"...And the words of the prophets are written on the subway walls." -Paul Simon singer/songwriter
What do you think of graffiti? Is there wall art in your neighborhood that you really enjoy? Do you know any people who create wall art? Have you ever seen a blank wall and said to yourself, "That would be a great spot for artwork?" If you enjoy "wall art," or murals, or if you want to know where murals and graffiti come from... check out this WebQuest adventure!
On this WebQuest journey you will go crawling through caves and stomping through the streets of New York in search of "street art."
Upon successful completion of this WebQuest adventure you will:
Put on your helmet and headlamp, you're going caving! Before you travel to France in search of the earliest known wall art, take a virtual cave trip and feel what it's like to explore underground worlds. Go to http://www.goodearthgraphics.com/virtcave.html. Using the AppleWorks word processing program write one page describing what it looks and feels like to be inside the cave you just explored.
On the second page of your word processing document do the following:
List five words that describe prehistoric cave people.
Read the story of how a group of young boys and their dog discovered the oldest known human-made art. Two high school students created this webpage as a school project.
The Cave of Lascaux- http://www.ECNet.net/users/gemedia3/Las/Las.html
Next, take a look at these pictures of the cave paintings at Lascaux. As you know from your reading, the Cave is now closed to the public. The use of pictures and the internet allows the whole world to view the amazing wall art at Lascaux without damaging the cave and its contents. Go to Paleolithic Cave of Lascaux- http://www.culture.fr/culture/arcnat/lascaux/en/ to view these magnificent paintings.
Explain why the cavemen and women at Lascaux painted those pictures.
What did you think of cavemen and women before seeing those pictures? Did you change your opinion of them after seeing the paintings? Why or why not?
Why is the Cave at Lascaux closed to the public?
Carefully examine the murals/graffiti art featured at this Bronx, NY website:
http://www.bronxview.com/graffiti/memorial.html
Answer the following questions in your word processing document:
What is the purpose of the murals/graffiti art featured at this site?
Are murals are a good way to communicate a message? Why or why not?
Go back and look at the cave paintings. Compare the South Bronx murals to the Lascaux paintings. How are they alike? How are they different?
WAIT
A MINUTE!!How did you get from cave paintings made 17,000 years ago to "bombed" walls in the Bronx in late 1900s? Did murals just show up again after 17,000 years?!
Murals have developed and changed throughout history. Look at the following examples to learn how different people and cultures have used murals to communicate ideas and express emotions and feelings.
Keith
Haring creating one of his subway masterpieces.
Now it's time for you to make a mural! Follow these steps to make a fantastic mural:
A) Choose a topic or theme for your mural. Is it a memorial to someone who died? Is it a celebration of a person, place or event? Is there an issue about which you have strong feelings? Is there some message or idea you want to get across to other people?
B) Make practice sketches. Using a plain sheet of paper plan your mural. Make rough sketches of the drawings you will include in your mural. The sketches do not have to be exact or detailed, you are just trying to see where you will put objects and words on your big mural. Will you have one giant drawing or many smaller drawings? Will the mural have many words?
C) Include the writing on your practice page. Will you write in bubble letters? Block letters? Capital or lower case? How will you sign your name?
D) Make different practice sketches until you feel you are satisfied with your mural design.
E) When you are ready, tape or glue many pieces of plain paper together. Decide whether you want your mural to be long and narrow or more like a big square.
F) Lay the giant "wall" on the floor and with a pencil, draw your mural design. Use the practice sketch as a guide for where the words and drawings should go.
G) Use crayons, markers, paint, and or pastels to make your mural come alive with color.
H) Ask a parent or another adult if there is a place in your home where you can hang your work, or bring your mural to school. How has the space where you put your work changed? How do you feel standing in front of your mural? Do people see your mural and begin to discuss its theme?
You have learned that there are endless examples of wall art used in different places, times, and cultures. Each example of wall art is unique. People have used murals as a way to communicate, to protest, to beautify, to advertise, to practice religion, to vandalize, to establish territory, to educate, to remember, but most importantly.. to share.
Murals are a powerful form of public art and communication.
Additional Links
For more information on murals, check out: