Culture, Community, and the Classroom: Introduction to Mosaic

By studying mosaics across time, students could put a local artist into the context of art history. The lesson also heightened awareness of mosaic art in their community. After a two-part residency (demonstration, interview), the artist and teacher devised an extension to create a large class mosaic. Students made individual leaves for The Collaboration Tree to reflect their own sense of cultural identity. They focused intently and worked hard together and with the artist. Creating a beautiful work as a team allowed them to realize that each of their contributions is important artistically and created a beautiful, meaningful outcome in the mosaic Collaboration Tree.
Supplies
Mosaic books, PowerPoint, Google Slides, Google Classroom, Quizlet, camera/video recorder. If doing lesson extension: Glass tile, Wedi board, thin-set mortar, wheeled glass nippers, white grout, trowels, floats, safety glasses, vinyl gloves, dental tools, palette knives. Find the complete lesson plan and handouts in the sidebar under “Downloads.”
Acknowledgements

A Culture, Community, and the Classroom Lesson by teacher Christine Crossgrove, with artist Luigi Gobbo.

TITLE Culture, Community and the Classroom: Introduction to Mosaic and the Collaboration Tree Project

AUTHOR AND TEACHER  Christine Crossgrove

ARTIST COLLABORATOR  Luigi Gobbo, Italian Mosaic Artist

SUBJECT AND GRADE LEVEL   High School Visual Art

LENGTH 2 class periods for Residency, 5-7 more for Mosaic Extension

Find the complete lesson plans in the sidebar under “Downloads.”

New York State Standards for the Fine Arts Addressed:

Teacher Christine Crossgrove with artist Luigi Gobbo and The Collaboration Tree mosaic completed through this project.

PURPOSE/CONNECTION

Teaching mosaic art processes and history provided students an authentic art experience under the guidance of a local master mosaic artist, Luigi Gobbo. Students experienced an ancient artform and learned that this is one of the longest lasting types of art.  We discussed being connected to mosaic artists from all over the world and from almost every historical era. [see History of Mosaics Worksheet]

We considered mosaics that students see in their daily lives and others located in the Southern Tier.  We introduced the possibility of creating more mosaic art in the future because of the depth of knowledge shared seven weeks of working side by side with an experienced master artist of Italian Mosaic. The experience also enriched students’ connection to each other and their sense of purpose. Creating a beautiful work as a team with the artist and teacher’s guidance allowed them to realize that each of their contributions is important artistically and created a beautiful, meaningful outcome in Our Collaboration Tree. [Lesson Extension]

Handwritten reflection

A Student Reflection at the end of the project.