SGBIS Art, Design & Technology Investigation, Extension & Challenge Unit Year 9 Art & Design:
Futurism, Fantasy & Flight
SGBIS Year 9 Art & DT: Futurism, Fantasy & Flight Description of the project: This is a mixed and multi-media Art & Design project in which you will explore different ways of viewing and communicating ideas about movement (particularly flight) , energy and the passage of time. You will then go on to develop creative and imaginative outcomes in media including drawing, collage, painting, collage, kinetic (moving) and/or wearable sculpture and photography.
Products/outcomes Over the entire term you will produce a range of exciting, creative and experimental work in your Art sketchbooks and also on a larger scale. The main outcomes (finished things) may include:
Detailed, carefully presented research pages exploring relevant artists & designers (click on these example links and the many others throughout this unit to start your own individual research,):
Theo Jansen Zaha Hadid
Futurist Art
Sculptural Headwear
Chinese Shadow Puppets
Giacomo Balla
Maurizio Angeletti
Observational & imaginative/interpretative drawings in graphite, pencil and paint.
Large scale mixed media collage and painting work
Work in clay, card, wire, wood, paper, fabric and other relief and sculptural materials to produce kinetic sculptures that might be worn, carried, be wind powered or might actually fly…
Investigation & Preparation
You will investigate how the time and place (social and historical contexts) in which artworks are created have an effect on how they look, their meaning and their use.
You will explore the ideas, approaches, techniques of a range of artists and designers so as to develop an understanding of their ideas and methods and the meanings and uses of their work.
You will use observation, both from photographs, artworks, and directly from life (in the classroom and at the Historic Aircraft Museum at Vigna di Valle) to investigate forms, shapes, ideas and images that you will then use in your own work
You will explore various visual media this term such as collage/relief painting CAD/CAM and kinetic sculpture You will also research the history of these techniques as well as exploring how other artists and designers have used these techniques at different times and in diverse cultures.
You will plan your outcomes whilst thinking about the needs of the final users and viewers. This may include younger, older or visually impaired users/viewers.
Use the links throughout this unit as a launch pad for your own research.
Investigation extension oportunity Produce an extended research scrap book/journal over several sketchbook pages, that contains phrases, poetry, photographs, sketches, paintings, found items, song lyrics, etc. relating to your thoughts about movement, flight, Futurism or any of the other artists and artworks that you have been investigating
SGBIS Year 9 Art & DT: Futurism, Fantasy & Flight Click on these these links to Pinterest boards for Futurism, Flight, Kinetic & Wearable Art & Drawing to inspire your own original work and guide your investigations:
Investigation extension opportunity: Make and share your own Pinterest board relating to an aspect of this project that most interests you
SGBIS Year 9 Art & DT: Futurism, Fantasy & Flight Futurism Wikipedia Description
(click to view)
Video
A Brief Guide to Futurist Art and Futurism
Video
Umberto Boccioni
Video
Futurism (Khan Academy)
Video
Futurist Music (Luigi Russolo - Macchina Tipografica)
These thumbnails link to larger images as well as further information on Futurism
Flight Video
early aircraft failiures
Video
Pelicans in flight
Video
Swallows drinking in flight
Video
Kite Festival
These thumbnails link to larger images as well as further information and flight resources
SGBIS Year 9 Art & DT: Futurism, Fantasy & Flight Chinese Shadow Puppets Video
Chinese shadow puppetry
Video
Cinderella with shadow puppets
These thumbnails link to larger images as well as further information about the puppets
All Year Nine Art groups will create textural relief paintings inspired by the aircraft museum trip and the work of Futurist artists. The sculptural outcomes will vary between groups: 
Classes who produced animated films (see link to example) in the Natural Forms project will produce wearable (eg: headgear), kinetic (moving/wind powered) or flying sculptures in this project.
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Classes who worked towards a textiles based outcome will produce and animate shadow puppets in this project. Extension and challenge opportunities (at home or in Art Club): Option 1: Make your own video documentary about birds, early aircraft or Futurism. Copy the style of the original videos shown above (colour, music, atmosphere, dialogue). Option 2: If your group carried out their animation in the Natural Forms project and you would like to make animated shadow puppets, then you may explore this possibility as an extension task. Option 3: If your group worked on shadow puppets and you would like to explore kinetic, wearable or flying sculptures, then you may explore this possibility as an extension task.
SGBIS Year 9 Art & DT: Futurism, Fantasy & Flight Techniques, Skills & Knowledge Using drawing, sketching and prototyping as observational and problem solving tools: Different types of drawing and modelling help you to think and work creatively – this can include imaginative and experimental drawing as well as precise work recording what you can see. Absorbing different ideas and influences and creating something new: Translating ideas from one artist, designer, and or/culture to another. The final outcomes are to be an original work rather than a copy of existing artefacts or artworks. Borrowing is good – extend your artistic vocabulary! Using colour, texture and pattern in 2 and 3 dimensions: Developing and using surface textures and patterns based upon observation, experimentation and imagination. Working in advanced techniques and media: You will need to follow instructions carefully in order to safely and effectively use new techniques within this project. Creativity often needs a great deal of concentration and discipline. Creative Critical Collaboration: Sharing ideas, comments and helpful suggestions with your peers. This means that your own work and that of others can achieve the best possible result. Planning to create works of Art & Design for specific audiences, users and viewers: plan and produce your outcomes whilst thinking about the needs of a range of other people. This may include younger, older or visually impaired users/viewers. Planning & creating work that can be displayed or used in a range of ways: your paintings can be hung on the wall. However, your sculptures may be worn, displayed outside school or even fly from the top of the building! All of these locations and uses will impact upon the way you design and create your sculptures.
Further extension and challenge opportunities (at home or in Art Club): Option 1: Design a museum or gallery space of Futurist Art to occupy an area of derelict or recycled land somewhere in your local environment. How can you make it seem exciting and inviting to visitors, yet sympathetic and appropriate for the local urban environment? How might the design of the building express and reflect the ideas and artworks of Futrurism? You might use card modelling or the following free 3D software to help visualise your plans: SKETCHUP
Option 2: Design (& make if you have time) a complete carnival costume on the theme of ‘Flight’. The costume might include elements of lighting, sound and movement. You might be inspired by both natural flight (birds, bats, fish etc) and mechanical (human made) flight.
Images for inspiration
SGBIS Year 9 Art & DT: Futurism, Fantasy & Flight More Inspiration: Ideas, References and Resources (click on links to follow): More sites, pages and videos about other inspirational designers, artists and ideas that will help you to develop your own work or investigation for this project (click thumbnails)
Other useful Art & DT links (click on them): Artcyclopedia
Glossary (meanings of art/design related words) Explore Museums
DAFONT (Good for exploring lettering styles)
The Design Council
Artist Quotes
Artists’ and designers’ sketchbooks Art from diverse times and cultures The Victoria & Albert Museum (Art & Design Ideas from different times and cultures)
GM 2014