Activist Art Sculptures

9th-12th Grade

What is activist art?

What is Activist Art?

• Art that addresses, comments on, or simply brings attention to specific social issues
• A way for artists to express their beliefs and inspire change
• Combines creativity with a call to action
• The goal of activist art is to empower individuals and communities, address cultural power structures, challenge authority, raise awareness about social and political issues, and give a voice to marginalized groups.

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What is a symbol? How do artists use symbolism?

Symbolism in Art

• A symbol is an image that represents an idea
• Artists use images such as people, animals, objects, or colors to convey deeper meaning
• Some symbols are universal, meaning they are easily understood by many
• Other symbols are personal, meaning they are unique to the artist and their life experiences

Vanitas – Still Life, Pieter Claesz, 1625

Why are symbols a useful tool for art activists?

Why are symbols important for art activism?

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• They communicate complex messages quickly and powerfully
• Help spread awareness of social, political, or environmental issues
• Evoke emotional responses and inspire action or change
• Universal symbols are recognizable and allow artists to connect with a wide audience
• Sometimes artists combine traditional symbols with modern elements to address current issues
• Sometimes artists invent entirely new symbols

Ai Weiwei - Art Activist

• Renowned Chinese artist, activist, and filmmaker known for his provocative and socially engaged works
• Born in 1957 in Beijing, China
• Combines traditional Chinese art forms with modern concepts
• Focuses on human rights, freedom of speech, and political oppression.
• Highlights issues like the refugee crisis, government censorship, and social injustice.
• Criticized the Chinese government for corruption and lack of transparency. Detained by Chinese authorities in 2011, which drew global attention to his activism

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Ai Weiwei, Remembering, 2009, backpacks on the facade of the Haus der Kunst* (Munich)

“She lived happily for seven years in this world”

Ai Weiwei,

Kui Hua Zi (Sunflower Seeds),

2010,

one hundred million hand painted porcelain seeds,

Tate Modern, London

• Communist leader of China, Mao Zedong (disliked by many), often depicted as sun with people of China as sunflowers turning up at him
• About conformity vs individuality
• Sunflower seeds individually handcrafted by artisans, hand painted rejecting consumerism/ mindless consumption
• “Made in China”

Ai Weiwei – Soleil Levant, 2017, life jackets in front of windows of facade, Kunsthal Charlottenborg

Elizabeth Catlett, Target, 1970, bronze

Olafur Eliasson

Ice Watch,

2014,

outside Tate Modern, London

Hank Willis Thomas, All Power to All People 2017

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Washed Ashore,

various artists,

recycled plastic

Project Requirements

Prompt: Create your own activist art in the form of a sculpture that addresses or brings awareness to a specific social issue

Process:

1. Participate in class discussion of activist art/symbolism and social issue brainstorm
2. Complete “symbol brainstorm” sketchbook activity
3. Research chosen social issue and complete research handout
4. Sketch a plan for your sculpture and discuss it with your teacher
5. Construct a cardboard armature
6. Complete form of sculpture with paper mache
7. Add paint and other surface details
8. Title your piece and display it in the gallery space
9. Participate in critique

Food Waste,

High School Student,

2024

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I See Evil,

High School Student,

2024

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What is a social issue?

What is a social issue?

• A problem or challenge that affects a large group of people in a society.
• It often involves inequality, injustice, or other barriers to well-being.
• Social issues can impact people's daily lives, opportunities, or rights.
• Could be related to race, gender, education, the economy, the environment, access to resources, etc…

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Social Issue Brainstorm!

Sketchbook Activity: Symbol Brainstorm

1. Choose one topic/issue from the list on the board or the handout and write it at the top of a blank page in your sketchbook
2. Spend 7 minutes filling your page with as many images as you can related to your chosen issue

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The goal is not to come up with thought out symbols but rather to get your brain going and thinking about imagery related to your issue. No idea is bad, draw everything that comes to mind!

Day 2

Is research important for activist art? Why?

Ai Weiwei’s research of the Sichuan earthquake

• Ai Weiwei investigated the Chinese government for its corruption related to the Sichuan earthquake in 2009
• Visited ruins of collapsed school buildings
• Researched civil engineering laws/requirements
• Interviewed parents of lost children
• Collected names of victims
• Was detained by Chinese government because of the information he uncovered/exposed

How to conduct good research:

• Be specific in the issue you are researching
• Example: instead of broadly researching the topic of education choose a specific issue such as lack of funding for Special Ed or
• Use reliable sources
• USE: Google scholar, JSTOR, Britannica, academic journals, government websites
• AVOID: blogs, social media content, partisan/biased news outlets
• Collect evidence
• Stay Curious and Open-Minded
• These issues are often much more complex than we realize, be prepared to revise your opinion

1. Chosen Topic (be specific):

2. Already know:

3. Want to know/questions:

4. Research: In the space below write down 4 pieces of information about your topic. These could be statistics, things that surprised you, things you found interesting, or things that give you ideas for your sculpture.

Include the source title and where you found it.

Additional notes:

Possible project ideas?

By the end of class today…

1. Completed sketchbook brainstorm activity

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• Completed research handout (backside optional)

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• If everything else is finished, begin sketching ideas for your sculpture. We will talk more in depth about planning next class.

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Day 3

Planning your sculpture…

REQUIRED: completed plan drawn in sketchbook

GOOD IDEA:

• list of possible ideas
• several smaller sketches of possibilities to help narrow it down
• Sketches of final idea from multiple perspectives
• List of steps/materials you will need to take to complete project

A detailed plan makes completing your project easier!

Building an armature

• Consider how your sculpture will stand
• Will it to be attached to a base?
• Will it lay on a surface or need to be propped up?
• Will it hang off the wall or from the ceiling?
• What parts will be the heaviest/need the most support?

Materials:

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• Cardboard
• Scissors
• Xacto knife
• Hot glue gun
• Masking tape

Paper Mache

• Tear newspaper into smaller strips
• Dip one strip at a time into mixture and apply strip to armature
• LAYER! It takes time and several layers to build up the structure/surface of your sculpture

Materials:

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• Completed armature
• Newspaper
• Glue/water mixture

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Paint

• Multiple coats!
• Avoid patchiness and white spots
• Save paint on your pallet for next class with plastic wrap

Materials:

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• Paint
• Brushes
• Pallet

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Optional Additional Materials:

• Air dry clay
• Yarn
• Scrap fabric
• Paper
• Hot glue for texture

Days 4 - 13

Day 4 Goals

• Finish planning in your sketchbook
• Meet with me to discuss you plan
• Maybe: start thinking about how you will construct your armature

I can complete the sketchbook activity, the research handout, sketch my project plan and discuss my plan with my teacher before beginning the project

I can create a sculpture with a cardboard armature, paper mache, and paint that represents a specific social issue

Work-days Remaining:

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10

Day 5 Goals

• Wrap up any sketching planning
• Meet with me if you haven't
• Begin your armature

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I can complete the sketchbook activity, the research handout, sketch my project plan and discuss my plan with my teacher before beginning the project

I can create a sculpture with a cardboard armature, paper mache, and paint that represents a specific social issue

Work-days Remaining:

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9

Day 6 Goals

• Keep working on constructing your armature
• Ask for help if you need it!

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I can create a sculpture with a cardboard armature, paper mache, and paint that represents a specific social issue

Work-days Remaining:

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8

Day 7 Goals

• Try to finish constructing your armature
• Ask for help if you need it!

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I can create a sculpture with a cardboard armature, paper mache, and paint that represents a specific social issue

Work-days Remaining:

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7

Day 8 Goals

• Finish your armature if you haven’t
• Begin paper mache
• Ask for help if you need it!

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I can create a sculpture with a cardboard armature, paper mache, and paint that represents a specific social issue

Work-days Remaining:

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6

Day 9 Goals

• Keep working on paper mache
• Ask for help if you need it!

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I can create a sculpture with a cardboard armature, paper mache, and paint that represents a specific social issue

Work-days Remaining:

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5

Day 9 Goals

• Keep working on paper mache
• Ask for help if you need it!

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I can create a sculpture with a cardboard armature, paper mache, and paint that represents a specific social issue

Work-days Remaining:

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4

Day 10 Goals

• Finish paper mache
• Begin adding paint
• This is the time to add any additional materials to your sculpture (yarn, air dry clay, hot glue texture, etc…)
• Ask for help if you need it!

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I can create a sculpture with a cardboard armature, paper mache, and paint that represents a specific social issue

Work-days Remaining:

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3

Day 11 Goals

• Keep painting
• This is the time to add any additional materials to your sculpture (yarn, air dry clay, hot glue texture, etc…)
• Ask for help if you need it!

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I can create a sculpture with a cardboard armature, paper mache, and paint that represents a specific social issue

Work-days Remaining:

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2

Day 12 Goals

• Finish painting
• Add finishing touches
• Think of a title for your piece
• Ask for help if you need it!

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I can create a sculpture with a cardboard armature, paper mache, and paint that represents a specific social issue

Work-days Remaining:

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1

Next class will be your last day to work on this project!

Day 13 Goals

• Finish painting
• Add finishing touches
• Think of a title for your piece
• Ask for help if you need it!

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I can create a sculpture with a cardboard armature, paper mache, and paint that represents a specific social issue

Work-days Remaining:

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0

Project due by the end of class today! Critique next class!

Expectations for Critique

1. Respectful Communication

• Use kind and respectful language, even when offering constructive criticism.
• Focus on the artwork, not the artist.

2. Positive Feedback

• Highlight at least one strength of the piece (e.g., creativity, craftsmanship, emotional impact).
• Be specific: Instead of saying “It’s good,” explain what stands out, like “The use of recycled materials strengthens the environmental message.”

3. Constructive Criticism

• Offer suggestions for improvement in a thoughtful way.
• Use phrases like “I wonder if…” or “It might be interesting to see…” instead of “You should have…”

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• 7 Post-its total
• 2 positive or constructive feedback
• 2 guess at the meaning
• 2 how the piece impacted you
• 1 question or comment
• Can spread these out between sculptures however you like
• Use complete sentences
• Don’t forget to add your name to each post it to receive credit

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I can participate in discussion of my classmates’ sculptures during critique

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I can hypothesize about the meaning of works of art created by both contemporary art activists and my classmates and I can describe the impact these works of art have on my own awareness of social issues

Post-it Note Critique

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1. Compliments and constructive feedback:

2. Guess at the meaning/social issue:

Other comments/questions:

3. How this piece impacted me

• I love how…
• (...) was a great choice
• (...) is working well

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OR

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• It would be cool if…
• I wonder what would happen if you changed…

• I think this piece is about…
• I think you are making a comment on…
• I wonder if you are trying to say (...) about (...)

• This piece made me realize that…
• This piece made me question how…
• This piece changed my perspective about…
• This piece moved me emotionally because…

• Why did you decide to..
• Was it intentional when you …
• Why did you choose this topic?
• This piece reminds me of…

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