Lesson Plan: The Art of "Putting It All Together"
A Lesson on Incorporation in Contemporary Philippine Art
Materials Needed:
- For Research: Computer or tablet with internet access, notebook, and pen.
- For the Main Activity (Assemblage Art):
- A sturdy base (e.g., a shoebox, a piece of cardboard, an old picture frame, or a small canvas).
- Strong glue (glue gun or craft glue like E6000 is best, but school glue can work for lighter items).
- Scissors.
- Paint and paintbrushes (acrylic is ideal).
- "Found Objects": A collection of small, meaningful, or interesting items from around the house. This is the most important part! Examples include:
- Old keys, broken jewelry, buttons, beads.
- Bottle caps, puzzle pieces, small toy parts.
- Natural items like twigs, pebbles, dried leaves, or shells.
- Scraps of fabric, ribbon, or yarn.
- Printed materials like old magazine clippings, newspaper text, or ticket stubs.
Subject: Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions
Quarter 2, Module 3: Incorporation of Contemporary Art Forms & Spotlight on Additional National Artists
1. Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Analyze how contemporary Filipino artists use incorporation (mixing different materials and objects) to create meaning in their art.
- Create a personal mixed-media artwork (an assemblage) that incorporates found objects to tell a story or express an idea.
- Write a brief "Artist Statement" to explain the choices and meaning behind your artwork, connecting it to the techniques studied.
2. Introduction: "Art Mash-Up" Warm-Up (10 minutes)
Let's start by thinking about how different things can come together to create something new!
- Find Three Unrelated Objects: Quickly gather three random, small objects from the room you are in. (Example: a pen, a crumpled piece of paper, and a leaf from a plant).
- Create a Story: In 60 seconds, create a mini-story or a title for an artwork that connects these three items. For example, "The Forgotten Letter" could connect the pen, paper, and leaf (representing time passing).
- Discuss: Think about this: How did combining these simple things change their meaning? This is the core idea of "incorporation" in art—giving new life and meaning to materials by putting them together.
3. Core Concepts & Artist Spotlight (20 minutes)
The Big Idea: What is Incorporation in Art?
In contemporary art, "incorporation" means combining, mixing, or adding different materials, objects, or even ideas into one artwork. It's about breaking the rules that say a painting can only be made of paint or a sculpture only of stone. Artists do this to:
- Tell a Deeper Story: An old photograph mixed into a painting can add a layer of memory and history.
- Challenge Ideas: Using garbage or discarded items can make a powerful statement about our environment and society.
- Create Unique Textures: Combining smooth paint with rough fabric and shiny metal makes an artwork more interesting to look at and touch.
Artist Spotlight: Filipino Masters of Incorporation
Let's look at two Filipino artists who are brilliant at this. Spend a few minutes looking up their work online.
- Leeroy New: He is famous for his large-scale, wearable sculptures and installations that look like something from science fiction. He often uses everyday materials like plastic bottles, colanders, and tubes.
- Look for: His "Aliens of Manila" series or his installation at the Gwangju Biennale.
- Think about: How does he transform trash or common objects into something fantastical and otherworldly?
- Pacita Abad: She was a world-renowned painter known for her vibrant, colorful style and her unique technique called "trapunto" painting. Instead of just painting on a flat canvas, she would stuff and stitch her canvases and add materials like beads, buttons, shells, and fabric to create a 3D, textile-like surface.
- Look for: Her "Bacongo" series or the "Alkaff Bridge" in Singapore.
- Think about: How does the texture of her work add to the feeling of joy and energy?
4. Main Activity: Create Your "Story Box" Assemblage (60-90 minutes)
Now it’s your turn to be the artist! You will create an assemblage—a 3D collage—that tells a story about you, a memory, or a dream using found objects.
- Choose Your Theme: What story do you want to tell? Some ideas:
- "A Map of My Personality"
- "A Favorite Memory"
- "A Dream World"
- "My Favorite Hobby/Interest"
- Prepare Your Base: Take your shoebox, cardboard, or canvas. If you want, paint a background color that fits your theme. Let it dry.
- Gather Your Materials: Look at the collection of "found objects" you gathered. Choose the items that best connect to your theme. Remember what we learned: each object can have a special meaning! A key might represent a secret, a twig could represent nature, a button could represent family connections.
- Arrange and Compose: Before you glue anything down, arrange your objects on the base. Move them around. Think about balance, color, and texture. How can you place them to best tell your story? Do you want some things to stand out?
- Glue It Down: Once you are happy with your composition, carefully glue each piece into place. Let it dry completely. This is your finished artwork!
5. Reflection & Discussion (15 minutes)
Take a step back and look at your creation. Think about or discuss the following questions:
- Which object in your artwork is the most important? Why did you choose it?
- How did your theme evolve or change as you were creating?
- If Leeroy New or Pacita Abad saw your work, what part do you think they would find most interesting?
- What was the most challenging part of this project? What was the most fun?
6. Assessment: Artist Statement & Rubric
The final step is to explain your work, just like a real artist in a gallery. On a piece of paper or in a document, write a short "Artist Statement" (2-3 paragraphs).
Your Artist Statement should include:
- The Title of Your Artwork.
- What It Is About: Briefly explain the theme or story behind your piece.
- Your Materials: Explain why you chose at least three specific "found objects" and what they symbolize or represent in your artwork.
- Your Influence: Mention how the idea of "incorporation" (like the artists we studied) helped you create this piece.
Evaluation Rubric:
| Criteria | Excellent (3 pts) | Good (2 pts) | Needs Improvement (1 pt) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application of "Incorporation" | Artwork creatively combines a wide variety of found objects and materials to build a complex, textured piece. | Artwork combines several found objects with a base material. | Artwork uses only one or two additional materials with little variation. |
| Creativity & Storytelling | The artwork clearly and originally tells a personal story or expresses a theme. The choice of objects is highly symbolic. | The artwork connects to a theme, and the choice of objects is mostly clear. | The theme is unclear, or the objects seem randomly placed. |
| Artist Statement | Statement is well-written, clearly explains the artwork's meaning, and insightfully connects the use of materials to the lesson's concepts. | Statement explains the artwork's theme and mentions the materials used. | Statement is incomplete or does not clearly explain the choices made in the artwork. |
7. Extension Activity (Optional)
If you loved this, try one of these!
- Digital Assemblage: Use a free tool like Canva or Google Slides to create a digital collage. Find images of different textures, objects, and patterns online and "incorporate" them into a single digital artwork that tells a story.
- Research Another Artist: Find another contemporary Filipino artist who uses incorporation. Some to look for are Mark Salvatus (uses maps and objects from his travels) or Rodel Tapaya (incorporates folk myths into his large-scale paintings). See how their style is different from Leeroy New and Pacita Abad.