Collage+Hayeur

Lesson Plan inspired by a gallery visit to MMFA exhibit ‘//Sound and Vision’// Selected work: Isabelle Hayeur’s //Refuge//


 * Topic:** Symbolic Spaces/ Photographic composition.


 * Population:** Adult mixed media or photography class.


 * Total class time:** 140 minutes (10 minutes allowed for flexibility)

1. Reflect on the value of spaces in our society; specifically the symbolism or feelings attached to different buildings, objects and locations. 2. Focus on important elements and principles at play in photographic composition by physically manipulating images within a composition to create a unified work.
 * Learning objectives:**


 * Pre-activity preperation:** the session prior to the activity students will be asked to bring in enlarged photocopies of landscape images (photographs or magazine clippings) which they find interesting. A handout will be given at this time to introduce the theme and stimulate ideas. This will include selected excerpts from Barchaland’s //Poetics of Space// and sample symbolic landscape images (Burtynsky industrial image, Bertrand tree of life, etc.).


 * Materials:** Pre-activity preparation handout, photocopies (bring large selection of extra images), scissors, glue sticks, cardstock for base, thick paper (to mat composition), 3 or 4 large prints of Hayeur’s work, technical objectives/vocabulary handout, small bits of paper, pencils.


 * Art Concept:** Photographic composition


 * Technique:** Collage


 * Vocabulary:** photographic composition, rule of thirds, lines, horizontal lines, vertical lines, diagonal lines, leading lines, framing, lighting, unity, foreground, background, emphasis, point of interest, proportion, perspective.

1. Display Isabelle Hayeur’s work; ask the class to discuss its technical and symbolic merits and ask for overall reaction to the work. 2. Introduce Hayeur properly revealing that her work is actually made through photo-collage and adding any missed symbolism (underline her social commentary on negligent modern spaces). 3. Give out technical/vocabulary handout go over each vocabulary word asking students at each point to find an example in the displayed images.
 * Motivation:** (25 min.)

1. Instruct class to create a symbolic space. Ask them to decide what they want to communicate with their fabricated space: Is it a critique of modern society? A tribute to wonderful place in their memory? An imaginary ideal space? etc. and to write this on a slip of paper. 2. Then they may proceed to cut out elements from their supply of images which reflect what they are trying to communicate and also have potential to be interesting elements for composition. 3. Ask them to consider ways to make the composition more unified or believable. 4. Instruct them to play with the image pieces arranging various compositions. 5. Suggest they use the mat paper to enclose the composition in a photographic format as this helps us ‘see the entire frame’ as we must do when composing actual photographs. 5. Announce when there is twenty minutes remaining and indicate it may be a good time to begin gluing elements into their permanent places. 6. Times up! Ask students to frame compositions with the matting provided (their choice whether or not to keep it framed but framing important for discussion).
 * Art Activity:** (65 min.)

1. Ask everyone to put their framed composition on the walls of the class. One by one select a composition and ask the class to try and identify the subject of the composition, comment on the feelings aroused by the image and point out one successful use of technique in the composition. Then ask the artist to confirm the class response.
 * Response Closure:** (25 min.)


 * Clean-up** (15 min.)