Project Goal
To foster a deeper appreciation for the cultural tapestry of Sunset Park through the exploration of mural art, culminating in the creation of a collaborative school mural.
Project Objectives
- Introduce students to the concept of murals as a form of community expression.
- Explore the works of renowned muralists, such as Diego Rivera, and local artists.
- Analyze the visual narratives within Sunset Park’s murals.
- Develop collaborative skills and critical thinking through mural planning and design.
- Create a visually impactful mural that reflects the community’s diversity and identity.
Project Objectives
- Introduce students to the concept of murals as a form of community expression.
- Explore the works of renowned muralists, such as Diego Rivera, and local artists.
- Analyze the visual narratives within Sunset Park’s murals.
- Develop collaborative skills and critical thinking through mural planning and design.
- Create a visually impactful mural that reflects the community’s diversity and identity.
Murals of Sunset Park
Some of the most distinctive features of Sunset Park Brooklyn are the street art and large murals that dot the neighborhood. Here are some examples:
The goal of this project would be to learn about the mural art, famous muralists, local muralists and paint a school mural.
Lesson 1: What is a mural?
In this lesson students will learn about how murals are generally large paintings or pieces of art set directly on walls, usually in a space where a lot of people can see it. They will learn that many murals show things that are important to not only the people that produce them but to the people that may view the mural. They will also view some traditional Chinese murals.
Lesson 2: Who was Diego Rivera?
In this lesson students will learn about the famous Mexican muralist Diego Rivera. They will practice observing and analysing his art. A key question would be “Why was Diego Rivera’s art important to people?”
Lesson 3: Murals in our neighborhood. What important things do the murals of Sunset Park show?
In this lesson students will view in class or visit some of the murals around the neighborhood. They will observe the murals and analyze them for the things that they think the muralist is trying to show. This lesson could be done collaboratively with their parents in which they could possibly go on a photo hunt for murals with their family. Parents could also share with their children any pictures of murals they may have taken in their lives.
Lesson 4: What is the life of a muralist like?
In this lesson students will learn about the life of a local muralist. They would view some of their work and hopefully be able to ask them some questions about their process, the types of equipment they use, what they are working on, what important ideas are they trying to express through their art. Ideally, this would be a classroom visit or zoom call from a local muralist.
Lesson 5 and on: How do we plan our mural?
These lessons will build up the planning of a classroom or preferably a school mural, and what important things they would want to include in it.
Culminating Event
A school-wide mural creation and unveiling ceremony, inviting parents, community members, and local officials to participate and celebrate the project’s completion.
Culturally Responsive Elements
- Community Engagement: Involve parents and community members in the mural creation process.
- Cultural Representation: Ensure the mural reflects the diverse cultural backgrounds of the students and community.
- Student Voice: Empower students to contribute their ideas and perspectives to the mural design.
- Collaboration: Foster teamwork and cooperation among students and with community partners.
Potential Challenges and Considerations
- Accessibility to murals: Consider virtual field trips or high-quality images if physical visits are not feasible.
- Artist collaboration: Explore options for virtual or remote interactions with a muralist if a physical visit is not possible.
- Mural creation space: Identify a suitable indoor or outdoor space for the mural.
- Material resources: Secure necessary supplies and equipment for the mural creation process.
By focusing on the cultural richness of Sunset Park and empowering students to be active participants in their community, this project can create a lasting impact on the school and neighborhood.