Art that attempts to convey ideas rather than using traditional aesthetic representation is referred to as conceptual art. Conceptual art can be conveyed through sculpture, painting, photography, video, poster or any other form of artistic expression. In his book, "Conceptual Art (Art & Ideas)," Tony Godfrey argues that conceptual art originated from the Dada movement of post-World War I Europe, which rejected traditional art in favor of cultural critique. A conceptual art project can take any form that empathizes meaning over the style and substance of the piece.
Presidential Ham
The brainchild of conceptual artist Bijijoo, the Presidential Ham project encompasses stately portraits of the then 43 United States presidents, each holding a ham. Using oil on a prepared board, Bijijoo told the website 2leep that he finally found a way to realize his dream of painting the U.S. Presidents. Students looking to emulate Bijijoo's concept may consider a series of paintings of fellow classmates or of their teachers. They could paint their subjects in a respectful, dignified manner holding a miniature version of their school's mascot. The message of this series would be that even though individuals are different, they are all united by school spirit.
Little People
In an attempt to promote greater awareness of people in their surroundings, the London artist Slikachu created the Little People Miniature Street Art Project. Using miniature model train figurines of people, Slikachu created different scenarios of daily life and set them out across the streets of Europe. Designed to represent the loneliness and melancholy of living in a big city, Slikachu's model scenes on park benches, cracked sidewalks, or potted plants by often go unnoticed by all but a few observant passersby. Student artists should not feel confined to their studios or classrooms when creating a conceptual art project. A collection of stuffed animals can be gathered, including action figures and dolls, and taken onto the street. The toys can be posed interacting with street signs, sewer grates, manholes, benches and any other interesting objects the artist comes across. The scenes can be photographed to form a narrative that explores the notion of a person's childhood dreams coming face-to-face with the real world. By framing, and ordering your photos, a compelling conceptual art exhibit can be created.
Conceptual Posters
During the Great Depression, The Works Progress Administration and its Federal Arts Project commissioned the creation of large posters that celebrated the scenic vistas and famous landmarks of the United States to remind the country of what they were helping to rebuild during such a difficult time. These stylized posters remain part of U.S. history and can be seen in the Library of Congress gallery. Using iconic imagery to depict scenes from the student's own community in a series of posters can be the beginning of her own art project. She can create a series of posters that celebrates iconic parts of her school's campus. Posters of the football stadium, student quad, cafeteria and library would help memorialize her school and possibly raise student morale.
The Gamer's Alphabet
A video game-themed children's book, artist El Jeffe's "The Gamer's Alphabet" teaches video game history and terminology using imagery and creative tag lines. Art projects targeted toward children provide artists the opportunity to tackle less serious subject matters for an audience that appreciates colorful design. The student can attempt to create his own children's book that teaches kids about social networking. "A" could be used for "A Friend Request," "B" for "Blog" and so on, all the way to "Z" for "Zuckerberg." Students can illustrate their books with colorful designs that help bring the different topics to life. When finished, have a reading of your children's book at your local elementary school.
