Symbols with Robert Indiana

Second-Fifth Grade

DISCUSSION: symbols: what are they?
Where do we see symbols everyday?
Restrooms
Hwys
Road signs
What does a heart symbolise? Light bulb?
Why do we use symbols?
Can letters become symbols?
What artist gave us that idea?

Show Robert Indiana's Artwork Love
What do you notice about the sculpture?
Does it make a word?
What could the O be saying?
Is the O a symbol of something bigger?

ARTIST: Robert Indiana
1928-
American Artist
Associated with POP art
born in New Castle, Indiana.
His family relocated to Indianapolis
He moved to New York City in 1954 and joined the pop art movement
using distinctive imagery drawing on commercial art approaches blended with existentialism,
He gradually moved toward what Indiana calls "sculptural poems"
Indiana's iconic work LOVE was first created for a Christmas card for the Museum of Modern Art in 1964
New Hope sculpture designed in 2008 for the democratic campaign

PROJECT: Using four letter word create a sculptural poem on paper
Step1: choose a word could be the same as Indiana Love, hope,
Step2: Use a pencil to create block letters and construct your word sculpture
(REMEMBER INDIANA FLIPPED HIS O TO MAKE HIS STATEMENT)
Step3: decide how you might fill in your letters INDIANA USED FOUR COLORS
Step4: begin to fill in including the background

MATERIALS: tag board
Markers
Oil pastels
Pencils