Lesson Plans for Artist: Rick Bartow

Vietnam: Geography, Culture, and The Second Indochina War (pdf download)–Level: Grades 6–8

Students explore the geography and culture of Vietnam through several sources, including reading fiction and non-fiction literature from several perspectives related to Vietnam and the Vietnam War. Students integrate their own studies and the artist's personal experience with the Vietnam War.

Uncovering Our Masks (pdf download)–Level: Grades 6–12

Inspired by this Native American artist's use of animal imagery in his artwork, students first discover their own totem animal. The animal is brought to life through the creation of a paper mache mask. The student finally wears the mask and is transformed into the totem animal as he reads a narrative he has written taking on the persona of the animal.

Experimenting with Charcoal and Chalk Pastel (pdf download)–Level: Grades 6–12

Focusing on the use of color and the mood created by color combinations, students create charcoal and chalk pastel drawings in the style of the artist. The focus is upon exploring and experiencing the particular characteristics of this media, along with layering and removing color from the paper. Students create a piece of artwork that meets several requirements, including the personification of an animal.

Found Materials (pdf download)–Level: Grades 7–10

Rick Bartow utilizes a wide range of materials in his artmaking process. Throughout history, found materials have served a valuable purpose for artists and various important cultural practices, both in reflecting values and identity. How does an object made with local materials reflect a culture’s values and express its identity?

Storytelling and Transformation (pdf download)–Level: Grades 7–12

Bartow quotes Chagall as saying ‘let us attempt therefore to find something authentic in our lives’. Rick looked for artists who “make something authentic in the work”. Bartow quotes his elder, John Bevan Ford, as saying “at any one time we are making art for three areas, for what was, what is and what will be”. Bartow gives us a sense of this when talking about those who came before him and sitting with family who is present with us. This lesson deals with ideas of transformation in our lives.

Gesture and Movement (pdf download)–Level: Grades 7–12

Rick Bartow talks about the importance of gesture, and the urge to make marks. In his work there is much reference to gesture and movement. Bartow uses techniques that he has developed over time, and which deal with emotion. Bartow talks about a time when ‘gesture became everything’. This was a crucial time when his work moved in a new direction, from smaller and more controlled imagery to more fluid movement and freedom to explore gesture.