Indie Project, Fall (a) 2011
Identifying Religion in Art
Target Grade Level:  High School Advanced Art

1. What overarching understandings are desired?

• Religion is a complex issue impacting artwork throughout time
  
• Religion has impacted the way artists create for many years
• Contemporary art reflects religion as well as historical artwork

2. What are the overarching “essential” questions?

• Where is religion seen in art? 
• How has religion impacted artwork over the years? 
• What role has religion played in the life of artists over time?
• What are the differences in religious art history versus contemporary religious art?
  

3. As a result of this unit, students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of:

• The role of religion in art over time
• How art has been impacted by religion
• The differences in religious art history from religious contemporary art
• How religion plays a role in their own personal work

4. What “essential” and unit questions will focus this unit?

• Where is religion seen in the history of art?
  
• How has religion impacted art creatively?
• How does religion impact your artwork?
  
  

5. What evidence will show that students understand the connections between art and time?

Performance Tasks/Projects:

• Project #1: Religious Art History
  
• Project #2: Picturing Religi­ous Art
  
• Project #3: Losing My Religion (Self Expression through Religion)
  

6. Student self-assessments, quizzes, tests, and other academic prompts

Written Review

• Name two religions that use self-expression and describe their format or medium of choice.
  
• Discuss how religion and art are connected. Think metaphorically and logically.

Student Self-Assessments

• Discuss ways this unit has allowed you to be more self-expressive with your religion.
• Use project evaluation document to evaluate projects
• Project Eval.doc
• Project Eval ADVANCED.doc (optional)

7. Given the targeted understandings, other unit goals, and the assessment evidence identified, what knowledge and skills are needed?

Students will need to know:

• What defines a religion
• How religion influences art

 
Students will need to be able to:

• Think metaphorically and logically about religion
•  Self-express using the topic religion

 
8. What teaching and learning experiences will equip students to demonstrate the targeted understandings and skills?

• Images of art reflecting religious themes
• Examples of religious materials and symbols
• Research both individually and collectively about religion in art
• Sample materials such as music, documents, fabrics and artwork

Georgia State Standards-Fine Arts
All work listed in this unit is based on the Georgia Performance Standards. These standards can be found at
https://www.georgiastandards.org/standards/GPS%20Support%20Docs/Fine_Arts_Visual_GPS_Final_2-11-2010.pdf