Dr. Kaji Shrestha and WATCH

This lesson plan was inspired by Dr. Narayan Kaji Shrestha, one of the speakers at this Institute. Dr. Shrestha came to speak to our group about Forestry, Community Development, and Change in Rural Nepal. I was particulary struck when he spoke about his Women's Rights NGO which is called WATCH or Women Acting Together for Change. WATCH supports a wide variety of activites which support and bolster women's rights in Nepal. Among these activities are HIV/AIDS Awareness Raising Programs, accessibility to health clinics, literacy programs, agriculture activities, credit and savings education programs, as well as a girl's scholarship program. When Dr. Shrestha presented, I was particularly struck by the bold messages and striking visual nature of several of the posters made for Watch. ( Please note that some of the the HIV/AIDS awareness posters on the WATCH homepage are not appropriate for children.) In a similar way, my students are aware of problems which affect women in New York City. Using WATCH as an inspiration, the students will create their own posters related to women's issues in the United States.

Lesson Plan: Social Action Poster Inspired by Contemporary Nepalese Graphic Art and Social Issues

Grade: 9-12

Objectives: Students will able to:
*Identify the basic geography, cultures, and religions of Nepal today. (NYSVAS 3bc)
*Identify issues which are affecting Nepalese women today. (NYSVAS 3bc)
*Identify issues which are affecting American women today. (NYSVAS3bc)
*Identify how Nepalese artists have used text, balance, and contrast to convey their social action oriented messages in posters. (NYSVAS 2d, 3bcd, 4ab)
*Create a poster design which addresses at least one American societal problem and incorporates text, purposefully displays symmetrical or asymmetrical balance, and also makes use of contrast. (NYSVAS 1bcd, 2a, 4c)
*Using e-z cut and printmaking tools, students will create a printed version of their poster design using at least two different colors. (NYSVAS 1bcd, 2a, 4c)
*In a critique setting, students will compare and contrast how they have used text, balance and contrast to effectively convey their social action messages in a printed poster in their own and one another's work. (NYSVAS 1d, 3bcd, 4c)

Instructional Resources:
Website: www.nepal.com-A tourist site which contains information about culture in Nepal
Website: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/nepal.html-This website contains several contemporary maps of Nepal
Website: http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/nepal/links.html-This website offers a variety of links on Nepal on topics such as government, politics, the sherpas and the Mount Everest region, women in Nepal and media resources
Website: http://www.watch.org.np/-The website of the women's NGO in Nepal which was started by Kaji Shrestra.
Website: http://www.watch.org.np/resourcecenter.htm-On this page are two posters which serve as the primary source for this art project. The trafficking and women's rights posters are the posters which I will be showing my class. Please note that some of the posters which related to HIV/AIDS are not appropriate for children.

Vocabulary:
-Printmaking: A print is a shape or mark made from a block or plate or other object that is covered with wet color (usually ink) and then pressed onto a flat surface, such as paper or textile. Most prints can be produced over and over again by re-inking the printing block or plate. Printmaking can be done in many ways, including using an engraved block or stone, transfer paper, or a film negative. The making of fine prints is generally included in the graphic arts, while the work of artists whose designs are made to satisfy the needs of more commercial clients are included in graphic design.
-Symmetrical Balance: The parts of an image or object organized so that one side duplicates, or mirrors, the other. Also known as formal balance, its opposite is asymmetry — asymmetrical balance.
-Asymmetrical Balance: Asymmetry is when one side of a composition does not reflect the design of the other. Asymmetrical balance is the kind of balance (one of the principles of art) in which the parts of a design are organized so that one side differs from the other without destroying that composition's overall harmony. Consequently, when an asymmetrical design is disturbingly off balance, the result is disharmony. Also known as informal balance, asymmetry is the opposite of symmetry.
-Contrast: A large difference between two things; for example, hot and cold, green and red, light and shadow. Closely related to emphasis, a principle of design, this term refers to a way of juxtaposing elements of art to stress the differences between them. Thus, a painting might have bright color which contrast with dark colors, or angular shapes which contrast with curvaceous shapes. Used in this way, contrast can excite, emphasize and direct attention to points of interest.

Motivation:
*The students will use the websites listed above to gain a general understanding of Nepal's geography, history, and culture.
*Students and teacher will explore the WATCH website together and the teacher will show the posters pertaining to trafficking and women's rights as well as community forestry and irrigation.
*Students and teacher will discuss how the artists have used symmetry, contrast, and text in the posters.
*Students will brainstorm about the societal issues which affect American women today.

Procedure:
*Students will choose one of these issues and begin to create a design. Students are asked to consider how to use symmetry or asymmetry, use of contrast, and use of text to effectively convey their messages.
*Students will transfer their design to ez-cut. One the drawing is complete transferred, students will begin to cut their designs out using tools.
*At the conclusion of the project, students will critique their own an one another's work based on how well their message has been communicated through the use of symmetry and asymmetry as well as the effective use of contrast and effective use of text.

Evaluation: Did the students....
*Gain a basic understanding of the geography, cultures, and religions of Nepal today?
*Identify issues which are affecting Nepalese and American women today?
*Identify how Nepalese artists use text, balance, and contrast to convey their social action oriented messages in posters?
*Create a printed poster which addresses at least one American societal problem and incorporates text, purposefully displays symmetrical or asymmetrical balance, and also makes use of contrast?
*Compare and contrast how they have used text, balance and contrast to effectively convey their social action messages in a printed poster in their own and one another's work? (NYSVAS 1d, 3bcd, 4c)