Basic 2 · Creative Arts · Planning, Making and Composing
Art About Problems in Ghana
In this topic you will plan artworks about problems in other Ghanaian communities, using waste materials.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Name topical issues in Ghanaian communities
- Plan an artwork about one issue
- Use waste materials to make art
What you already know
- Art about problems in our community (Basic 1)
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
- Strand
- Visual Arts & Performing Arts
- Sub-strand
- Planning, Making and Composing
- Indicator
- B2.1.2.2.4 – Plan to create from own imagination visual artworks that reflect topical issues in other communities in Ghana
Introduction
Plastic waste is a big problem in many towns. Artists collect plastic bottles and turn them into art that tells people to stop littering.
1. Topical Issues in Ghana
- plastic waste
- galamsey (illegal mining)
- road accidents
- flooding
- cutting down forests
2. Art from Waste
Waste art uses things people throw away, like bottle tops, cartons and sachets.
| Waste | Art you can make |
|---|---|
| bottle tops | mosaic pictures |
| old cartons | masks and models |
| plastic bottles | flowers, planters |
| water sachets | woven mats |
New words
- topical issue
- A problem people are talking about now.
- recycle
- To use waste to make something new.
- mosaic
- A picture made from small pieces.
- waste
- Things thrown away.
Summary
- Plastic waste, galamsey and road accidents are topical issues.
- Artists use waste materials to make art.
- Art can teach people to solve problems.
Class activity: Waste Art Plan
- Choose one topical issue.
- Plan an artwork using waste materials.
- Sketch your plan with pencil.
You need: Pencils, Crayons, Old cartons, Manila paper, Kente, Adinkra samples
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Which is a topical issue in Ghana?
- A. Plastic waste
- B. Clean rivers
- C. Planting trees
- D. Good roads
Show answer
Answer: Plastic wasteIt is a big problem today.2. A picture made from small pieces is a…
- A. Mosaic
- B. Print
- C. Collage only
- D. Carving
Show answer
Answer: MosaicMosaics use small pieces.3. Bottle tops can be used to make art.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueThey make mosaics.4. Waste art makes the environment dirtier.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseIt reuses waste.5. To use waste to make something new is to ______.
Show answer
Answer: recycleThat is recycling.6. Name two waste materials you can use for art.
Show answer
Answer: Any two: bottle tops, cartons, plastic bottles, sachets.Waste can be reused.
Homework
- Collect clean bottle tops or cartons at home for your waste artwork.