More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education.
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Graffiti has been a catalyst for artists like Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Banksy, and others. Where my students live, graffiti is still a common sight in the way of “tags”. Through this lesson they will learn that graffiti is more than just an eyesore on buildings; it is an art form that has continued to give us amazing artists that continue to push the limits.
Dating back to the first cave paintings over 64,000 years ago, graffiti has continued to grow and develop. The Ancient Romans and Greeks were writing names and poems on buildings, in the early 1960’s in Philadelphia modern graffiti appeared, and by 1970 the art of graffiti took off in New York City with people writing their names on buildings throughout the city. In the beginning of modern graffiti, “tags” were usually done by gangs and crews marking their territories but others saw it as an art form and galleries began to purchase the street art. As a declaration of war on graffiti initiated it became harder to write on subway walls and buildings without getting caught, these street artists began to paint on canvases. Today graffiti continues to grow. It can still be found in the way of “tags” but rather than just writing a name it has become a detailed art with stylized fonts and techniques; it brings out new artists who are forever pushing its limit.
With this lesson I hope to show my students how something they see every day has a history behind it and a forever changing future. That with their creativity they can take an eyesore and develop it into something amazing.
About my class
Graffiti has been a catalyst for artists like Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Banksy, and others. Where my students live, graffiti is still a common sight in the way of “tags”. Through this lesson they will learn that graffiti is more than just an eyesore on buildings; it is an art form that has continued to give us amazing artists that continue to push the limits.
Dating back to the first cave paintings over 64,000 years ago, graffiti has continued to grow and develop. The Ancient Romans and Greeks were writing names and poems on buildings, in the early 1960’s in Philadelphia modern graffiti appeared, and by 1970 the art of graffiti took off in New York City with people writing their names on buildings throughout the city. In the beginning of modern graffiti, “tags” were usually done by gangs and crews marking their territories but others saw it as an art form and galleries began to purchase the street art. As a declaration of war on graffiti initiated it became harder to write on subway walls and buildings without getting caught, these street artists began to paint on canvases. Today graffiti continues to grow. It can still be found in the way of “tags” but rather than just writing a name it has become a detailed art with stylized fonts and techniques; it brings out new artists who are forever pushing its limit.
With this lesson I hope to show my students how something they see every day has a history behind it and a forever changing future. That with their creativity they can take an eyesore and develop it into something amazing.