INTERACTING WITH AN ARTWORK ASSIGNMENT

Choose an artwork from http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists from one of their many artists

Drag it and place it here↓

Artist: Laylah Ali Title: Untitled Year: 1999 Medium: Gouache with paper and pencil

DESCRIPTION:
Take inventory of what is visible. Consider formal qualities – elements and principles, techniques, dimensions, media.
Principles: pattern, rhythm, balance; repeating figures, and organizedcomposition
Elements: shape, line color and space; monochromatic color palette, controlled space
Dimensions: 8 1/4 x 13 3/4 inches.
Techniques: Laylah Ali uses gouache paint on paper while spending long hours paying close attention to detail leaving the work seemingly like a
cartoon strip.
Media: Gouache with paper and pencil

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Write 3 discussion questions related to interpreting the piece. Avoid yes/no questions as they don’t facilitate discussion.
1. How does the artist utilize the principles and elements of art to illustrate the work’s ambiguous message and possibly a narrative, depending on the viewer?
2. When you, as the viewer observe the artist’s piece what questions are you mentally asking yourself and how does the piece ove rall make you feel?
3. What of your own life experiences or observations can you connect with when you view the artist’s work?
CONTEXT:
Research any background info on artist, time period, media, and processes.
Growing up in a predominantly Caucasian suburban town Laylah Ali illustrates some connected scenes of her childhood as well a s scenes of
violence before and after the event itself. Laylah Ali draws on these experiences only as inspiration not as direct narratives, leaving the
meaning to the viewer’s eyes. In terms of the artist's process she initially sketches out her ideas and collects images of figures with curious
hand gestures or body movements from newspaper clippings. From here, she organizes these images into folders to reference later. Once her
sketches are finalized, she meticulously draws them onto larger sheets of paper and paints in specific sections while never "cross-
contaminating" colors during the process. This takes months of delicate work and attention to detail.

IDEAS FOR TEACHING with this piece:

Identify age group for your activities.
This artist and this piece I've designated for older groups between 7th and 12th grade where we can dive deeper into the meaning of the
artist's imagery, background and the potential subjects of politics, injustice, and violence. Before presenting a future project, I would want my
students to have a casual group discussion where each group has an assortment of images from Ali's work. In doing this each group could
contribute something different, observe the artist's style and gain inspiration from not only one artwork by her. From there, they could
discuss themes, principles and elements, answer the discussion questions and possibly sketch out ideas and brainstorm together for future
pieces pertaining to Ali's subject matter or aesthetic choices.

CROSS-CURRICULAR CONNECTIONS:
List some cross-curricular connections, providing details of how this piece could be connected to other subject areas.
With the politically charged images of Laylah Ali's work, subjects such as history, government and social studies could poten tially analyze her
body of work and connect it with themes of social justice, and racial Issues. Hopefully students can connect their own life experiences to Ali's
work even outside of these subject areas.

Be ready to share image, ideas for teaching, and one other box in class. (This must be at the bottom of this page when you submit.)