Week 6 - Make Your Opinion Known (family special)

This week’s theme: arts and politics

More and more families are participating in the Quarantined Museum community exhibition project. Several even mentioned that it is being integrated into the home school setting. So we thought we would offer them one item per week for children aged 7 to 12. Of course, it is recommended that families read it together to help each other and to discuss the discoveries!

Let's start by thinking together about the following topics:

There are no right or wrong answers. The whole family is invited to participate and discuss. You have the right to disagree, but you have to explain your point of view and listen to others' points of view.

• How can you make your opinion known through art?

• Can art change society?

Let's take a look at the following works:

Christi Belcourt. Water is life (Thunderbird Mom), 2018

Let's learn about the work and the artist:

• Metis (Michif) artist Christi Belcourt lives in Ontario. She has the utmost respect for Mother Earth, the traditions and ancestral knowledge of her people.

• Isaac Murdoch and Christi Belcourt form a collective called Onaman. It is a community organization that helps Aboriginal communities.

• According to them, the arts are the most powerful means of creating positive social change in communities and ensuring a better future. They do what is called engaged art.

• Among other things, Christi and Isaac organize banner-printing workshops and send them to activist groups across Canada.

Engaged art: It's about using art to make your opinions known.

Activist groups: These are people who come together to demonstrate and make their ideas known.

Let's look at the following details:

• A woman standing in the water with her fist up. She is pregnant with the thunderbird. The thunderbird makes it rain and the woman collects the rain in her bucket.

• The water connects all the elements in the picture.

• The heart and face of the woman and the heart of the thunderbird are red.

• We can read the slogan "Water is life".

Let's make some links:

Through these works, the artist:

• Includes humans in the water cycle. Water is around us and in us.

• Claims the protection of water, especially because of the slogan, but also because of the raised arm of the woman that suggests the uprising.

• Invites people to use art as a means of making their opinions known.

• Makes the art accessible to all, using simple visuals, effective slogans and distributing its banners for free.

• Disseminates his own ideas by making his banners accessible.

Let's have fun:

• Think about a cause that's important to you.

• Is it the protection of the environment, access to education for all, or simply the right to choose your bedtime?

• Think of a short but catchy slogan and a relatively simple illustration that will easily convey your message.

• Using felt pencils and cardboard, make your own banner.

• Hang it prominently in your home. You can even hang it on a broomstick to organize your own event and go around the house chanting your message!

* Why not use the window as a place to display the causes you want to promote?

Claims?!

Claim: To ask for or demand a change.

NB. You can also download Christi Belcourt's banners for free here: http://onamancollective.com/murdoch-belcourt-banner-downloads/

So, can you tell me:

Now that you've read and observed and learned and explored, have you changed your mind or can you complete your thinking from earlier?

• What do you think is engaged art?

• How can you make your opinions known through art?

• How can art change society?

• Can you create another piece of work that would make your opinion known? This time, you could use materials such as play dough or photography! Don't forget to send your artwork to quarantaine@museejoliette.org.

Follow the indications to participate and get your art on this platform.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE?

This activity was prepared by Ariane Cardinal, Curator of Education at the Musée d'art de Joliette.