GIVE AND TAKE: Potlatch
This year’s theme: “Give and Take” explores the idea of a potlatch. “At potlatch gatherings, a family or hereditary leader (commonly held by Northwest Coast Native Americans) hosts guests in their family's house and holds a feast for their guests. The main purpose of the potlatch is the re-distribution and reciprocity of wealth [food, gifts or payment].” The tradition is to bring something of value that is in new or almost new condition that could be of use to someone else, to give it up, and then to take what you need that someone else has donated. For this arts collaboration you are to make artwork both at Paramount studios and in class that answers these questions about giving and taking (or receiving): What’s something that you really needed that you got from someone else?
What’s something you have given up in the past to help someone else?
What don’t you need that you could give to someone else?
What is something I can do to help improve my community?
How you answer these questions in a visual form should include a unique style or element that can be shared such as a specific color of paint, paper, photograph copies, etc. The subject matter can be as literal as depictions of gifts or more subtle, symbolic, suggestive and conceptual interpretations. You are the artist.
[Now: Re-purpose two playing cards by visually answering two of the three questions.]
[Now: Take your idea to a three dimensional box and complete any four sides]
February 8th: Paramount visual Art Studio day
March 16th: downtown st. cloud art crawl 5-9 p.m.
February 22nd: Paramount visual Art Studio day
What’s something you have given up in the past to help someone else?
What don’t you need that you could give to someone else?
What is something I can do to help improve my community?
How you answer these questions in a visual form should include a unique style or element that can be shared such as a specific color of paint, paper, photograph copies, etc. The subject matter can be as literal as depictions of gifts or more subtle, symbolic, suggestive and conceptual interpretations. You are the artist.
[Now: Re-purpose two playing cards by visually answering two of the three questions.]
[Now: Take your idea to a three dimensional box and complete any four sides]
February 8th: Paramount visual Art Studio day
- Bring something to the potlatch; food, gently used items, gift, etc.
- Bring your cards and partially finished box for a day of giving and taking. be ready to incorporate your unique style or element into other artworks.]
- [start a panel for your collaborative box kite and finish someone else’s box.]
March 16th: downtown st. cloud art crawl 5-9 p.m.
February 22nd: Paramount visual Art Studio day
- Bring finished box and box kite panel.
- Assemble and unify your box kite.
- Install art gallery show at Falcon national bank.