THEME: Belonging Starts with Inclusion
MEDIUM: Free-Form Abstract Expressionism
Belonging Starts with Inclusion
Social Inclusion means to really care for everyone. Lets care for everyone lovingly and together. Only then can we really feel true belonging to this community.
CHECK THIS: For more context in how we arrived to this theme, check out ...
Free-Form Abstract Expressionism
We will explore tapping into the subconscious by being present and creating through impulse. We will also learn how Abstract Expressionist Artists found a voice in this form as a response to Second World War.
Minimum materials required:
Acrylic Paint, Watercolour or tempera; paper, wood, or any paintable surface.
Brushes are not essential.
Mural Process
Week 6 Sketches for overall image.
Week 7: Writing Exercises about the Themes.
Week 8: Feedback Review of the First Draft (coming soon).
2nd Draft Sketch
DROP OFF INFORMATION
UPDATE:
Drop off your art
any day between
August 24 - August 27th
9am to 4pm
at:
Innovation Works
London, ON.
Last day to drop off your art work is AUGUST 28TH ( between 9-12 Noon) BEFORE 12 NOON
To drop-off your Art at Innovation Works follow these Instructions:
At the very front area of the main entrance, you will find a few tables and chairs as part of a coffee shop. There, you will find a Big Box Saying RUCAP. Drop-off your art here. You will also find a hand sanitizer in case you have to touch the box or someone else's work. That's it!
Note: Your Art will Be Returned to You. We had a couple of people asking about what happens to the Art. The Art will be returned to you later on, we may return your Art at the Painting Parties, or at the Unveiling events. We will make announcements when this will be taking place, most likely, late September and October.
DEADLINE TO SUBMIT YOUR ART IS FRIDAY, AUGUST 28 BEFORE 12 Noon at Innovation Works
WEEK 13!
Aug 26th - Sept 2nd
Titles, like names, give meaning
and spark a first impression.
The Title mirrors the face of the Project.
What is RUCAP's Title saying?
Goals for this week:
1. Submit Your Art-Work by Friday Noon
2. Vote for a Title for RUCAP´s 13 Panels
3. Write/record a description of your Art
Activities:
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I. RUCA´s Installation Tittle/Name
Last week we had 39 entries proposed for the naming of our 13 Panels Installation.
This Week we get to Vote on The title for this installation!
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II. Create a Quote or an Audio Description of your Art Piece
This Week You will be writing one Quote (your quote of course), or making a sound recording of 30 seconds where you describe, complement or enhance your Art piece.
This can be a statement, or something about you, or a poem, or a song... anything that describes the intention and the feelings of your process, your Art, your life, the theme of the panel, etc.
In order to Complete your quote or audio description keep in mind the following:
1. Keep it short, record an audio of 30 Seconds max, or write 5 lines Max .
2. Keep in mind the Theme in your panel when you create your description.
3. Be Creative
Deadline for this Quote or Audio Recording is Next Wednesday September 2nd
Important Note: This quote/audio will be part of the website where the panels will live. Visitors to the site can click on parts of the panels and see your description of your Art and a bit of who you are. The panels will be printed with links for visitors of the Richmond Underpass to access the context on the site. Send your Art descriptions/audios to this email
or via WhatsApp to 226.503.7188.
To have an idea of what this final piece may potentially feel like check out the following link from a previous project, once you are on the site, click on any parts within the mural:
Instructionds for Creating Your Art Piece:
Goals for the week:
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Choose your sections
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Begin creating your final art piece..
Activities:
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1. Choose your section, 2. take note of the colour palette, and 3. download your section.
This document will guide you STEP by STEP. There is lots of super useful information in there.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O6YRFi_boVJwdV6XwDggfCljhH1-snvlKbuaTH4ruqI/edit
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Shape your ‘canvas’ to the shape of your section.
Your art piece is going live inside the shape you chose. How do you create your art following this shape? There are two different ways you can approach this. 1. You can transfer the outline of the shape onto the surface, and then make your art inside this outline. Or 2. You can make your art on a rectangular surface; and once your art is finished, Alejandro and Melanie can take a photo, and crop the art in the shape of your final art piece. Choose one of these two methods:
1. Transferring the digital shape onto a large physical surface
Transfer the image using the Grid Method. Since Egyptian times, artists have been using the Grid Method as a drawing tool for more accuracy. The Grid Method is super fun, and it can be pretty easy. For detailed steps to the Grid Method, go HERE (grid link).
2. Cropping after we take photos of your final piece.
At the end of the project, participants will drop off their art to a determined location. In September, Alejandro and Melanie will take high resolution photos of all the art work. Once the art work lives digitally, your artwork is cropped out to fit the shape of your section..
The risks of this second method is that sections of your artwork will be cropped out. This becomes a problem when there are essential elements in your story. For example, if a character, a letter, or a symbol, gets cropped out, the meaning of your story may change. But if your image is an ongoing pattern, free-form shapes, or abstract, cropping parts of it may not be a problem.
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CREATE YOUR FINAL ART PIECE!!!
This is a very exciting stage. You’ve been learning many things in the past nine weeks. From creating concepts and themes, to using metaphors, and sketching stories.
Some important things to consider when you are making your final piece:
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Use all the tools you’ve learned in the past few weeks.
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Create a playlist that inspires you to reflect about Belonging and Inclusion. Painting abstract with music can be very helpful. Involve the body as much as possible. If you can dance and paint at the same time, great!
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I highly recommend that you create this piece in complete silence. No talking. If you live with other people, leave a sign on your door saying ‘For the sake of art: Please do not Interrupt.’
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The overall image (the antlers, the heart, and the drop of water) speaks to the message on belonging and inclusion. If you feel your piece is too abstract and you need a less ambiguous message, feel free to layer an image or a word through abstract forms.
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Revisit Week 8 and explore some of the tools you learned there.
Some important things to consider when making abstract art:
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You can begin by looking at an inspiring image. This image can be a direct connection to a story about belonging and inclusion. Begin painting by adding some of the lines and angles you see in the image. But without trying to represent it. The image is more of a springboard.
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Have a focal point. Having something that stands out helps the eye to have a beginning and an end.
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Vary your marks. You don’t always have to paint with a brush. Explore different tools to make marks. Perhaps these utensils are also symbolic to belonging and inclusion (a feather, a toy, a letter).
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Put all your feelings into it. This is why I recommend a playlist and no disruptions.
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Supporting Materials:
Fun Techniques: Pour acrylic painting techniques on video tutorials
Tutorials: A number of tutorials on how several Abstract Expressionist artists from the 40’s created their paintings. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-1010/post-war-american-art/abex/v/moma-painting-technique-rothko
Artist: Check out amazing Abstract Artist Judith Scott and her remarkable story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_n-8P_4IeE
TIMELINE for July and August
W #6
July 8th - 13th
Participants create sketches for possible ideas of an overall image.
W #9
July 29th - August 3rd
Participants learn about the medium through workshops and tutorials, and sketch ideas on how to turn their story into art.
W #12
August 19th - 24th
Participants take a photo of their art and submit their final piece.
W #7
July 15th - 20th
Participants share written stories related to the theme.
W #10
PHASE 3
August 5th - 10th
Participants choose the section of the mural, and begin working on their art piece.
W #13
August 26th - 31st
Participant record on audio, video or written form, a description of their art.
W #8
July 22nd - 27th
Melanie presents a final sketch for the mural, and participants suggests edits.
W #11
August 12th - 17th
Participants continue to work on their art. Melanie provides support and feedback.
Fall
PHASE 4
In September, Melanie weaves all the submissions to create 13 murals. In October, Mural gets installed in.