This lesson brings Nebraska Math and National Visual Arts Standards together. In this lesson we will discuss lines, shapes, patterns, and colors used in Jun KanekoÕs piece Untitled (Dango). The students will help make a paper Mache replica and demonstrate their understanding of lines, shapes patterns, and colors by painting their own section on the piece.
Title: Untitled (Dango)
Artist: Jun Kaneko (Japanese artist now living in Omaha)
Media: Ceramic
Plate/Date: 2000
1.3.1; 1.4.1; 1.4.2; 1.5.2; 1.5.3; 1.6.1; 1.6.2; 1.6.3
National Visual Arts
Standards
Grades K-4: 3; 4; 6
1. The students will identify, describe, and create lines, shapes, and colors into patterns by observing and learning about Jun KanekoÕs art piece Untitled (Dango), and painting their own patterns.
2. The students will compare and interpret their understanding of shape, lines, patterns, and color by sorting and classifying lines, shapes, colors, and patterns.
3. The students will explore, select, and use lines, shapes, colors, and patterns to create their own art pieces.
Use district assessment instruments for math and visual arts.
Rubric generators available at: http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/rubrics/
Reproductions of Untitled (Dango) by Jun Kaneko
Shapes by Philip Yenawine
Art information / vocabulary: http://www.sanford-artedventures.com/
Paper
Paint
Paintbrush
http://www.artincanada.com/arttalk/arttermsanddefinitions.html
line
shape
Pattern
color
Dango
papier mache
armature
1. Background of artwork / artist: Jun Kaneko http://www.franklloyd.com/dynamic/artist.asp?ArtistID=11
á Born 1942 in Nagoya, Japan. In 1970, he
studied under Pual Soldner at Claremont Graduate School. He has worked at the
Bemis Foundation in the Old Market, Omaha, Nebraska, for several years.
Recognized as one of the foremost ceramic sculptors in the world, Kaneko was
featured in a cover story of Ceramics Monthly Magazine in 1988. His works have
been acquired by such museums as the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Detroit
Institute of Art, the American Crafts Museum in New York and Nagoya, Japan.
2. Read and scan the stories, Line and Shape, and discuss the lines and shapes found in the art.
3. Look at Untitled (Dango) by Jun Kaneko. Give the students time to absorb the piece.
4. Ask:
á What shape is this piece?
á What do you see?
á What colors were used?
á What does this remind you of?
5. Correlate
the patterns observed with Mathematical understanding of pattern - AB, AB, AB,
etc. Using line as A and shape as
B.
á Identify and name the shapes present
á Identify and name the lines present
á Identify and name the colors present,
primary? Secondary?
6. Clap
a pattern - Line means clap, Shape means stomp.
7. Choose a medium: clay, paper Mache, paper and paint
8. Start a life size replica of Untitled (Dango) using chicken wire armature and paper mache over it. The kids will help finish the replica.
9. Distribute paper and paints to the students to practice their lines, shapes, and patterns.
10. The children should start with a shape of their choice.
11. Tell the students to add lines and shapes in patterns. Require the students to match the edges of their design with another's paper. For example: The line may continue from one paper to the next. Maybe there would be repeated use of color or shape. Each student finishes their design in their unique way. Teaching this will inspire unity in the final work. Require students to think they are creating a giant puzzle and all design must "fit" together in some way. Repeating an element from one design to another will do this. If the paper has 4 sides then each student's design needs to "match" to 4 other students designs, etc. until the whole design is complete.
12. Finish the large paper mache vessel and transfer pattern/design ideas using paint. The design will have an overall "connection" which will create unity on the vessel. Unity is a great concept to teach with pattern because it develops the concept of variety with pattern that is present in math and nature.
13. When the children are done with their practice they may paint their design on the replica of Untitled (Dango).
14. Have students explain how they made their pattern using the names of objects (line, shapes, colors, patterns).
15. Students will present the vessel to the office.
á Estimating weight and size
á Measuring - measure the piece using a string. Lay out the string. How many paper clips would it take to go around the art piece?
á Symmetry Ð find objects that are symmetrical or asymmetrical, determine the differences.
á Japanese culture
á More about the artist