What issues are currently affecting your local community, culture, nation, or world? Research recent news items by reading the paper, listening to the radio, or accessing another source. Choose an issue that grabs your attention and motivates you to share your thoughts. Create a work of art that expresses your opinion about the issue and/or inspires others to action. Your piece might be a political cartoon, activist art, or simply an expression of strong values such as Louis Gallait’s Art and Liberty. Consider using artistic tools such as satire and caricature. Use these steps and the What’s at Stake in Your Community portfolio rubric to guide your work. You will complete these steps on the What’s at Stake in Your Community? worksheet.

Question

What issues are currently affecting your local community, culture, nation, or world? Research recent news items by reading the paper, listening to the radio, or accessing another source. Choose an issue that grabs your attention and motivates you to share your thoughts. Create a work of art that expresses your opinion about the issue and/or inspires others to action. Your piece might be a political cartoon, activist art, or simply an expression of strong values such as Louis Gallait’s Art and Liberty. Consider using artistic tools such as satire and caricature. Use these steps and the What’s at Stake in Your Community portfolio rubric to guide your work. You will complete these steps on the What’s at Stake in Your Community? worksheet.

What is your opinion on this issue? What values are you trying to express? Write down a statement that summarizes your thoughts. For example, “I believe that all residents of my county should have access to clean drinking water.”
Brainstorm ideas for your artwork. Consider the examples you have seen in this lesson. What materials (you can work in two- or three-dimensions), size, and visual composition will be most effective in communicating your message? Make two or more rough draft sketches.

Answer 1

My opinion on the issue is that climate change is a pressing problem that needs to be addressed urgently. The values I am trying to express are the importance of taking action to protect the environment and the need to work together to combat climate change.

For my artwork, I want to create a mixed media piece that combines both two and three-dimensional elements. I plan to use a combination of painting, collage, and sculpture to create a visually impactful composition. The size of the artwork will be large, around 4ft by 5ft, to create a sense of scale and importance.

In my rough draft sketches, I am considering incorporating images of melting ice caps, polluted air, and deforestation. I also want to include symbols of unity and collaboration, such as people holding hands or working together. This will serve to emphasize the need for global cooperation in addressing climate change.