Studio Be in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

What Can Art Do?

Exploring the aesthetics of protest art and the visual culture of social justice as studio curriculum.

These resources, lessons, and project ideas are offered openly to art educators across the globe for professional use.

Not for resale or publication other than ©Lucy Bartholomee.

Mission Statement

What can art really do to change the world?

Click here to download the mission statement.

What Can Art Do? Sample syllabus

Click hee to download a sample syllabus for this course.

New Orleans Monument Removal

Link to video of Landreau's speech

New Orleans Mayor Landrieu's speech @ monuments (transcript)

Local news article about changing the monument

New sculpture at Harmony Circle 2017-2022

Analysis and Discussion Guide

"What can art do?" student handout and teacher discussion guide.

Image: "We the People are Greater than Fear" by Shepard Fairey

Studio Project: Box Kites

Box kites are easy to construct, lightweight and colorful, and provide eight surfaces for messaging and images. Add a longer dowel rod or pole to carry at a rally or march.

Building Instructions

Image Gallery

Studio Project: 2D Designs

Student-generated curriculum: Students select and research a social issue that is important to them, then create a 2-D design.

Slideshow discussing the project

Video version of the presentation

(From the National Art Educator Association conference, 2023, USA)

Image Gallery (coming soon)

Artist Resource: Jamie Holmes
Make the Revolution Irresistable

Jamie Holmes Artist Website

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth Solo Exhibition

Artist interview (audio)

Image: Blue Clouds, 2020

Artist Resource: Ai Weiwei
Artist, Activist, film maker, and so much more

Ai Weiwei Humanity

Ai Weiwei Film

The Art Assignment: The Case for Ai Weiwei (video)

Artist profile, MoMA (NYC)

!3 Works to Know (Royal Academy, UK)

Image: Berlin Opera House covered with 14,000 life vests worn by Syrian refugees, collected from Greek islands, 2016.

Resources
Books, Articles, Websites & More

The Art of Protest by Jo Ripon

In Collaboration with Amnesty International

History of protest art, 19th century to today

Young adult + University

Anti-Racist Art Activities for Kids

Authors: Birhanu, Latimer, Liz, Santos, Slade and Wells

Kid friendly reading + art activities

Art of Protest: Creating, Discovering, and Activating Art for Your Revolution

By De Nichols

Kid friendly reading + art activities

Rise Up! The Art of Protest

Authors: Jo Ripon and Mari Copeny

Review of visual and material culture of protest art (all ages)

(Additional resources coming soon.)