Exit Through the Gift Shop

Over the next two classes we will watch the movie “Exit Through the Gift Shop” as the introduction to our street art unit. We will then respond to a few key quotes.

Discussion Questions

With 1-3 classmates, respond to the following quotes. Then write a 150-word response to the quote or quote of your choice as it applies to the movie, “Exit Through the Gift Shop,” or contemporary art in general.

Banksy: “I don’t think Thierry played by the rules in some ways; but, then there are not supposed to be any rules. So, I don’t really know what mine is. I mean I always used to encourage everyone I met to make art, I used to think everyone should do it. I don’t do that so much anymore.”

Banksy: “I don’t know what it means, Thierry is huge success and a rival in the art world. I mean, maybe, Thierry was a genius all along. Maybe, he got a bit lucky. Maybe, it means art is a bit of a joke.”

Shepard Fairey: “I do think the whole phenomenon of Thierry’s obsession with street art, becoming a street artist, a lot of suckers buying into his show and him selling a lot of expensive art, um, very quickly. It is anthropologically, sociologically it’s a fascinating thing to observe and maybe there’s some things to be learned from it.”

Banksy: “Most artists spend years perfecting their craft finding their style. Thierry seems to have missed all those bits. I mean there’s no one quite like Thierry. Even if his art looks quite a lot like everyones else’s.”

Today we will:

• Watch the street art movie “Exit Through the Gift Shop”
• Discuss key quotes by Banksy and Shepard Fairey about the progression of Thierry’s artistic career and the “rules” of contemporary art
• Write a response of a minimum of 150 words to the quote or quote of your choice as it applies to the movie, “Exit Through the Gift Shop,” or contemporary art in general.

Project Requirements: Skateboard Deck Painting

Here are some of my favorite “trendspotting” photos from yesterday’s class.
I have cropped some of them to make the subject more apparent:

Photo Credit: Jason

Photo Credit: Isabel

Photo Credit: Raphael

Photo Credit: Kiera

For our next project, we will paint a skateboard deck.

Your project must meet the following requirements:

• balance of positive and negative space
• displays a cohesive color scheme
• shows unity and movement
• contains no words, letters, numbers, copyrighted characters, or trademarks
• displays good craftsmanship and technical skill

Here are some skateboard and snowboard deck designs to get you started:

                           

Today we will:

• trace the skateboard pattern onto a piece of cardboard, gesso the cardboard, write your name on an area of cardboard that has not been gessoed, and place the cardboard in the drying rack
• post any inspiration photos that you would like Ms. Lawson to print to your blog
• create a concept sketch on the blank skateboard handout and color it in with your intended color scheme