Image #2

Artist (Unknown at this time), The Very Normal Madness

Critically reflect on Image #1. Reflecting on Yenawine, was this image an appropriate choice for the students?

This image has many aspects to it that the students were able to discuss during the VTS facilitation.  The students recognize the parts of the image and see that they are distorted from reality and they want to come up with ideas about why and how this has happened.  They can relate to the image and recognize familiar objects, animals and people within the environment.

Did this image motivate rigorous and engaging discussion for students?
Yes.  They were interested in what types of buildings these were and why there were zebras lying in the street.  Some believed it was completely from the imagination while others tried to make it a piece of reality and relate it to our 'real world'. 

Was the image rich enough to encourage continued discussion and or independent students investigation?  If so how might you provide for continued inquiry?
I believe this image was rick enough to encourage continued discussion.  They could find cities that this image could be based on.  They were looking at the factory (smoke stacks) in the background and trying to figure out what these could be used for and the type of bus that is traveling down the road towards us.

Did this image invite opportunities to explore the big idea through artmaking?
This image is going along with the first project we are working on.  Slowly but surly the students are finding images from magazine that they will assemble together into an environment using not ordinary objects.  We will move on to a 3-D project using either air-dry clay or model magic to create a 3-D environment from the imagination.  This lesson is still evolving. 


Would you use this image again to introduce the big idea?  If so why?
Yes.  It had the students talking and discussing the building and animals in the image and how they are not realistic.  We will revisit this image when we begin our next lesson that I described above.

If Image #1 did not elicit what you were expecting, what image might you use in its place? 
I'm sure there are many images I could replace this one with.  I would have to keep researching and find a few more examples like this one.  I'm still lost on the creator of this image and would love to see more work by this artist.  This is a great piece that really got the students attention.