French School of Sydney

English Department

D.Hamilton

 

Yr 11 and 12 English

2008-09

                                                                       

Sequence 2 on the Biennale of Sydney 2008 (18/06/08 – 7/08/08)

 

Revolutions – Forms that turn

Australia’s festival of contemporary art

 

Student’s name: ………………………………..

Date: ……………………………………………

 

Stage 6 NSW Curriculum (Standard) Outcomes: The student will be assessed on: Outcome 1: A student demonstrates understanding of how relationship between composer, responder, text and context shape meaning. Outcome 2:  A student demonstrates understanding of the relationship among texts. Outcome 3: A student learns the language appropriate to the study of English. Outcome 4: A student describes and analyses the ways that language forms and features, and structures of texts shape meaning and influence responses. Outcome 5: A student analyses the effect of technology and medium on meaning Outcome 8: A student articulates and presents own ideas in critical, interpretive and imaginative texts from a range of perspectives. Outcome 10:  A student analyses and synthesises information and ideas into a sustained and logical argument for a range of purposes and audiences

 

I. Before seeing the exhibition

Formative assessment

 

A) Consult the free guide handed out in class during the first week of the term

1.      Read the introductions by Marah Braye and Carolyn Christov-Barkagiev and write a five-line summary of each text.

2.      Check the free ferry service on p.6/7.  On weekends there is a ferry every 30 minutes, check the website for timetable details, since the times shown in the booklet are subject to change.  See www.bos2008.com .

3.      Discover Cockatoo Island on p.8/9 and 10/11. Read about the 35 artists exhibited.

 

B) Go online to www.bos2008.com to discover more

C) Organise your visit bearing in mind that the Biennale finishes on the 7th of September

 

You’ll be able to visit the island on Saturday 23^rd or 30^th  August or 6^th September or Sunday 24^th, 31^st August or 7^th September.  The visit will take a whole day. Make sure that you take an early ferry to the island. There are two cafe/bars on the island.

 

 

II. During the visit to Cockatoo Island

 

A) Choose your three favourite artists out of the thirty-five exhibited

 

Here are a few suggestions:

Many of them are very famous, including William Kentridge (p18) who is a South African multimedia artist and Vernon Ah Kee (p12). He is from Queensland and exhibits impressive drawings of gigantic aboriginal faces whose gazes are riveting. Don’t fail to visit his second venue (72/73 on the plan p 10/11). Take a photograph of some of the xenophobic graffiti of the 1950s’ and 60s’ written by the “White” Australian workers and compare them with the three banners on the front of the Museum of Contemporary art which you can photograph from the boat on your departure or return from the island. Pay also attention to the mobiles by the Canadian Brian Jungen (p18) which were made for the Biennale and are inspired by Cockatoo Island.

 

B) Take notes about the artists you have chosen for you assignments.

 

C) Go back online and take notes this time.

 

 

III. Make an oral presentation to the class about these three artists (…/10) Summative Assessments in class

 

Use the notes you took on the island to write palm notes only in point form for you oral presentation which should last between 3 and 5 minutes. Introduce the artists and their works, describe them using the grids studied in class and give your opinion on the works.

 

IV. Writing task (…/10)

Essay writing in class

 

V. Extension work

 

Visit other venues such as:

 

• Pier2/3 where the free ferry stops on its way to Cockatoo Island

• The Art Gallery of New South Wales where volunteers paint the lobby walls white and black seven hours in a row. This Happening is Bulgarian artist Nedko Solakov’s famous work: A Life (Black & White), one of his life long artistic projects.  Downstairs, Marcel Duchamp’s Bicycle Wheel is surrounded by TV screens showing the films of younger artists. On the right hand side, the Swedish Klara Liden films herself destroying a bike. You could compare the film with the one made by the Australian artist Shaun Gladwell and shown on Cockatoo Island. He treats his bike differently. His poetic night ride in Sydney is a reference to Virginia Woolf.

• The Museum of Contemporary Art where you can discover a famous Australian photographer,Tracy Moffat, as well as two well known French artists.
• The Royal Botanic Garden

 

 Make an oral presentation to the class about what you found interesting

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