Visual Storytelling

Students will learn about Benny Andrews and discuss how artists can create social change through their work.

After reading the introductory text and looking at the artwork, think about:

• Benny Andrews’s drive and motivation to create art
• National and historical events that happened in his youth
• His interest and dedication to education

Choose one of the other five words from the “Bicentennial Series”—Symbols, Circle, Sexism, War, and Utopia—and create an artwork that represents your thoughts on that concept.

• Carbon paper and pen/pencil to trace
• Magazine/newspaper photographs
• Colored pencils, crayons, and markers
• Recycled paper scraps for drawing
• 9 x 12 inch card stock for final project
• Scissors
• Black china markers
• Glue
• Clear packing tape
• Colored masking tape

1. In newspapers or magazines, find two to three images that represent the selected word and trace them on separate pieces of scrap paper. Find any additional figures or details that you want to incorporate and cut them out.
2. Think about what color would best convey the idea of your selected word and choose one (or two) medium(s) to color the background of your card stock. Lay out the traced figures and any of the cutouts throughout the colored card stock until you find a place for each of them. Add any details or color the traced figures.
3. Decide how you want to secure them to the card stock, with glue or tape.
4. Take a minute to examine your composition and select a medium (china marker or masking tape) to add additional marks.

Activism

The doctrine or practice of vigorous action or involvement as a means of achieving political or other goals, sometimes by demonstrations, protests, etc

Advocate

One who defends or maintains a cause or proposal; one who supports or promotes the interests of a cause or group.

Canon

The body of rules, principles, or standards accepted as axiomatic and universally binding in a field of study or art.

Despair

To lose, give up, or be without hope or confidence.

Figurative

Of or relating to representation of form or figure in art.

Groundbreaking

Originating or pioneering a new endeavor or field of inquiry; introducing new ideas or methods.

Portray

To make a likeness of by drawing, painting, carving, or the like; to depict in words, describe graphically.

Prolific

Producing in large quantities or with great frequency; highly productive.

Rural

Of, relating to, or characteristic of the country, country life, or country people; living in the country; of or relating to agriculture.

Socially minded

Actively interested in social welfare or the well-being of society as a whole.

Underserved

Provided with inadequate services or facilities.

Utopia

A place of ideal perfection, especially in laws, government, and social conditions.

After reading the text, answer the following questions in as much detail as possible:

• Why do you think Andrews was so interested in education?
• What motivated him to make the “Bicentennial Series”?
• What is happening in the artwork? How would you describe the style? Which elements or details stand out for you? Why?
• How do you think Andrews’s journal entry is represented visually in Trash?

• Education:
• Activism:
• Time:
• Art:

• Education: high school, college, institute, graduation, art education, students, teaching.
• Activism: socially minded, advocate, history, social justice, community, representation.
• Art: technique, figurative painting, collage, exhibition, artist, art world, museums, canon.
• Time: four decades, three decades, two-hundredth anniversary.

Take a closer look at the artwork reproduction, zooming in if necessary:

• What do you notice about the people/figures represented?
• What about the objects represented?
• Focus on some of the choices Andrews made. Why do you think the artwork is so wide? Why is he using these particular colors?
• Now look at the artwork as a text, “reading” it from left to right. What story or stories
  is it telling us?

Benny Andrews believed that representation was important. Growing up, he didn’t have many figures who looked like him to inspire him personally or professionally. Think about someone in your life (family, friend, teacher, athlete, artist) who inspires or motivates you to achieve your goals. Write a paragraph or two about that person. What do you admire about them? How do they inspire you?

Click on the link below to read Benny Andrews’s obituary in The New York Times. What else did you learn about his life, education, career, and activism? Search some of the other artists mentioned in the article and compare and contrast their life and work with Andrews’s.

https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/12/nyregion/12andrews.html

Click on the link below to hear the artist talk about the challenges he had to overcome throughout his career. Watch the whole video once, and if there are any words you don’t understand, watch it a second time with the closed captioning turned on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9u_35nSgoo

https://www.bennyandrews.com/overview

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Andrews

https://www.michaelrosenfeldart.com/artists/benny-andrews-1930-2006

https://studiomuseum.org/collection-item/compositionstudy-trash

https://www.macdowell.org/special-projects/legacy-benny-andrews