Basic 5 · Creative Arts · Displaying and Sharing
Exhibiting Artworks on Topical Issues
In this topic you will exhibit your portfolio and others' artworks on topical issues in Africa to share creative experiences.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Organise an exhibition on topical issues
- Guide visitors and explain artworks
- Collect and record visitors' comments
What you already know
- Planning an exhibition and artworks on topical issues
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
- Displaying and Sharing
- Indicator
- B5.1.3.5.3 – Exhibit portfolio of own and others’ art artworks to share creative experiences of artworks that reflect topical issues in Africa
Introduction
Your artworks on galamsey, plastic pollution and other issues have important messages. An exhibition helps these messages reach parents, teachers and the community.
1. Preparing the Exhibition
- Gather all artworks on topical issues from the class.
- Group them by issue (environment, health, children's rights, unity).
- Mount, label and attach each artist statement.
- Arrange them in the venue with clear paths for visitors.
- Prepare a visitors' book for comments.
- Invite guests, such as parents, the head teacher and community leaders.
2. Guiding Visitors
Pupils act as guides. Greet visitors politely, lead them around and explain each artwork: the issue, the message, the materials and why the artist chose them. Answer questions confidently. If you do not know the answer, say you will find out.
3. Visitors' Comments
A visitors' book or comment cards let visitors write what they liked and what they learnt. These comments help artists improve and show whether the messages were understood.
| Name | Artwork | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Mrs Boateng | "Save Our Rivers" | Very clear message. The colours show the pollution well. |
| Mr Adjei | "Children Belong in School" | Touching. I will share this with my church. |
4. After the Exhibition
- Take down artworks carefully and return them to the artists.
- Clean the venue.
- Read the comments and discuss them in class.
- Write a short report on the exhibition: number of visitors, best-liked works and lessons learnt.
An exhibition on topical issues can encourage the community to act, for example by organising a clean-up or reporting galamsey. In this way, art becomes a tool for positive change.
New words
- exhibit
- To display publicly.
- guide
- A person who shows visitors around.
- visitors' book
- A book where visitors write comments.
- mount
- To fix an artwork onto a backing card.
- report
- A written account of an event.
- community
- The people living in an area.
Summary
- Group, label and arrange artworks by issue.
- Guides explain the issue, message and materials.
- Visitors' comments help artists improve.
- Exhibitions on issues can inspire community action.
Class activity: Issue Exhibition
- Set up the exhibition in the classroom or hall.
- Take turns as guides for visiting classes.
- Collect and read the comments afterwards.
You need: Learners’ own artworks, Label cards cut from manila paper, String, Clothes pegs
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. A book where visitors write comments is a…
- A. visitors' book
- B. textbook
- C. register
- D. diary
Show answer
Answer: visitors' bookIt records feedback.2. A guide at an exhibition should…
- A. explain the artworks politely
- B. ignore visitors
- C. touch artworks roughly
- D. shout
Show answer
Answer: explain the artworks politelyThey help visitors understand.3. Why are artworks grouped by issue?
- A. To help visitors follow the messages
- B. To hide them
- C. To make it confusing
- D. To sell them faster
Show answer
Answer: To help visitors follow the messagesIt is organised.4. Visitors' comments can help artists improve.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueThey show what was understood.5. After an exhibition, artworks should be left on the walls for ever.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseThey are taken down and returned.6. To fix an artwork onto a backing card is to ______ it.
Show answer
Answer: mountIt looks neat.7. State three duties of a guide at an exhibition.
Show answer
Answer: Greet visitors, explain artworks, answer questions.Any three.8. How can an exhibition on topical issues lead to change in the community?
Show answer
Answer: It makes people aware of problems and can inspire them to act, e.g. clean-ups or reporting galamsey.Art for change.
Homework
- Write a short report about your class exhibition.