STANDARDS

Lexile: 1000L

Core Art Standards:

VA1: Generate artistic work.

VA8: Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.

VA11: Relate artistic works with societal, cultural, and historical context.

CCSS Anchor Standards:

R1: Make inferences and cite textual evidence.

R2: Determine central themes.

R4: Interpret words.

Essential Question: How does art preserve aspects of life?

Enduring Understanding: People develop ideas and understandings of society, culture, and history through their interactions with and analysis of art.

Vocabulary: artificial light, dreamscape, exaggerated, facial-expression, genres, grid, large-scale, mediums, monochromatic, outlined, pattern, semi-translucent, surreal

Materials: Computer or interactive whiteboard, “Graphic Organizer: Working With Light” skills sheets from Lesson Plans 1, 2, and 3.

Lesson: Contemporary Connection

Use with “Radiant Ideas."

Objective: People gain insights into meanings of artworks by engaging in the process of art criticism.

PREPARATION:

Review students’ notes from their “Graphic Organizer: Working with Light” Skill Builder Activity Sheets.

PROCEDURE:

As a class, read “Radiant Ideas,” and ask students to observe each of the artworks carefully.
Divide the class into groups or pairs. Have each group focus on one of the featured artists and artworks. Ask: How does your artist work with light? (Keegan Monaghan creates a vibrant dreamscape in a darkened room; Susan Grossman uses white pastel to portray artificial light in a cityscape at night; Chatchai Puipia creates a self-portrait with highlights and shadows that emphasize an exaggerated facial-expression.)
Engage the class in a discussion about each group’s findings.
Have students record their findings in their “Graphic Organizer: Working with Light” Skill Builder Activity Sheets.

DISCUSSION:

Compare how Monaghan and Grossman contrast darkness and light. (Answers will vary but should refer to how each artist introduces artificial light in a dark scene.)
How do Monaghan and Puipia use colors in similar ways? (Answers will vary but should refer to the way both artists use vivid colors to convey their ideas.)
Compare these works with the works by Monet on pages 4-7 and the cover.
Do you notice any similarities in how Monet and these contemporary artists work with light? (Answers will vary but should refer to the images and text.)

REMOTE LEARNING:

Using a mirror or photograph, paint or sketch your self-portrait with an exaggerated facial expression. Pay attention to where the light falls on your face. How does the light create highlights, shadows, and contours?
With paint, pencil, or found materials, create an image or collage of a dreamscape in the style of Monaghan’s The Dream. Portray the furniture and outlines of your bedroom and layer the dreamscape over the room. Consider where the light sources in your room are and how the light in the dream and in reality might differ.
Write a paragraph describing the mood in Grossman’s The Bicyclist.