The Battle of Hearts and Minds

Do you follow your heart?  Do you use your head?  

Which do you tend to do the most?

In this week's project, we will explore the age-old debate between our hearts and minds.  Let's start by reading some quotes.  Do these men seem to follow their hearts, minds or both? 

"If I create from the heart, nearly everything works; if from the head, almost nothing."

~Marc Chagall

"Don't allow your emotions to overpower your intelligence."

~Morgan Freeman

"A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination."

~Nelson Mandela

Most of us probably have different opinions on this topic, and we probably fall somewhere on a spectrum between relying on our hearts and minds when making choices.  

Just for fun, try this quiz:  

QUIZ 

What does it tell you?  How do you feel about your results? Do you agree with them or disagree?  Think about your stance on this debate.  Obviously an online quiz can't sum you up, but what do YOU think?  Are you "team brain", "team heart" or a combination of both?

Your challenge this week is to create artwork that shows us this part of your identity.  

You can do a drawing, a painting or a sculpture.  

Begin by looking at these works of art.  How do they connect with our theme?  How is the brain or the heart used in each picture, and what is the artist telling us?

Diego y Frida by Frida Kahlo

The Creation of Adam, by Michelangelo

MC Escher Print, Unknown

Three Sphi

nxes of Bikini, Salvador Dali

Caged Brain by Tyree Guyton

King Brand by Jean-Michel Basquiat

Ancient Egyptian Artwork

Brain Power and a Concert Poster for Thievery Corporation, both by Emek

Just like last week's project, you can choose your challenge level!  Your choice will not affect your grade, but you must show your best art skills. 

• Erase stray pencil lines, and keep your paper clean and smooth.
• Meet the coloring goals:  Blend colors.  Color evenly.  Use value.
• Consider your space, and use your entire page.
• Add creative details.

Level 1:  Follow the video with Ms. Ammons.  Pay homage to your heart or brain by creating an anatomical sketch.  If you need steps, follow these:  

                                      BRAIN                          HEART   

You will trace the image 4 or 6 times and each line drawing will be transformed in some way to show elements of your personality. 

This sample shows lungs.  You would do your version with the heart or the brain.
Follow along here!

Level 2 would involve you doing research to get ideas and combining images you find as resource material.  This does not mean just copy a picture.  Combine pictures or change them in ways that make them unique.  

Level 3 is to do your own thing!  If you feel confident, use this theme but choose your own direction with imagery and art tools.  Try to find a quote that connects with your work and include it in your artist's statement!

Here are some interesting articles to help with ideas:

https://www.gaia.com/article/mysteries-of-the-human-heart

https://ideas.ted.com/how-did-the-human-heart-become-associated-with-love-and-how-did-it-turn-into-the-shape-we-know-today/

To turn in work, copy this code:  WCCP-WSTF

Click here and paste the code to find your portfolio! Don't forget your artist's statement!

American Sculpture: Martin Puryear

Martin Puryear is a 79 year old sculptor who lives in New York.  He has traveled the world to study art and craft traditions, and he has received many awards for his sculptures.  

Sculptures by Martin Puryear have abstract shapes and forms. He often visited museums when he was growing up in Washington D.C.  He found a love of art, organic materials, and nature. His father was a mail man, who loved building things from wood as a hobby.  

Puryear began experimenting with wood as a teenager. He studied painting and printmaking in college and art school, but when he returned to the United States after living abroad for four years, he turned his attention to sculpture. 

He learned craft traditions of many cultures when he lived in West Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer and then in Sweden as a student.  Wood carving, boat building, basket weaving, and furniture making are just a few of the crafts he loves.  

Although he made a lot of art that looks similar to traditional baskets, he found ways to make them look enough like other things we know.  This makes them very mysterious and interesting.  Many of them look like shelters, traps or cages.   Look at these images and think about these questions:  

What is a shelter, and why would someone build one?

What is a trap, and why would someone build one?

What is a cage, and why would someone build one?

Can you think of reasons why Martin Puryear would want us to think about these structures when we see his work?  What do you think inspired him?

Check out this video to hear about one of his most famous public sculptures:  

Martin Puryear, Art 21

In this project, you will use strips of cardboard, sticks, wood or any other material you have at home to create a sculpture that resembles a basket, shelter, trap or cage.  Think of Martin Puryear's sculptures as inspiration, but experiment to make your project interesting to you.  Watch this video to see the steps demonstrated by Ms. Ammons!  

To turn in work, copy this code:  WCCP-WSTF

Click here and paste the code to find your portfolio! Don't forget your artist's statement!