Casting shadows to change perception
Kara Walker is an artist who has cast a light on how racism still exists today. Her time in the south has had a large impact on her work, however it didn’t come around until after she completed college at Atlanta College of Art and went on to Rhode Island School of Design for her Master’s degree. She is famous for creating cut outs in black paper and attaching them to a wall. The result is highly contrasted images.
Tracing shadows
Materials:
Sketchbook
Crayons
Colored pencils
Pastels
Any dry media
Objects collected around the home
Flashlight, phone light or natural light
Procedure:
Before class begins, instruct students to collect two objects around the home. It can have meaning to them, such as a social justice matter or it can be a seasonal object. Any small object will suffice. Ensure that they will have tested the area to see if it casts shadows, if not, have them prepared with a flashlight or phone light. Have the students be ready to sketch with their objects, sketchbooks and drawing medium of their choice.
- Instruct students to place objects on an open, flat page.
- Have the students find a shadow, with the sunlight or flashlight
- Ask them to experiment with different positions of the object before they start drawing
- This is the fun part, begin tracing your shadow!
- With the shadow complete, ask the students if it looks anything like the original object or what their expectations were.
Extension Ideas:
Ask students to do a contour line drawing with their shadow
Have them explore with different mediums, markers crayons, etc
If possible, have them cut out their shadows and paste them onto paper like Kara Walker!
Dannie Mercuro 