Hi! I am a painter/teacher. I have given several short workshops to middle
and high school students related to the theme of surprise in media and
composition and am interested in more ideas. So far I have done the
following:
In a Pollockesque introduction, I clear desks and chairs from the center
of a classroom, cover the floor with cast-off billboard papers, tell the
students to sit up atop desks (out of harm's way). I dribble and splatter
two colors of latex house paint over the billboard images, maybe blot or
smear paint, then ask students what incidents they find exciting or
interesting. They help me carefully fold up the billboards to put in a trash
can (I'll use this debris in my own work.)
Then in a student project, I have provided large construction paper to be
accordion folded. Students make a design on one fold of the accordion, and
pass it on after folding their design to hide it. They take turns making
designs on the accordions given them, blind to the designs already made.
Finally these are opened up to reveal unexpected juxtapositions.
I know about the Surrealist method of throwing shapes into the air and
"accepting" the resulting compositions. Monoprints are good too I suppose.
Any other suggestions? Thanks, in advance.
Ted Leigh
York, PA
