National Art Education Association

 

   I had the opportunity to present at the 2014 NAEA National Convention in San Diego, CA. I submitted a proposal based on a unit plan that I wrote for AE4200, Concepts in Planning Art Education, Spring of 2013.

   The title of the presentation was Frank Gehry and the Trash Building: How I grabbed the “Non-Artistic” students. It encompassed the unit as a whole and then focused on lesson 2 that I was able to teach in a middle school setting. 

 

Frank Gehry and the Trash Building: How I grabbed the “Non-Artistic” students

   Case study of a lesson taught in a middle school art room involving architecture, design intent, and an imaginary world. Focus on student work and follow up opportunities.

   With the presentation of the curriculum and reflection of a one day lesson on the work of Frank Gehry, I shared ways in which I was able to pull enthusiasm out of a chronically unenthused student. The lesson consisted of an overview of Gehry, some relevant vocabulary, and sculpture of a building made of refuse. The exploration of the sculpture as a working building through sketching encourages the students to think on intent and function. The unexpected and exciting result was multiple students known as hesitant, opening up and exploring their imagination. After a presentation on the lesson and the reaction, I facilitated a discussion on how and why the students reacted positively as well as how this result can be repeated. 

 

   Attached below is my PowerPoint for my presentation and a pdf of my original unit plan.