The Social Justice Collection

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Kentucky Artists

Lesson plan/ Worksheet for

the Gallery on Main,

All Kentucky Social Justice, High School and 

Community Virtual Show

This is a lesson plan/ work sheet that should help give the Social Justice High School and Community Show, context and meaning for students and community artists.  Since we can not be together in the classroom or meeting space like we normally would we hope this text communicates the opportunity to shape our dialog and share our stories. 

Background

We are living in a historical, cultural, and socially significant moment. We have the chance to build a dialog about and for social justice. We have many voices and stories that are woven into the cloth of our nation and world. It is time to hear and see them. Workers struggled for voice, fair wages and better working conditions and the right to form unions. Now we take the 40-hour work week, child labor restrictions and overtime for granted.

Women have struggled for that voice and now we all believe that when women are successful it is not only good for them but for their families and our communities. 

This is now the time to hear and see that Black Lives Matter. It is not to say that all lives do not matter but to illuminate the struggle from the shadow of slavery. This shadow has haunted all of us. It is sometimes invisible and many of us do not see it because it does not seem to affect us. But it does affect us and the health of our communities in incredibly significant ways. When the vulnerable of our communities cannot rely on our institutions for fairness, protection, and justice because of the color of their skin, then it is time for a change. This will take all of us working together, educating our selves, listening to each other, building trust, and becoming better because we are together.

The Gallery on Main Board invite

Kentucky high school students and community artists to submit 3 works of art with the social justice theme. We invite you to write a poem or paragraph about your work and or its inspiration! Please join the dialog and change our world!

Some Reference materials to inform and inspire:

The link to the free online textbook for the African and African American Studies program at Eastern Kentucky University.

Slavery to Liberation: The African American Experience

http://demo.eku.bepress.com/ekuopen/3/

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Dr. Angelo

The free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.
 

But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
 

The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill for the caged bird
sings of freedom
 

The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.
 

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing
 

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.

This amazing metaphor for the anti-slave protests will probably remain as Dr Angelou's most famous piece and lasting memorial.
The title and inspiration for this poem came from a line in Paul Dunbar's poem "Sympathy"
https://allpoetry.com/poem/8463189-Sympathy-by-Paul-Laurence-
It was also the title of the first volume of Dr. Angelou's autobiography published in 1969.
© by owner. provided at no charge for educational purposes   

Theme/Inspiration/Emotion - Think about the story you want to tell. What are the most effective images? What colors, textures and shapes help you tell the story? Who are you speaking to? 

Media: Because this is a virtual show you can use any media/materials, oil, acrylic, watercolor, pen and ink, paper, pencil, glass, clay, textiles, wood, stone, photos, etc.….

Presentation: Since we will not be hanging or mounting this show in the physical gallery you will not have the expense of framing or mounting etc... However, a good high-quality photo from your camera will be especially important! 

· 2D Paintings and drawings- do not leave a background. Bring the photo to the edge of the work.

· 3D work use a black or white background. It is important to have good lighting.

Poetry/Prose: This is an opportunity to describe, explain or share feelings and inspirations! You may use prose or poetry! Here is a description for making a haiku poem.

Haiku.

This is a traditional Japanese poem with three lines and 15 syllables. 

5 syllable first line

7 syllables second line

5 syllables third line

Use key words from your word bank and create some haiku poetry. See an example below.

Social Justice Now

Fairness, Protection, Justice

Building Trust Together