Activity Introduction

painting-heroQuick summary: In this activity students explore the existence of environmental art throughout history. Students look at and analyse examples of landscape art, land art and eco art. They are then asked to create their own work of environmental art by recreating a historical work of art or by imagining an artist’s response to climate change.

Learning goals:

  • Students understand that environmental art has existed in many forms throughout history.
  • Students will critically analyse the intentions of a range of environmental artists.
  • Students recognise a range of visual intentions used by environmental artists.

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking, Ethical understanding.

Australian Curriculum content description:

Years 9 & 10 Visual Arts

  • Conceptualise and develop representations of themes, concepts or subject matter to experiment with their developing personal style, reflecting on the styles of artists, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists (ACAVAM125)
  • Manipulate materials, techniques, technologies and processes to develop and represent their own artistic intentions (ACAVAM126)
  • Plan and design artworks that represent artistic intention (ACAVAM128)
  • Evaluate how representations communicate artistic intentions in artworks they make and view to inform their future art making (ACAVAR130)
  • Analyse a range of visual artworks from contemporary and past times to explore differing viewpoints and enrich their visual art-making, starting with Australian artworks, including those of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, and consider international artworks (ACAVAR131)

Year 10 History

  • The background to environmental awareness, including the nineteenth century National Parks movement in America and Australia (ACDSEH028)
  • The growth and influence of the environment movement within Australia and overseas, and developments in ideas about the environment (notion of ‘Gaia’, ‘limits to growth’, concept of ‘sustainability’, concept of ‘rights of nature’) (ACDSEH126)

Syllabus Outcomes: VAS5.1, VAS5.3, VAS5.4, VAS5.5, VAS5.6, VAS5.7, VAS5.10, HT5-1, HT5-3, HT5-4. 

Topic: Sustainability

Time required: 2 x 48 mins

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – oversee activity and facilitate discussion

Resources required: Internet access, student worksheet, art materials.

Digital technology opportunities: Digital sharing capabilities.

Homework and extension opportunities: Includes opportunities for extension.

Keywords: Environmental art, history, artists, landscape painting, land art, eco art.

Artists used in this resource:

  1. Bernard Pras – Re-creation of Under the wave off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai
  2. Chris Jordan – Re-creation of A Sunday on La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat
  3. John Constable – Cloud study
  4. Robert Smithson – Spiral Jetty
  5. Andy Goldsworthy – Rowan leaves and hole
  6. Nele Azevedo – Melting men
  7. Henrique Oliveira  – baitogogo

Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.

Worksheets

Teacher Worksheet

paintbrushes-heroTeacher preparation:

Overarching learning goal: By participating in this activity students understand that environmental art has existed in many forms throughout history. Students will critically analyse the intentions of a range of environmental artists and will recognise a range of visual intentions used by environmental artists.

Teacher content information: Although the modern day environmental movement didn’t really begin until the 1960’s, early examples of environmental art stem from landscape painting and representation. Artists (and poets and writers) often celebrated nature through their art. And when artists painted onsite they often developed a deep connection with the landscape they were observing and with the surrounding environment and weather. They bought these observations into their paintings and would record the scene in different weather conditions and at different times of the day.

With the rise of environmental awareness in the 1960’s and 70’s a group of artists

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Student Worksheet

Thought starter: Do environmental artists have a responsibility to communicate positive environmental behaviour?

Working in groups or pairs, read the following sections on landscape painting, land art and eco art. Look at the images and discuss the answers with your group. Fill in the answers independently.

Landscape painting

Although the modern day environmental movement didn’t really begin until the 1960’s, early examples of environmental art stem from landscape painting and representation. Artists (and poets and writers) often celebrated nature through their art. And when artists painted onsite they often developed a deep connection with the landscape they were observing and with the surrounding environment and weather. They bought these observations into their paintings and would record the scene in different weather conditions and at different times of the day. For example, Claude Monet and John Constable both spent much time creating multiple of works around single topics, suc

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- or - to view worksheets

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