Lesson Overview
This lesson brings Nebraska Reading, Writing, and National Visual Arts Standards together. While studying Hastings, Nebraska artist, David Stewart, students will also explore their identity through language and visual arts. After collecting memorabilia students will create an assemblage in the style of David Stewart, compose a poem, and explain their identity in an oral presentation.

Art Exemplar
Title: 1st National Parrot
Artist: David Stewart (b. 1939)
Medium: Assemblage
Date: 1993

Art Exemplar
Title: World Series
Artist: Artist: David Stewart (b. 1939)
Medium: Assemblage
Date: 1994

Art Exemplar
Title: Space Ship
Artist: Artist: David Stewart (b. 1939)
Medium: Assemblage
Date: 1993

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Objectives
1. Students will identify oneself by selecting items for a box assemblage.
2. Students will integrate the principle of balance and emphasis by arranging items into a box assemblage.
3. Students will explain their assemblage and practice writing about experiences by composing an auto-bio-poem.
4. Students will interpret their assemblage and practice an organized oral presentation by presenting their assemblage and poem orally.



 

Procedure
1. Born August 25, 1939 in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1988 at the age of 49, David Stewart, a former plumber with no interest in art whatsoever, was given janitorial duties in the Art Department at Hastings College, Hastings, Nebraska. His art career started as a joke. David saw an assignment on a chalkboard in one of the classrooms. The gist of the assignment was to create something from trash. He decided to try it. He hung his creation in the hall anonymously, not knowing what a stir it would cause. Students as well as instructors were impressed. One of the instructors showed Mr. Stewart a book of Joseph Cornell's style. David then started creating assemblages in boxes from “junk”. Stewart enrolled in art classes at Hastings with his studies centering on drawing, painting and printmaking. Efforts into three-dimensional assemblages were largely self-taught. Stewart admits to being strongly influenced by the masters of assemblage, Joseph Cornell and Marcel Duchamp. His works have been exhibited in Nebraska, Missouri, and South Dakota. “It's very convenient when your business is disposing of trash, and your business is using trash”, says Stewart. He likes to play “mouse in the corner” and listen to what others have to say about his art. He is a very modest man who simply enjoys creating with what he has. Stewart says, “An underlying theme of my whole body of work is that I'm a little bit irritated by our throw away society.”
2. Tour David Stewart's exhibit at MONA.  If that isn't possible, share pictures of David Stewart's work.  Show examples of shadow boxes that you might be able to find.  (Recommendation:  Teacher should see at least one of David Stewart's box assemblages before trying this.)
3. Introduce vocabulary.
Activities
1. Show the boxes and explain that the students will be creating boxes that portray their self.
2. Have students arrange their items in a pleasing way in their boxes. You or they may choose to cover their boxes so they are more attractive.
3. The background could be covered or a picture could be the background (perhaps a picture of the student).
4. After a pleasing arrangement is arrived at, secure items in the box: hot glue, thread, staples, etc
5. Auto-Bio-poem:
   • First line will be the student's first name.
   • The following lines can be any of these examples that would apply to the student and his/her assemblage. Any others that the teacher or student want to use would be appropriate.
   • List three adjectives that describe you,
   • Sibling (or Child or Grandchild of. . .)
   • Who feels. . .
   • Who loves. . .
   • Who gives. . .
   • Who fears. . .
   • Who would like to see. . .
   • Last line will be the student's last name
Conclusion
1. Instructions on creating a presentation with organization, complete sentences, clear enunciation, adequate volume, and eye contact.
2. Each student makes an oral presentation to the class, telling about their creation and how it relates to them personally.
Related Activities
1. Language Arts
   1. Planes, dogs, cats, clothes, “Go Big Red”.
2. Social Studies
   1. World War II.
   2. Nebraska…the Good Life.