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Gerrymandering CollageIn this unit, students will create a two-dimensional collage inspired by architecture. This unit helps students explore compositional organization with a focus on unity and variety.
The unit includes two exercises, one finished composition, a rubric and reflection. |
Content
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Art History
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Composition Concepts
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Technical Skills
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Content |
Examples from Art History |
Composition Concepts
Color Scheme |
Space |
High Contrast |
Unity |
Technical Skills
Collage |
Glue Technique
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Nesting
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Implied Overlap
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Exercises
Collage RequirementsYOUR COLLAGE SHOULD HAVE THE FOLLOWING:
• CONTENT: GERRYMANDERING, VOTING, CENSUS Create a visual metaphor for the theme. It does not need to hit the viewer over the head with the idea. Metaphors are often more successful than shouting the idea at the viewer. Your response should take the subject seriously. It should be thoughtful and respectful of the topic. • COMPOSITION: SPACE There should be a balance of positive space and negative space. About half of the composition should remain negative space. Using too much space limits the ability of the artist to control the viewer's eye through the composition. The negative space used should include interesting negative space that is activated as an interesting element. Consider holes in positive space as design elements just as worthy of your attention as shapes you glue down. • COMPOSTION: UNITY Create unity in three ways: limiting the color palette to three colors plus the white of the paper; repeating shape elements; linking areas of the composition together with both repeated shapes and repeated colors. • TECHNICAL SKILL: COLLAGE The composition should be made entirely out of glued cut paper. No drawn lines should be visible. If you need text, the text is cut out of paper. If you need details, they are cut out of paper. • TECHNICAL SKILL: GLUE While there are many ways to accomplish a task, this projects asks that you learn to use the glue technique used in this course. This results in flat, clean glued shapes without wrinkles or lifted edges. • TECHNICAL SKILL: CUTTING Whether you use scissors or a knife and cutting mat, all of your cuts should look intentional. Often this will mean clean, precise cuts without scraggly edges. Occasionally this could mean an intentionally torn edge. • TECHNICAL SKILL: NESTING SHAPES There should be several instances of nesting shapes in your composition. Nesting shapes have thin, clean, even rivers of negative space between them. • TECHNICAL SKILL: IMPLIED OVERLAP To raise one layer of information over another, use at least one instance of implied overlap. No cut paper underneath other cut paper. All pieces cut should be glued to the base artwork. • ORIGINALITY: RISK-TAKING The composition is dynamic, with strong eye movement that keeps the viewer engaged with the composition. Compositional decisions surprise the viewer with original ideas. The visual answer you created is markedly different from your peers and the art history examples provided. Nesting & Interesting Negative Space Examples
Nesting & Implied Overlap Examples
Interesting Negative Space
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Grading: Points Breakdown
Step-by-step Video Instructions
Check Before Gluing DemoTaking a Photo of Your Work Demo |
