The grade 8 students have been continuing their exploration of art history and recently looked at Abstract Expressionist art, focussing on the work of Jackson Pollock. Pollock was a New York City-based artist who produced work in the 1950s and 1960s that used a very unique style of creation that was revolutionary for the time. Rather than painting using the typical method of a paintbrush on canvas, he would often drip paint from a brush or stick on to the paper, which he usually had on the floor. He would move around the paper, waving his arms, allowing the paint to fall and to create an abstract piece. His art was deliberate but did not usually involve any planning ahead of time.
Before students experienced this type of art for themselves, they had to complete a reflection of their opinions based on what they saw and observed during our lessons. Many students were initially confused how this was considered “art” and the process challenged their usual instructions of planning out their ideas ahead of time.
The grade 8 classes were then provided with the opportunity to mimic this style of creation, which is very different from what they are used to! Desks were moved aside and paper was put on the floor, with the students put into groups and given a “kit” that they could use in whatever ways they wished. This kit included straws to blow the paint, paintbrushes and sticks to drop the paint, and forks to spread the paint. Students either sat on the floor surrounding the paper or moved around, just like Jackson Pollock.
Students had fun trying this out and participating in a very different style of class. The resulting creations definitely displayed this Abstract Expressionism and challenged students to reconsider what “art” is!
