Cave Art and Why it's the Beginning

How many of you have seen cave art?  Good, most of you have.  You may not know where or exactly when, but you've seen it.  Do you appreciate it? Do you respect it as having high quality? Do you accept that there isn't a lot of realistic quality to the subjects? 

I introduce cave art as the first lesson in drawing one courses for numerous reasons.  Discussions range from early human records, minerals, animals, and the urge to create with the importance of historical records. 

• Do you like the art work you see on the cave wall?
• What do you think they used to make the different marks?
• How did they make the color? 
• How did they apply the color to the cave walls?
• Pigments, and minerals discussion: Science hallway
• Historic implications and timeline comparison: History Hallway (Math Hallway?)
• Line Quality, 
• Composition, artist intent, etc.

For years I began Drawing 1 classes with the cave paintings of Lascaux, France.  Now I've changed to the movie by Werner Herzog "Cave of Forgotten Dreams" 2010, the cave art of Chauvet, France.  Cave of Forgotten Dreams is the result of Herzog's exclusive access to the recently discovered Chauvet caves in the South of France, and their truly extraordinary cave paintings, dating back 32,000 years.

But, the Lascaux story must be told to students first (Finding Lascaux). I still begin the school year with the story of the discovery of one of the most famous caves of art and how some teenagers and a dog were the ones to do so.  

Finding Lascaux
Four Boys and a Dog


In September 1940, four boys and a dog set out on an adventure in Dordogne. The boys - Marcel Ravidat, Jacques Marsal, Georges Agnel and Simon Coencas – where intrigued by an old legend about a tunnel running under the Vezere River linking the old Castel of Montignac to the Manor of Lascaux. According to the legend, this tunnel would lead to a second tunnel and a treasure hidden deep in the woods of Montignac.

Robot the dog with two of the four cave's discoverers




Finding Lascaux

FULL LASCAUX WEBSITE

This is the best cave art "MOVIE".

Cave of Forgotten Dreams. 

Cave of Forgotten Dreams, Mankind's Lost Masterpiece

The Art of the Chauvet Cave

I play the beginning of the movie on Netflix in class and don't provide much information prior. The documentary speaks for itself.  Even with Werner's weird accent.  The beginning of art.

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1st Day of Art Class Sch-peel and the Problems With Society

Last Thursday at the football game I saw a sophomore girl who I had seen on my class roster that I had checked.  I said "Hey I see you took drawing, I'll see you Tuesday (for the first day of class).  She replied, "Ah no, I switched out. I decided I can't draw".  Me, "What??? Is this something your parents had said? like they can't  draw,  so you probably can't". She said "yeah actually they did."

Then and there I went into my first day of class sch-peel (since 1997 it seems) with my survey questions:

Can you speak German?  If you take a German class for 20 weeks, will you learn some German?
Can you play guitar?  If you took guitar lessons for 20 weeks, would you learn to play some guitar?

Math, Science, History, do students walk in with a PRECONCEIVED ability for the class?  "Oh I don't know anything about history; I'm going to do terrible." Of course not.

ART IS NOT GENETIC! 

Seriously parents, you are such a detriment to us art teachers!  Parents, just because you may not have done well in a certain subject, or skill, don't tell your child,

 "I was awful at art; it's OK that you are probably too." 

Anyone can learn the skills of art, like any other course.  From these technical skills if someone enjoys them, works at them and masters them, they may want to continue on.  Those students who enjoy it, and continue on, learn to see things differently and creatively. It doesn't just happen or is given to them.  

My 1st Day Sch-peel

First:  My Name, written the same on the board, every time, year after year,  Mr. Rheault (Row), telling them to always make people pronounce your name correctly. You'd be shocked at how many students just say "that's fine" on mispronouncing their names.  No it is not.  Yes some are difficult and thus a nickname is formed (that will be stuck with them through life probably).

Dry Erase Board

Second: Attendance, always precious attendance. "1st Day Present" selected from the pull down menu on every student. The roll call even brings students personalities to light.  I ask them to say "Here" in a resounding voice I can hear to match the face with the name.  Just that act can establish a certain personality, the student with the attention seeking answer or the shy don't acknowledge me answer.  You can imagine all the responses I've heard.

Third: Class Survey, "Raise your hand above your head". The all important grade survey. Seniors can't wait to hear it on the first day "How many Seniors?" Oh how they smile and you can see how proud they are. It's probably the first time in front of other underclassmen they have been called out to be acknowledged.  This is a deserved life moment all students have earned - except for the kid who's not sure because they didn't have enough credits as a junior. Juniors, sophomores, and then I say "The all important number I'm looking for, freshmen". That's another story in its self.  I go on to ask each student "How many have had an art class in this school before?" "What were those classes?" asking each student. And for those that haven't, "What assignment do they remember from middle school?" This includes freshmen. Trying to jar loose some prior knowledge.

Then it gets good.  Standing by the classroom door, "How many of you either in halls talking to friends or just prior to walking in the door said out loud or to yourselves, I can't do this, I'm terrible at art"? Along with, "I can't even draw a stick figure"?

Today one class of Drawing 1 students had six students raise their hands without hesitation that they just did this. 

And there it is!  How has this happened?  I then make the point that if we all visited an elementary school 2nd or 3rd grade class, none of those kids would say they are terrible at art. Hell no, they would be jumping at the chance to be in an art class that very moment.  So what happened?  Our society, and obviously teenage peer pressure pushes young adults from taking risks and expressing themselves personally.  They don't want to be judged by others; they don't want to be criticized or compared.  The comparison in art to masterpieces or high level works cannot be attained by a beginner.  Students think that if they don't do perfect art, they can't do ANY art.  Why is it not the same as a beginning foreign language class, a history class, science class etc?  We offer art classes to learn, not to showcase talent.  (I showcase the hell out of talented by the way.)

Sch-peel Continued

Your homework, I say, "Tonight over spaghetti dinner, which many of you will have tonight, when your parents ask about your first day of school, and they will by the way.  Oh and what an opportunity this is for you.  Look them in the eye, talk about each class you have, take advantage of this opportunity!  They will tear up, actually tear up!  'My child is talking to me' they'll say to themselves, maybe a raise in the allowance even.   

Tell me if your parents interrupt you, mid forkful, and say "I can't even draw a stick figure." 

This is how I draw/teach stick figures by the way.

FYI I can no longer teach my unit on Figure Drawing/Stick Figures.  So many class days have been cut out with assemblies, tests, and whatnot, I removed this unit.

Another Tangent

I usually also discuss another aspect of the quote:

When I am introducing myself to other adults, with an extended hand to shake even, on contact, the other states with a big smile "I CAN'T EVEN DRAW A STICK FIGURE".  This happens all the time to those of us in certain positions, English teachers get "I can't write/read" or "I hate reading/writing" or "Are you going to correct the way I talk?"  Good times.  

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I am a huge believer of art being an amazing kind of therapy.  My Great Grandma has always been into ceramics, as have I. When I started working at a ceramics shop, my Grandma was living with my Uncle and eventually went into an assisted living home for seniors. It's an apartment for seniors where they are able to do whatever they want but they have the help when they need it.

I started visiting her once a week on my day off and was known as the craft lady always bringing her something to keep her busy. I was the only one who could get her up and moving, staying awake and talking, after all she is 98 and wants nothing more then to sleep and have some of Curt's coffee (her favorite). Eventually my best friend and her daughter started coming with me, which Grandma adores. And we always have crafts for them to do.

We've painted ceramics and made aprons for them (which they wore all day) and have done plenty of drawing and playing with stickers. Every time we come she always lites up and is ready to learn the next craft. Telling everyone what we've done with a big smile.

Working with your hands keeps your mind moving, as well as working on your coordination, even for those who aren't very mobile anymore. It gives everyone something to smile about everytime they see it hanging on their bedroom wall as well as something to talk about with those visiting.

My Great Grandma has made me a true believer of art therapy and has given me many memories, which I will always be able to remember.

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Advanced Art Techniques Assignment February 2010

These were carpet rolls that were cut and piled in a box that another teacher had offered up at a professional development meeting I remember.

I had the box for quite a while, always in my eye site in the room, until I came up with the assignment.  I had been drawing on one at my desk and ventured towards an environment, and there she went.  

Here's a secret:  I call "landscapes" environments because an environment can be anywhere and I feel students can be more creative with that instead of always being on the planet earth or just outdoors on land.

I remember they were strong pieces in art show that year, placed on a centered round table of the show.  They are seen in the 2010 Franklin Art Show movies.

I did not photograph the pieces.  I remember asking a student do so, and get multiple angles.  Was it Mary, Rachel or Jeff?  The pictures were very balanced and similar so I thought  they looked good as a moving slideshow movie. read more

So I've known Ro for a few years. I came to observe his classroom when I was getting my teaching certification from EMU. This guy has posters on the ceiling! He hangs quotes from the ceiling! When he needs to get your attention (students), his voice will shake the tiles on the ceiling! Ok, not really, but I was intrigued by his methods, and when I accepted a job out here in northern Nevada, I used a few of his techniques my first year, and they worked! I am now finishing my fourth year of teaching and teach upper classman in the oldest high school in Nevada! Not in Las Vegas. I am six hours north of there, in a rural location. Cowboys come here in January and share stories and art. It's a mining town, too. But I am still using things I learned from Michigan and Mr. Ro and others, applying them to my own methods and getting these kids out here to know and understand art in a high desert community.

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I have spent the last ten years of my life trying to create the cleanest, flattest, shiniest, least brushstrokey paintings possible. I have been more inspired by the front of a dishwasher, a gas station pump, the sign at Kroger, a lunch tray, than anything in a museum, nature, or issues in politics.
I am still tongue in cheek. I am still flat. I am still plexiglass. I am still countertop laminate, masking tape, spray paint, and polyurethane.

But I have discovered the drip.

I have known about it for years. Always rejected it.
Abstract expressionism? Stop it.

But then I dripped.

It started by accident.
Not the Jackson Pollock "I just dripped paint on the floor, OMG it looks so cool I have to try this on a giant ass canvas and make some totally amazeballs, completely moving paintings" type of accident.
But one of those "I have a student who is a senior and going into UofM's design school who is really good, has a great eye for composition but is totally restricted and scared to get out of her shell, OMG lets collaborate and I'll do everything to your work you would be too scared to ever do like spray paint, stencil, drip paint, and cover your work with drawings" type of accident.
It looked like this.

It excites me.
Excited like I haven't been in a while about anything I've done.

So I had to try it on my own.
I'm uncomfortable.
I'm unsure of myself.
It's opposite of what I'm used to.
I'm not in control.
I'm in progress.

It's still me...

But weird alternate universe me...

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I've had the idea for years. In fact since 2003 I believe. What if I was able to corral the numerous personal alumni talents, skills, and interests that I've come across? What if we helped each other?

I have worked hard on websites, Facebook and Twitter to promote. Those have gone extremely well, but I know I can do better. 

My definition of websites now is that of an archive of information.  A place to go to get something as if researching or buying a specific item. I feel social media is the key to promotion of the arts. Facebook is great for a two day span, then the great posts get lost.  It's difficult to find a certain post when you need it.  Twitter is good for an hour at best then the thought gets lost.  

I feel a blog and its archive organization is what I'm looking for. A place for comments and posts by many. 

Any alumni connected through me can blog here. I would like to have daily blogs by different people.  An agreement where they would blog on certain days. I also don't want anyone to do extra work, to share a personal blog here or link to their own sites. 

I want to generate a community and share each other communities.  I feel through my teaching since 1998 I have quite the awesome community!  So why not share all around the country. 

THE GROUND UP

The goal of this blog is having numerous, talented, passionate, alumni (to start), who will contribute posts and promote their personal interests and happenings.  

In no way do I want those to do any more "work" then they already do.  One post a week, or just bring us to your own blog.  Promote yourself and your businesses. FROM THE GROUND UP.   

If we all tie our personal social, business, groups, "communities" together.  With me being the tying factor between contibutors,  we can provide a nationwide effect and support for our social networks.  

I personally will have a place to organize my lessons and influence that others can RESPOND/REPLY too. Seems better then a website and more organized then Facebook.  I also wanted to break away from some censorship of "school". 

We will use facebook and twitter to share our posts.

GROUND UP.  Please reply.  Hope to add YOU as a contributor. I'm proud of you. 

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I thought Walt mispronounced Robert Henri's name...nope.  Tons of Great points.

1958: Old Disney artists show their various painting techniques through a nature study.

Walt Disney anthology television series

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney_anthology_television_series

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Going over Comic Sans and how Cyndi Lareau was hired as Dan Gilbert's personal assistant.  It was quite a lesson.

More coming.

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Phil Hansen: Embrace the Shake

I made a lot of points today about this video. 

• He had to get "out of the box".
• Then he put himself "back in the box" 
• The PROCESS videoed was extremely important and in my opinion helped the artwork.
• His young age played a roll and was identifiable to many.
• His skill level?
• What was his process before attempting?
• How does the video make you feel?
• What do you think inspired him to TRY these new techniques? 
• Did he just try one time? How did he prepare?
• Would you like to contact this artist?

  philinthecircle.com/

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