CONCOURSE 9

WATER, WATER, EVERWHERE

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Essential Questions
• What important issues and ideas related to water have artists explored over time?
• How have artists used water as subject matter and as artistic medium?
• How do contemporary artists explore social, environmental, and other water issues?
 In what way can artists raise public awareness and make a positive difference in the lives of
people through the objects they create?

Artists and Water

• Historic: Claude Monet, Hiroshige, Hokusai, Leonardo Da Vinci
• Contemporary artist: Betsy Damon, Maya Lin, Brain Collier, Manny Hernandez and
Richard Wukich

Websites:
• http://www.keepersofthewaters.org
• http://pottersforpeace.com/
• http://greenmuseum.org

Water = Basic Human Right

• 345 million in Africa
• 32 million in Latin America and the Caribbean
• ½ million in Texas
… Plus many, many more examples of people who do not have access to clean water.

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CONCOURSE 9

Global Water Crisis

Lack of access to water is a social injustice!

ACTIVITIES:
What can you do? Working in your groups, research and discuss the Global Water Crisis.
• Define social justice, injustice, and inequality?
What social issues affect you, your family, or you friends? How do you deal with injustice and
inequality?
• Why is clean water so important? What are the health issues, social issues, and enviromental issues
of the Global Water Crisis?
• Find additional examples of people affected by the Global Water Crisis. Choose one location to
focus on. What is the issue? How has this issue historically been handled? What is currently being
done and what could be done in the future to eliminate this problem?

Ceramic Pots
Independently, you will create a coil pot representing what water means to you. Research different
symbols for water from different cultures and periods around the world. Use your knowledge from World
History to create an accurate symmetrical pot that clearly represents a historical influence. You pot must be
able to hold water and will be auctioned off to raise money for Potters for Peace- a US-based non-profit
charity.

Procedure:
• Create 4 different sketches in your sketchbook of different coil pots using the criteria. Think about
the shape of your vessel– is it going to be tapered or wider at the top?
• Show the teacher your final design in order to receive your clay.
• To make your base you will create a slab base. Take a small ball of clay and bang it against the table
to flatten it out. It should be about a 1/2 inch thick.
• Start coiling your pot following your design. You must slip and score between each layer to attach
the clay (it will fall apart when it dries if you do not).
• Engrave your name on the bottom using a pencil and turn it in.

Your vessel must have:

• Minimum of 6 inches in height
• Incorporate at least 5 different coil techniques; must be coils and not carved in!
• Repeat 1 technique at least 3 times
• Coils shouldn't be any thicker than 1/2 inch
• No open spaces- must be able to hold water
• Forms should be symmetrical (the same on all sides) and clearly show historical influence.
• Symbolically represent water
• Inside coils are smoothed out

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CONCOURSE 9