Art and environmental activism | Art and design | Quizalize & Oak National Academy

Starter quiz

Which of the following is an essential method in the first stage of recording from nature?
- quick observational sketches ✓
- choosing a final composition before studying the subject
- ignoring light, texture, and detail
- using only digital tools without direct observation
Which of the following is an example of an architectural structure?
- an art exhibition
- a bridge connecting two cities ✓
- a drawing of a building on paper
- a photograph of a street
Which of these is not considered a structural element in a built environments?
- roads
- parks
- graffiti art on a wall ✓
- buildings
Match the natural features with its architectural-like structure.
- coral reefs
  
  ⇔
  
  organic structures found in the ocean ✓
- beehives
  
  ⇔
  
  hexagonal shapes for storing honey ✓
- spider webs
  
  ⇔
  
  intricate structure used for catching prey ✓
- tree canopies
  
  ⇔
  
  the uppermost layer of leaves and branches in a forest ✓
- ant hills
  
  ⇔
  
  home to tiny insects who create intricate tunnels underground ✓
- caves
  
  ⇔
  
  a hollow underground space ✓
Match the building with the natural inspiration it is based on.
- The Gherkin (London)
  
  ⇔
  
  inspired by the spiral shape of a sea animal ✓
- Lotus Temple (India)
  
  ⇔
  
  looks like the petals of a flower ✓
- Sydney Opera House (Australia)
  
  ⇔
  
  shaped like sails or seashells ✓
- Bamboo Pavilion (China)
  
  ⇔
  
  made from bamboo, like tree branches ✓
Match the natural inspiration to the building.
- pineapple
  
  ⇔
  
  The Pineapple, National Trust Scotland ✓
- cactus
  
  ⇔
  
  The Cactus (Ministry of Agriculture), Doha, Qatar ✓
- fish
  
  ⇔
  
  Golden Fish, Barcelona ✓
- honeycomb
  
  ⇔
  
  The Hive, New York City ✓
- lotus flower
  
  ⇔
  
  The Lotus Building, Wujin, China ✓

Exit quiz

Why do artists use powerful imagery when communicating the realities around climate change?
- to make people laugh
- to make people think about bigger issues facing our environment ✓
- to ignore hard truths
- to entertain people
How does imagery help in storytelling through art?
- by focusing on simple lines and shapes
- by using visual elements to evoke emotions or communicate themes ✓
- by keeping the scene abstract
- by using only black and white colours
Match the environmental art concept to how it raises awareness about climate change.
- melting ice sculptures
  
  ⇔
  
  shows the effects of rising temperatures and melting ice ✓
- images of wildfires
  
  ⇔
  
  shows the damage caused by fires and climate change ✓
- plastic waste art
  
  ⇔
  
  highlights pollution and waste ✓
- art of nature’s fragility
  
  ⇔
  
  shows how nature is affected by climate change ✓
- endangered animals in art
  
  ⇔
  
  raises awareness about animals losing their habitats ✓
Match the varied ways artists use sketchbooks.
- processes
  
  ⇔
  
  practising techniques like shading, watercolour blending and textures ✓
- idea refinement
  
  ⇔
  
  improving ideas by redrawing and adjusting colours or composition ✓
- influences
  
  ⇔
  
  collecting images, sketches, and notes for inspiration ✓
- facts and information
  
  ⇔
  
  recording information and exploring research around a theme or concept ✓
- drawing and painting
  
  ⇔
  
  creating complete artwork through traditional drawing methods ✓
What are microplastics?
- large pieces of plastic found in oceans
- small plastic particles less than 5mm in size ✓
- recyclable plastic used in art materials
- natural materials found in nature
What does "awareness" mean?
- ignorance of a topic
- being fully informed about something ✓
- forgetting important details
- avoiding certain subjects

Worksheet

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Presentation

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Video

Lesson Details

Key learning points

Environmental art raises awareness of the harm we are causing to the planet and calls us to action.
Artists use the power of imagery to communicate difficult realities about the planet.
Artists use both shock tactics as well as joyful encounters to raise awareness.

Common misconception

Artists only make work that looks good and is uplifting.

Artists use the power of imagery to communicate difficult realities about the planet.

Keywords

Imagery - a group of visual elements, like images, to create a specific mood, evoke emotions, or convey deeper meanings
Microplastics - tiny particles of plastic, made from big plastic things breaking down
Awareness - knowing about and understanding something