The purpose of experimentation day is to try new things without the fear of failure. In this lesson, I want you to not be afraid to fail, try new things, and experiment!
Assignment:
Experiment with different materials to make something without having a plan
Present what you made at the end of class and answer the following questions: What materials did you experiment with? What did you learn from your experimentation? What successes or failures came out of your experimentation?
Guided Questions:
What materials are you afraid to try?
What is something you have never done?
What ideas are you interested in and want to make work about?
Standard:
L1.V.CR.3: Engage in making a work of art or design without having a preconceived plan
Why?
This lesson is based on an idea called "FedEx day" based on a practice from a company in Australia. How this practice works is that software development employees from the company will be assigned to work on anything they want to do each quarter for 24 hours. After the time is up, they will present or "deliver" the results.
Other companies, such as Google, also uses this free time exploration method with their employees. One day a week, employees will focus on a free project. Gmail, and 50% of google products have come out of this "personal passion project" time.
"The concept is that people will learn more and produce more willingly when they are given the freedom to choose the outcome (autonomy), feel like they are perfecting something (mastery) and believe that they are contributing to the greater good of their world (purpose). "
- Mark Barnes
For additional instruction and resources: http://life-long-learners.com/dan-pink-recommends-a-fedex-day-for-students-and-teachers/
Materials Stations
IDEAS
Art Websites
The Art Assignment
Art 21
This is Colossal
Booooooom
Ignant
Contemporary Art Daily
Met Museum
Umoca
Umfa
Arts and Artists
More Ideas!
Collage, Charcoal transfer drawings, photography, crochet, comic, book-binding, embroidered paper, freezer paper stencils, ink paper marbling, acetone transfers, monotypes, layered drawings, painting, stamps, printmaking, spray-paint, vinyl, video art, animation, digital art, zines, watercolor, gouache