Course Requirements

Students will:

• produce an artwork(s) based on a ritual object or event that is personally meaningful to them. The object or event selected by each student artist could be virtually anything provided they imbue the object or event with meaningful ritual significance. Furthermore, the artworks created by the students may be either representational or nonrepresentational. For example, an image may depict the ritual object or event itself, or it may depict the emotional tone which the student artist experiences while encountering and perceiving the ritual object or event. The student artists also may create their works of art using traditional media and techniques and/or computer-based tools.

Dan Crowe, Ceremony, 1995
Courtesy of the artist

• write a 5-7 page paper on the artwork(s) they have produced. The paper should 1) communicate the student’s thinking and feeling about the art they have produced, 2) describe the ritual significance of the subject of the artwork, 3) explicate the cultural context and art historical basis for the artwork, 4) involve creative exposition of ideas, and 5) demonstrate research using library and Internet resources.

• give a 10 minute oral presentation on their artwork(s) and paper

• write a 1-page critique of an artwork produced by a classmate (critical analysis)

• give a brief oral critique of an artwork

• participate in question and answer sessions following oral presentations and critiques

The course will culminate with an exhibition of artworks by all of the students. Sites such as galleries in the school, libraries, and community centers might be considered for the exhibition. The exhibition will be organized, installed, and publicized by the students. It will be juried by the students themselves, with recognition and awards given for the best artworks and papers. Awards will be presented at the exhibition opening-- a celebratory event to which parents, teachers, and other students are invited. All students in the course will be recognized and congratulated for their work and creativity.

The artworks and papers also will be published on the World Wide Web.