All Signs Point to Art

Yield: Great Art Does Not Stop, student sign. 

When we are traveling down a road, it is the signs that guide us. We read posted speed limits, mile markers, and exit signs and respond accordingly. We look for fuel locations and rest stops, and we figure out how far it is to our destination. We know what a red octagon means even before we get close enough to see the word “STOP.” Even young children are aware of what road signs mean and how important they are.

The Art Advocacy Sign Challenge
I challenged students to take the idea of road signs and redesign them to express messages about art. How do we communicate with one another? How do we relay a message? How can we design signs that encourage viewers to consider the value of art? We had big conversations about these questions, and students sketched out ideas for their signs in their sketchbooks.

Discussing the Elements of Art
We reviewed students’ sketches and discussed how the elements of art are used in signs to effectively communicate a message. I talked about how the shape of a sign will automatically make the viewer feel a certain way, and how students can use that to create their own unique messages. What would a triangle convey? How about a rectangle? What nontraditional shapes could be used?

Signs Worth Stopping For
Using mixed-media paper, poster board, cardboard, markers, tape, and glue, students turned their ideas into signs worth stopping for.

I challenged students to take the idea of road signs and redesign them to express messages about art.

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