How To Make An ARTivist

Carla Aaron-Lopez, Visual Arts, Whitewater Middle School

Curriculum Unit (pdf)

Synopsis

This curriculum unit is about how we can teach our students about their human rights using artists that are also activists. Using their works as an example will support students’ investigation for how to visually interpret what they have learned about their rights. However, students will also learn about what happens to artists as activists that have positive and negative consequences because of their art. Artists such as Ai Weiwei, Shepard Fairey, Banksy and the Guerrilla Girls serve as examples of artists that are also activists for human rights. Each artist creates work that leaves an impact on the art world as well with the international public at large. Most of these artists have also incurred consequences because of their art, which needs to be addressed with students. In the end, students will be able to discuss what they have learned about children’s rights and human rights through their version of artist’s book.