Date: Monday, December 1, 2008

Time: 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.

Target Grade Levels: 9-12

Description:

What was it like to grow up ‘white’ in a police state founded in racism?How were the children of the dominant race treated by their parents, teachers, even preachers? What special privileges did they have? What were the home rules and the state laws? How were they expected to behave towards the Bantu, the native Africans? Artist Alan Bell grew up in the age of Apartheid in South Africa and has made a series of paintings and drawings to illuminate the issues that separated and branded both ‘white’ and ‘black’ people with an unendurable stigma.Alan’s experience growing into manhood in Apartheid provides an insider’s perspective of the artistic works of many South African artists on both sides of the racial divide. Armed with images of his own creation, Alan reveals the power of art as a social mirror.

Instructional Objectives:

Students will see into the way of life imposed on both race groups by the laws of Apartheid. They will also see and hear some of the history of the Apartheid era,especially as it directly affected the family unit.

Videoconference Outline:

Resources:

Drawing Packet: This is a packet of drawings by Alan Bell selected from a much larger body of work.

ArcheDream's Website

Preparing Students:

Preparing Questions: Each site will have an opportunity to ask at least one question during the Question and Answer period. You may want to brainstorm with students ahead of time to prepare a few questions, or distribute index cards where students can write down questions as they emerge during the presentation. We'll call on sites in alphabetical order during the Q&A, and use a round robin style; meaning, once your site has asked a question, we'll move onto the next site. If time permits, we'll go to each group for a second question.

Drawing Analysis: Please download and distribute the packet of 20 images under "Resources." Have students study the images. As a class, select one image and create questions about the image for the artist. Create a brief analysis of the image as well. Please email your selected image to Heather at hweisse@magpi.net so we can make sure there aren't any repeats! Email no later than Wednesday, November 26th.

Content Standards:

Participation in this program meets standard #3 in the national visual arts education content standards: choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas.

About the Presenter: Alan Bell

South African born Alan Bell, is the artist behind ArcheDream.  Growing up in the Age of Apartheid, he resolved to find an art form that would unify the racially divided audience in an ecstasy of wonder.  While dedicating himself to the medium of blacklight for over two decades, Alan discovered a way to bridge his African roots with his European inheritance. 

Originally performing as Dream Theatre, the first production debuted in Naples, Italy 1996.  Alan lived in Amsterdam, Holland for 18 years and is a graduate of the Johannesburg College of Art.  He is committed to the enrichment of culture through delightful, profound and unforgettable art.  Alan writes children’s plays for the Princeton Montessori School and he writes children’s music for a CD series called Kaleidoscope Songs with Alex Mitnick ( www.kaleidoscopesongs.com ). 

Alan helped Emily Nussdorfer establish Girl’s of Promise, a Philadelphia art and enrichment program for adjudicated inner city teen girls, and he is also artist in residence at the RHD Ridge Avenue Homeless Shelter for men in Center City Philadelphia.

 

About ArcheDream:

ArcheDream is an archetypal mask theatre that uses ritual, movement and myth to present allegorical dramas. The organization uses masks, costumes, original music, various forms of dance and multimedia projection to tell their stories.