyclopedia Britannica biography)
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| photo credit: al.com |
"Santa" Jack York is a wood carver from Anniston, Alabama. He creates original designs for walking canes, toys, and Christmas ornaments. One of the things he loves to do is to give his hand-carved canes to veterans who have been injured in the line of duty. (video clip is from "Absolutely Alabama With Fred Hunter," Fox 6 News) Here is another article at al.com.
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| photo credit; ruralstudio.org |
Samuel Mockbee was an architect who started the Rural Studio, an architecture training program at Auburn University. What is so special about training future architects? The program requires students to both design AND build homes for people in need in the surrounding community. They also build churches and community centers, sometimes using recycled materials such as tires, hay bales, and car windows! This video is from "Absolutely Alabama With Fred Hunter," but here is another one on Youtube: Rural Studio; Love Stories. You can read more about Samuel Mockbee at this website: Encyclopedia of Alabama.
If you were absent and need to complete today's assignment, here it is:
*I can be a respectful listener during the "Careers In Art; Alabama" videos.
*I can be a respectful listener during the "Careers In Art; Alabama" videos.
*I can answer the question, "How does visual art make the world a better place?"
*I can write a statement about how each of these artists serve their community after I view the video clips:
1. Painter Becky Guinn
2. Potter Larry Allen
3. Photographer Charles Lee Moore
4. Wood Carver "Santa" Jack York
5. Architect Samuel Mockbee, the Rural Studio
Here are just a few more Alabama artists who use their talents to help others:
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| photo credit: rickytrioneart.com |
Ricky Trione, a painter who lost his eyesight, travels to different schools to teach children about art.
- Ricky Trione's Inspirational Art, Reflections of a Blind Painter, Youtube
- Ricky Trione Fairhope Artist, Youtube
- Artist Ricky Trione of the Bay Rivers Art Guild - Mr. Ricky shows us exactly how to create a painting "blind."
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| photo credit: artlovesport.com |
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| photo credit: dsart.com |
Don Stewart goes into schools to speak to students about being an artist, and he also raises money for charity organizations by donating his artwork to be auctioned! This video is his keynote speech for the 2015 Visual Arts Achievement Program at the Alabama State Council on the Arts. One of his missions in life is to make people feel better through visual humor
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| photo credit: Prodigal Pottery |
Jamie Ankenbrandt, a clay artist, started Prodigal Pottery in order to provide jobs for women escaping from abuse, homelessness, or addiction.
(Christian ministry, King's Home, video from "Absolutely Alabama With Fred Hunter") King's Home Website
(Christian ministry, King's Home, video from "Absolutely Alabama With Fred Hunter") King's Home Website
Next week, we will be learning about fine art printmaking. This technique is a way of creating multiple originals, and each 6th, 7th, and 8th grade student will be creating art pieces to give away; bringing beauty to others in need of encouragement is one of the greatest reasons to make art!
National Core Visual Art Standards
Today's lesson met the National Core Visual Art Anchor Standards #10, #11: "CONNECTING"
Essential Question(s): How does engaging in creating art enrich people's lives?
Student Responses:
6th grade
"One way that art can make the world a better place is it inspires people. It will make them want to draw and paint and sculpt and make things pretty."
"It can calm you down and relieve stress." "Well, a painting can help tell what's going on in the world and if someone's in gloom a picture could cheer them up. It could brighten the people of the world by showing wondrous things."
"One way that visual art makes the world a better place is that it entertains."
"Visual art changed the world because it inspires people."
"Paintings can entertain people and make them laugh and probably change their emotions."
"One way visual art can make the world a better place is that it gives entertainment. Also, if we didn't have visual art we wouldn't be inspired to do greater things. Also, we wouldn't have any furniture, homes, or buildings without visual art. We wouldn't even have our school without visual art!"
"Visual art can make the world a better place by giving people a new perspective. People who thought one way now see another."
"If we didn't have art then we wouldn't have nothing because people had to make things for us like clothes, houses, etc. So, art is super important because we need things to live."
"Without art, the world would be a boring place."
"Because with visual art you can make your own world."
"Visual art can make the world a better place by making it more creative and beautiful."
"Visual art makes the world a better place because seeing beautiful art shows how talented some people are, so it makes people realize how grateful they are, and if we didn't have art we wouldn't have life. Everything in the world is a piece of art."
Grade 7:
"Art inspires people; without it, we would all be sad... no t-shirt designs and no movies."
"Art makes the world a better place because it shows how the world is such a beautiful place and we're ruining that."
"One way visual art can make the world a better place is by communicating and spreading happiness."
"Art can communicate and heal one another. And art makes the world brighter; it also inspires."
"Visual art can make the world a better place if the art makes you smile or happy when you look at it."
"It can change people's lives with expressionism."
"Visual art can change the world because through art people can express their feelings, even if they're good or bad."
"Visual art can change the world by helping people realize many things, keeping joy in many people's lives, expressing feelings in an easier way, and may bring people together."
"It makes the world a lot more fun and beautiful, and it keeps our lives from getting boring."
"Visual art can make the world a better place because it can inspire people or make their attitudes change and make them feel better. It can also help people feel like they can express their feelings by looking at art, or making art."
"Art can make the world a better place. Brightly colored beautiful paintings on the side of buildings can make people happy and they could tell others and make them happy and when people are happy they have a good attitude and everyone needs a good attitude."
8th grade
"Visual art make the world a better place because it makes people unite whether or not they have the same beliefs."
"Art can make the world a better place because it's beautiful. Artists can make something beautiful out of ugliness."
"Visual art makes the world a better place by giving people outlets to create shows, books, and furniture. It helps make new things we wouldn't have if art didn't exist."
"It makes the world a lot prettier. It is like our sanctuary of amazingness."
"Art makes the world a better place because it shows how the world is such a beautiful place and we're ruining that."
"One way visual art can make the world a better place is by communicating and spreading happiness."
"Art can communicate and heal one another. And art makes the world brighter; it also inspires."
"Visual art can make the world a better place if the art makes you smile or happy when you look at it."
"It can change people's lives with expressionism."
"Visual art can change the world because through art people can express their feelings, even if they're good or bad."
"Visual art can change the world by helping people realize many things, keeping joy in many people's lives, expressing feelings in an easier way, and may bring people together."
"It makes the world a lot more fun and beautiful, and it keeps our lives from getting boring."
"Visual art can make the world a better place because it can inspire people or make their attitudes change and make them feel better. It can also help people feel like they can express their feelings by looking at art, or making art."
"Art can make the world a better place. Brightly colored beautiful paintings on the side of buildings can make people happy and they could tell others and make them happy and when people are happy they have a good attitude and everyone needs a good attitude."
8th grade
"Visual art make the world a better place because it makes people unite whether or not they have the same beliefs."
"Art can make the world a better place because it's beautiful. Artists can make something beautiful out of ugliness."
"Visual art makes the world a better place by giving people outlets to create shows, books, and furniture. It helps make new things we wouldn't have if art didn't exist."
"It makes the world a lot prettier. It is like our sanctuary of amazingness."
