Screen printed subversions

In this last solo workshop using screen printing with text and image, I started with a
warm up on idioms, giving the definition, showing some examples and explaining that I would
like them to twist them into another meaning, in a way that could be absurd, political,
environmental or some other personal concern they had. Since this group is composed of
thinkers, I gave them a book and a deck of cards to check out so they could understand better
what I wanted them to do. I also passed out a handout on idioms about climate change from the
New Yorker. Then, they wrote down three idioms in their sketchbooks and twisted these into
another meaning. After that, I showed slides about artists such as Barbara Kruger who makes appropriation art using image and text. During the demonstration, I explained the process of screen printing step-by-step and put up a slide with the steps. After the demo, they made thumbnails about one or two of their idioms and then went to work drawing on a larger piece of paper, tracing onto the film with sharpie and then cutting out the areas that that were going to be inked for printing.  The launch questions included the following: What is subversion and how do these artists in the slides use it in their art? What are their methods? How can you subvert idioms to create art?

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Name: Tessa Sutton
Grade Level: 7-8
Time needed: 90 minutes
Class Size: 20-25

Overall Goal: The goal of this activity is to allow students to explore screen printing techniques and materials through the use of subverting and playing with idiomatic phrases from the English language, connecting them to their personal interests.

Problem: How can you subvert the meanings of pre-existing idioms and create a new play on words through experimenting with illustration in screen printing? How can you play with these meanings while connecting them to your environmental, social and political interests?

Big Ideas: Storytelling, Self-Expression, Subversion, Wordplay, Imagination, Play, Humor

Description & Purpose: Students will explore screen printing on T-shirts, cotton bags or paper of their choice through twisting idioms into personal concerns that could range from the serious to the absurd. By altering these phrases, they make the viewer stop and take a second look, coming in closer to the subject matter. The purpose is to make students not only question the language that is taken for granted to be reinvented, but to see the space between language and text that artists like Barbara Kruger and others have used widely, as well as communicate their personal concerns.

Importance: Subversion means altering something existing and twisting the meaning into another form. Artists have used wordplay and subversion since the Dadaists recombined language in their art. Using idioms, which are already abstracted from the English language encourages students to play with already puzzling language. Subversion involves a change in expectation experienced by the artist in their everyday lives, or teasing the audience into thinking they understand one aspect, but the artist is talking about another. This concept can be applied aesthetically, conceptually and personally in a work of art. By experimenting with screen printing techniques, the student can explore applying this idea as their subconscious comes into play. Olivia Gude relates how students should use their personal interests and experiences when creating art as well as play with deconstructing culture.

Art Concepts/Technical Skills: Students can explore the connection between image and text in their pieces through illustration and visual storytelling with minimalistic images using screen printing stencils. They will also investigate how artists have used subversion in their work and how they could apply this to their own.

SPECIAL PRE-INSTRUCTION PREPARATIONS

• Teacher will need to collect enough printing screens for students to use individually as well as screen printing film.
  

Common Errors or Misunderstandings

• Students may not understand negative space and that what you remove from the screen film will be the part with the ink that comes through.
• Students might not comprehend how to make layers by covering parts up on the screen.
• Students may not know what idioms are.
• Teacher will explain to students that the negative space on the final product will not have ink and the places they remove with the exact-o knife will have the ink come through. They may choose to make the negative space ink-filled but only after understanding it.
• Teacher can show negative space and where the ink will come through in the demonstration.
• Teacher will explain in demonstration how certain areas can be covered with duct tape if they want to work in layers, allowing the paint to dry between each one.
• Instructor to explain the meaning of idioms in the slides.

National Standards

1. CREATING: Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work, Anchor standard 1.
   Enduring Understanding: Creativity and innovative thinking are essential life skills that can be developed. Artists and designers shape artistic investigations, following or breaking with traditions in pursuit of creative art-making goals.
2.  PRESENTING: Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work, Anchor standard 6.
   Enduring Understanding: Objects, artifacts, and artworks collected, preserved, or presented either by artists, museums, or other venues communicate meaning and a record of social, cultural, and political experiences resulting in the cultivating or appreciation and understanding.
3.  CONNECTING: Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art, Anchor standard 10.
   Enduring Understanding: Through art-making, people make meaning by investigating and developing awareness of perceptions, knowledge and experiences.
4.  RESPONDING: Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work, Anchor Standard 8.
   Enduring Understanding: People gain insights into meanings of artworks by engaging in the process of art criticism.

Learning Objectives

1. TLW observe and discuss the artists presented in the slides in a group in order to analyze how art can show subversion through graphic elements. Anchor standard 8.
   
2. TLW design and create at least one screen print of their twisted idiom on a T-shirt, bag or bandanna through first brainstorming at least three thumbnail sketches from the warm up of three twisted idioms based on their personal concerns about environmental, social and political issues. Anchor standard 1 & Anchor standard 10.
3. TLW place their work on the tables for a gallery walk for the students to observe and discuss their processes by interviewing a partner and recording on a note card. Anchor Standard 6.
   

teacher Materials

• Teacher example of print
• Exact-o knives
• Duct tape paper for “islands” needed to fill in spaces not attached to other parts of stencil
• Stencil film
• Duct tape
• Computer with any cables needed
• Monitor
• PowerPoint
• Process / technique demonstration materials: squeegee, screen at least 8 x 10 in., water based screen printing ink, plastic spoons, paper to print on.

Student Materials

• Paper (can be a sketchbook)
• Heavy paper for test print
• Cardboard
• Glue
• Masking & duct tape
• Scissors & exact-o knives
• Cutting mat
• Pencils
• Screen frame
• Fabric pens
• T-shirts, bags and bandannas for each student (at least one of each per person)
• Duct tape paper sheets: 8.5 x 11 in.
• Squeegee
• Paper plates
• Plastic spoons
• Stencil film
• Stencil letters of a small size (in case they want to do writing on their pieces)
• Note cards of any size
• Sharpies of various colors

Artists in context: Key artists

Barbara Kruger, Max Ernst, Hank Willis Thomas, Marcel Duchamp, Steve Gianakas, Kurt Schwitters and Theo van Doesburg

Key artworks

 

 

 

 

 

Teacher Example

Key Critical questions

1. What is subversion?
2. What are the different ways these artists subvert images with text? How is text used in each to convey meaning?
3. How could you use the methods of the Dadaists in your piece? What are these methods?
4. How do you see that they use appropriation as a way to work with subversion? Why do you think they use this?

Vocabulary and Language Acquisition

Discipline Specific (Syntax)

Space: is the area between and around objects. The space around objects is often called negative space; negative space has shape. Space can also refer to the feeling of depth. Real space is three-dimensional; in visual art, when we create the feeling or illusion of depth, we call it space.
Negative Space: the space around the subject of the work of art, such as shapes or forms.
Contrast: a principle of art that refers to the arrangement of opposite elements (light vs. dark colors, rough vs. smooth textures, large vs. small shapes, etc.) in a piece, so as to create visual interest.
Emphasis: is the part of the design that catches the viewer’s attention. Usually the artist will make one area stand out by contrasting it with other areas. The area could be different in size, color, texture, shape, etc.
Graphic Design: the art or profession of using design elements (such as typography and images) to convey information or create an effect.
Shape: the visible makeup characteristic of a particular item or kind of item.
Unity: a combination or ordering of parts in a literary or artistic production that constitutes a whole or promotes an undivided total effect.
Islands (in screen printing): Refers to the parts of an image that are not connected to other parts of the image, where you do not want ink to go through onto your print.
Appropriation: in art and art history refers to the practice of artists using pre-existing objects or images in their art with little transformation of the original.

Academic

Deception: the act of causing someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid.
Idioms: an expression in the usage of a language that is peculiar to itself either grammatically or in having a meaning that cannot be derived from the conjoined meanings of its elements.
Wordplay: playful use of words; verbal wit.
Subversion: to pervert or corrupt by an undermining of morals, allegiance, or faith.

Language Functions	analyze, compare/contrast, critique, describe, interpret, question, etc.
Language Modes	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking
	Students will analyze a small amount of reading in PowerPoint and if they do research on their phones/computers. Visual reading of images in slides, looking at content, style and meaning.	Writing the closure statements at the end of class.	Students will listen to each other during presentations and collaborative time.  Students will listen to the teacher during the introduction and demonstration of the lesson.	Students will respond to teacher and classmate’s questions and offer ideas during discussion time. Students will respond to each other and ask questions when/ if they are confused or struggling during studio time. Students will practice speaking in front of the class during presentations.

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR SPECIFIC DIVERSE LEARNERS

Enrichment and Extensions

Advanced students can research more specific information and images about their twisted idiom and combine imagery found online. These students can also work in multiple layers for their piece and integrate text in the image.

Activity for Early Finishers

Students who finish early can work on the lettering for the piece or the backside of the T-shirt or bag, if using one. They can make a second print of their first stencil on another material.

OBJECTIVE-DRIVEN ASSESSMENTS Describe the tools/procedures that will be used in this unit to monitor students’ learning of the lesson objectives. Attach/paste a copy of the assessment and evaluation criteria/rubric at the end of the lesson where the assessment will take place.
Lesson #	Objective # (s)	Informal or Formal?	Description of Assessment	Modifications to Accommodate All Students	Evaluation Criteria: What evidence of student learning related to the learning objectives and central focus does this assessment provide?
	TLW observe and discuss the artists presented in the slides in a group in order to analyze how art can show subversion through graphic elements, Anchor standard 8.	Informal	TLW engage in a discussion with peers and teacher about how the artists shown in the slides play with text and image through subversion in their art.	Students can write on a paper if they do not feel comfortable sharing in front of the group, or speak with a partner nearby.	Students verbally express and give immediate feedback on the quality and depth of their answers regarding understanding how subversion is used in the art shown. By giving examples of this, it shows the depth of students’ understanding of the idea of subversion, how it is used in art and how they could apply these to their own work.
	TLW brainstorm and draw at least three thumbnail sketches from the warm up of three twisted idioms based on their personal concerns about environmental, social and political issues. Anchor standard 1.	Informal	Teacher will walk around the room and ask questions to check students’ understanding of the activity verbally. Teacher will check that thumbnails have been completed and discuss which one the student will use before proceeding to screens.	Student can make one thumbnail sketch instead of three. Teacher or peer can help with sketching, if needed.	Students demonstrate skill in generating twisted idioms through wordplay and connecting them to personal concerns in the medium of screen printing with a print artifact.
	TLW design and create at least one screen print of their twisted idiom on a T-shirt, bag or bandanna based on their preliminary sketch of choice. Anchor standard 10.	Informal)	Teacher will observe that students are making the screen prints correctly and ask questions to check for understanding.	Teacher or peer can assist in screen printing and cutting process through verbal direction by student.	This shows that students are able to reflect on their sketches and choose their most successful one as well as complete the technical aspects of screen printing.

TLW place their work on the tables for a gallery walk for the students to observe and discuss their processes by interviewing a partner and recording on a note card. Anchor Standard 6. Informal & Formal (Summative) Gallery walk when students are done creating their prints and interviewing each other while recording responses on note cards. Teacher can talk to the student and they can respond verbally or through a device. Students can write their answer to another student. Students will show they are able to share their images and gain insight from discussing the meaning of the work and each other’s processes while making them public on a card. REFERENCES

Barbara Kruger, feminist art. (n.d.). Art history archive. Retrieved from http://www.arthistoryarchive.com/arthistory/feminist/Barbara-Kruger.html. Blythe, S., & Powers, E. (2006). Looking at Dada. New York: NY: Museum of Modern Art. Gude, O. (2007, January). Principles of possibility: Considerations for a 21st-century art & culture curriculum. Art Education, 6-17. Hank Willis Tomas, “Absolut power” and “Afro-American express.” (2014). Black Atlantic, Duke University. Retrieved from https://sites.duke.edu/blackatlantic/sample-page/depictions-of-the-middle-passage-and-the-slave-trade-in-visual-art/absolut-power-afro- american-express-middle-passages-5-middle-passage-middle-passages-ii-curatorial-statement/hank-willis-thomas-absolut-power/. Kruger, B. Untitled (we don’t need another hero). (1987). Whitney Museum of Art. Retrieved from https://whitney.org/collection/works/34103. Terban, M. (1996). Scholastic dictionary of idioms. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc. Tucker, M. (1981). Not just for laughs: The art of subversion. New York, NY: New Museum. Word definitions. (2019). Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary.

Launch		Instruction Methods
How do artists use subversion in their work? Are there any you can think of who use text with images? How can you play with the meanings of idioms while connecting them to your environmental, social and political interests? What is the relationship between text and image? How do they talk to each other? Warm Up: (5 min.) 1.      Teacher will show handout on idioms and explain what they mean in the slides. 2.      Students will come up with idioms through the book provided, by researching online or talking to a partner. 3.      After finding three idioms, they will write these in their sketchbook and play around with twisting them to create different meanings.		Verbally and through the slides.
Instruction		Instruction Methods
Procedure Lesson Introduction: (10 min.) 4.     Instructor will present the problem generally that they will be making at least one screen print, on a T-shirt, cotton bag or bandanna, of a twisted idioms that connects with a personal interest of some kind. Teacher also explains they will be making three thumbnail sketches before from the warm up idioms and clarifying with the instructor before proceeding. (2 min.) 5.      Slide presentation of short history of subversion using images and text.      (5 min.) 6.      Teacher presents the technique of screen printing through a live demonstration and shows previously made examples, making sure the proper way to use an exact-o blade on their cutting mat, noting hand placement away from blade. (3 min.) Create: (65 min.) 7.    Students will have time to brainstorm three thumbnails then check with teacher for the next step listed below. Students can do research on their phones online. 8.    They will draw one of their approved sketches on a larger paper scaled to the size of the chosen screen (and the film) in pencil or marker. They can tape the film over their image drawn on a larger paper of their sketch and trace with a dark sharpie marker. 9.     Students trace the lines onto their screen film and place an X over the parts they are cutting out so they know it will be clear to them where the ink will go. 10.     Student tapes the film to their screen with duct tape. They also use the duct tape paper to cut out any “islands” and cover up any areas that ink might go through where they do not want it. (An “island” is a place not connected to the main image that they want to be ink-free.) 11.   Student helps another with holding the screen down while other one pulls squeegee over screen after applying approx. two tablespoons of ink on the screen top. Student makes two passes: one applying pressure pulling towards you and then sideways, if possible, otherwise picking up squeegee and applying another pass towards you. 12.    Lift screen and let image dry before adding another layer. Student can cover other layer with duct tape paper if they want layers, covering up more areas as they go. 13.   If students are using text with fabric markers or other markers and a stencil, they must allow the piece to dry first before using letters. They could have used text first if they want it to be semi-covered up though. Closure: (9 min.) 14.  Students will display their work on their tables for peers to see in a gallery walk. 15.  They will interview a partner about their work and record answers on a note card placed next to their work to the following questions: What did you learn about using image and text or using subversion in your art? Do you have any insights into your process that you want to share with other people?| 16.   They will walk around a final time to view cards and images. Clean up: (6 min.) 17.    Students will return materials to their proper places, clean and organized. Structured Practice and Application Opportunity for Independent Practice: Students can practice on a piece of paper cutting out their image if they are hesitant about how the process works with the stencil film. Supplemental Texts: Books available in class: Terban, M. (1996). Scholastic Dictionary of Idioms. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc. Blythe, S., & Powers, E. (2006). Looking at Dada. New York: NY: Museum of Modern Art. Digital: Ginny Hogan’s “Updated Idioms on Climate Change:” https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/01/21/idioms-updated-for-climate-change  The goal of this activity is to allow students to explore screen printing techniques and materials through the use of subverting and playing with idiomatic phrases from the English language, connecting them to their personal interests. Problem: How can you subvert the meanings of pre-existing idioms and create a new play on words through experimenting with illustration in screen printing? How can you reinvent with these meanings while connecting them to your environmental, social and political interests? Students will explore with materials and through making three thumbnail sketches. They can also discuss their ideas with another student in order to brainstorm ones they could not think of by themselves. Assessment: Formative: Teacher will circulate through the room observing students’ artwork to see if they understand the screen printing techniques and process and are playing with changing idioms in their brainstorm sketches. Instructor will ask if they have any questions about the activity. Summative: Students will place their objects on the table in the gallery walk and then choose a partner to interview and record their partner’s responses to the following questions on a note card that will be placed near the work in public: What did you learn about using image and text or using subversion in your art? Do you have any insights into your process that you want to share with other people?		Verbal instructions then slides shown.                 Live demonstration.     Verbal instructions and a slide with the parameters of the activity on the monitor.                                   Slide will contain instructions for the closure and they will also be given verbally.
Closure		Instruction Methods
Lesson Closure: See summative assessment. After the interviewed students place note cards on table near their work, the students will walk around once more.		Verbal instructions to write on paper and a slide with instructions.

FROM THE NEW YORKER