Polynesian Motif in Contemporary Art
Lesson Overview
Big Idea
Stories about places are told through legends or myths. By deconstructing the elements of the story using contemporary interpretations, symbols, and metaphor a story can be shared visually.
Essential Questions
What does it mean to make a myth or legend contemporary?
How can we deconstruct a story to derive symbols that communicate personal viewpoints?
How can artists share personal interpretations of legends visually with others?
Evidence of Understanding
Students will use traditional Hawaiian legends, or those from other cultures, in contemporary visual expressions.
By deconstructing the elements in the story, and personal memories or encounters with those same familiar places, symbols will be created and used in art work.
Instructional Learning Experience Number One
Show students art work by Hawai'i visual artist, Carl F. K. Pao. His 16 panel series depicting his interpretation of the creation legend, Kumulipo, is an example of a contemporary artist's approach to working in the present day with a traditional story. Pao has an extensive body of work worthy of viewing at this point. In particular, the pieces he created for the Pacific command Headquarters in Honolulu, Hawai'i use space, color, and rhythm in patterns of design that express character.
Students can write their reflections on Pao's work in their visual arts journals.
Instructional Learning Experience Number Two
Students will work in small groups to read legends about local places they know. They will write in journals to reflect on their understanding of the story.
Students will have a conversation in the small group to deconstruct the story so they can discover the meanings and elements that inspire them. A story map or a list of questions can be devised by the teacher to focus these conversations.
Individually they will create iconographic symbols based on their reflections of the reading. They will sketch these symbolic interpretations of elements from the story in their visual art journals. They can share their reflections and preliminary drawings with their small group.
Students may create one or more symbols to represent their interpretations of the story. They will transfer their sketches with carbon paper onto cardboard, then create printing blocks using twine and glue to raise the surface of their design in relief. They can paint the background before or after blocking in their prints. Additional overpainting and layering with media of choice will result in a final art work.
Mulberry paper, or other paper, will be used and finished work can be mounted on foam core board with spray adhesive or double sided tape and varnished when dry.
Assessment
Formative Assessments: Written or drawn story elements in their visual art journal.
Discussion of legends in small groups should yield several sketches of elements to be refined into final iconographic symbols.
Journals can be used to communicate with students by comments on post-it notes regularly.
Summative Assessment: Artist's statement to reflect on process and outcomes of art work. Rubric for final art piece may incorporate how design elements learned previously were used (motif, proportions, symmetry, balance, etc).
Peer-assessment will be handled in the small groups and in an art walk exhibit to display final works. Comment sheets will ask the question: Which design elements are used in this piece? How was a motif created from the story elements? Give all students an opportunity to respond to others.
Materials
Traditional legends on local places
visual arts journals
story map
pencils
cardboard
twine
glue
scissors
acrylic paint
crayons
colored tissue paper
mulberry paper, or other soft textured paper
foam core board
spray adhesive
varnish
Computer to view art work
Web links to view art work by Carl Pao:
http://web.mac.com/amtamaira/Site_8/Pacific_Command_HQ.html
http://web.mac.com/amtamaira/CarlFKPao_/Home.html
kumulipo legend and artwork by Carl Pao:
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:Qttffa0Ld9QJ:beta.nmp.gov.tw/main/07/7-3/3-2/2-18/8.pdf+carl+f.+k.+pao&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESg09i-8rcoojsferxK6p9r77smReKs-5IkUM_Re-PDmwIpQbhfJB7x5W7GG8NVEXR0a5nQgK9-2ZYHTZFYs_tfwFCl2z43dsgNi43J9TQGgckoxRDr4aqOZCXiML1VREbhq6AsZ&sig=AHIEtbT1k7U56KZIteloaU1Innfp_IMmcw
Book with legends from Kaua'i, Hawai'i:
Wichman, Frederick B. More Kaua'i Tales. Honolulu: Bamboo Ridge Press, 1997.