I couple of months ago, my principal suggested an art class where students paint on the walls, graffiti style or whatever, plus maybe some sidewalk chalk art (my forte). I got seriously jazzed because I love street art. Within a month, I had a new course proposal to him. Now I am beginning to build the curriculum.

Here was my summary description in the proposal:

This yearlong course will provide students with an opportunity to examine street art from around the world and to create street art of their own.

Street art is art created in public places, and it includes murals, graffiti, stencil art, sticker art, poster art, performance art, art cars, and street installations. The term Street Art is used to distinguish contemporary public-space artwork from territorial graffiti, tagging, vandalism, and commercial art. Street art has emerged as a distinctive art form, and a powerful element of urban culture, its influence being felt in areas such as design, advertising and fashion. Artists who otherwise feel disenfranchised utilize public space to reach a much broader audience than traditional galleries allow.

Students will learn about the history, varying philosophies, and aesthetics of street art around the world. Famous street artists such as Banksy, Shepherd Fairy, and Mark Jenkins will be explored. Students will be challenged to document and analyze art they see in their own neighborhoods. They will be encouraged to emulate the spirit of art in public places without acting in an illegal manner.

The students in Natomas live in highly diverse, urban neighborhoods with no art galleries and little public art. Therefore, this course is intended to cover the state visual arts content standards in a way that is highly appealling to urban teenagers. The appeal of the course comes from introducing students to artists with backgrounds similar to their own, and the nature of an art form which breaks the mold and the walls of the traditional art museum.

Here are the notes I’m taking down:

Media/Methods
Graffiti
Sticker art
Stencil art
Wheatpasting
Art cars
Murals
Street installations
Street performance
Street intervention
Packing tape

Supports
Walls indoor and outdoor
Paper
Sheets of plywood
Sidewalks
Sketchbooks
Digital

Materials
Respirators
Gloves
Paper
Plywood
Markers
Basic art supplies

Similar Genres
Lowbrow art
Lowrider art

Aspects
History
Geography & cultural contexts
Trends
Influences on mainstream culture
Planning
Production
Health, safety and the law
Anti-graffiti arguments
Individual vs. group effort
Elements & principles of art
Documentation

Famous Names
Banksy
Shephard Fairy
Paul Litherland
Mark Jenkins
6emeia

Online Resources
http://www.woostercollective.com/
http://www.streetsy.com/
http://streetart.antville.org/
http://www.wikihow.com/Draw-Graffiti-Names
http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/streetart/
http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/street_art/

The real bugger is going to be meeting OSHA standards when it comes to spray paint. Our auto tech guy knows a lot about it and it doesn’t sound good. For example. he’s saying we won’t be able to spray paint outdoors on walls. It must be under OSHA-approved hoods or whatever. That sounds asinine.

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I’m walking with my lunch back to my classroom. Headed the other direction toward the cafeteria are hordes of students. I recognize one student from last year just as he tilts his chin up and spits his gum out onto the sidewalk in front of him.

Me: “L*****, please pick that up off the ground.”
L*****: (As he whirls around to get it) “OH my GOD.”
Me: “Yes, I’M the one that’s ridiculous.”
L*****: (As he walks away) “Yes, you are ridiculous.”
Me: “And throw it in a trash can properly.”

This is but one small sample of the responses I get when correcting a student’s behavior at this school. At least he picked it up. Many students won’t even admit behavior you just witnessed with your own eyes.

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