Art Explorer 10: It's for a Good Cause

The Community Arts Project (CAP) was an opportunity where groups picked a topic of their interests and basically ran with it.  Here is what I mean... Groups were supposed to come up with a "campaign" that would raise awareness to one of many social justice issues in today's society.  My group decided to raise awareness for a social justice that had not only directly affected each of us, but every girl around the world.  That topic was Pre-Teen Female Bullying.  

We established the WORDS HURT GTA campaign, with the main goal of advocating and raising awareness to pre-teen female bullying.  We were looking to achieve this goal by giving a VOICE to young females.  Voice can be seen as an art element, as each work of art is meant to have a voice; basically, the story being told.  Through school presentations and participation in workshops, young females would be able to tell their stories and ultimately share their voice.

Example of Workshop: Secret World

Since 43% of girls fear harassment in school bathrooms (personal confrontation or written message on stall walls), we decided to create a mobile stall that girls can use to write their thoughts and feelings about bullying.  They can draw images, or write words, doing what ever works for their creativity. Girls will go in and use our special black light markers, to express their voices about bullying. The room will not have the black light on at this point so they will not see what any one else has written. After everyone has had the opportunity to go into the stall, we will switch on the black light and allow the girls to go in back, to show how bullying effects everyone. We hope this will help girls to share their stories and get their voices heard. 

The WORDS HURT GTA team has used social networking as a means of raising awareness and I believe we have established a solid foundation! Now is the time to continue spreading the word, in the hopes of actually establishing and maintaining this campaign and most importantly, making a difference!

**Note to Future Educators**

As a precaution, teachers should become familiar with the different forms of bulling, as it frequently occurs in schools. All teachers should discourage bullying and when witnessing an incident, it should not be overlooked.  Lastly, teachers must encourage the victims of bullying to come forward and share their voices.  It is extremely important that victims know their voices are being heard!

Art Explorer 9: Sharing is Caring

Guerrilla art is meant to spark a reaction, not a critique; that's because the focus is on the process not the product. 
I think that this process involves two art elements, passion and risk.  Although these are not listed in the textbook , I feel that they are the most relevant to Guerrilla art.  Passion is a requirement, as one must believe in their creation; because if the artist doesn't believe in their own creation, why would anyone else?  Also, some form of risk usually arises as Guerrilla art is created in public places.  Typical Guerrilla art can be seen on the side of buildings, (graffiti, like the one above), or on sidewalks (chalk art).  I also chose the element of risk because I felt a thrilling sense when I did my own Guerrilla art, Sharing is Caring. 

I wrote an anonymous letter, made several copies and stuck they on neighbor's front doors. The letter consisted of a famous quote that causes people to remember, "sharing is caring".
The letter read:

Here is the reaction I got from my next-door neighbor:

• I was standing behind a column waiting for someone to leave or come home.  
• Then she must of saw the letter from inside because she came to the front door and took the important notice. She slightly moved back inside and read the letter. 
• Then she looked up to see if anyone was there.. 
• I came out and explained to her what was going on and she laughed, saying it was a great idea. 

While I was waiting there to see someones reaction, this sense of risk and thrill built up inside me; like somehow I was going to get caught or in trouble.  But that didn't happen... in the end it all worked out and I did something that I felt passionate about.

**Note to Future Educators**

Try doing a Guerrilla art project with your children and remember to emphasize the art elements of passion and risk.  Guerrilla art is also a fun way to educate children on the various reactions a single piece of artwork receives.