Artist Prompt: Home-Matter

At Dia, our education department works closely with artists. These artist-designed prompts encourage people of all ages to connect with their surroundings as they relate to the body and find ways to be creative within the home. 

Home-Matter
Designed by Bel Falleiros

Timing and Frequency
You can do these exercises all at once. Or, if you prefer shorter sessions, you can split the exercises into segments, always starting with the warm-up phase. For instance:

            Day 1: Warm-up + exercise 1
Day 2: Warm-up + exercise 2

Materials
You will need paper and a pencil or crayon (colors are great, but are not necessary).

Tip: When you are working you can play some music that makes you feel good. The suggested soundtrack is this album from the Malian duo Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba. You can listen to it on your smartphone or any other device. The exercise is family friendly; everybody is invited to join. 

Warm-Up Exercises

a)     Standing up, take three deep breaths with a special twist—inhale as deep as you can, and when you exhale, make a noise that makes you feel good. Externalize anything that you want to get rid of right now (yell if it’s necessary). Don’t be shy. Let your arms hang down and follow your exhale. If you can, move your whole torso down, releasing your head upside down. Make sure to let loose. 
b)     Place a piece of paper between your feet (if you are standing), or in your lap (if you are sitting). We are going to warm-up our body for drawing. There is no right or wrong, beautiful or ugly. The only rule is keep drawing for five full seconds.
-       Take a deep breath while standing/sitting, lift your arms up, stretching the spine. Then exhale and extend your arms down to your feet/lap.
-       Remain in this position and make a five-second drawing of the first thing that comes to mind. Don’t worry about what it looks like. 
-       Repeat that exercise five times on the same side of one sheet of paper.
-       Take a deep breath and choose your favorite drawing.
c)     Now you are going to redraw your favorite drawing. Use the other side of the paper for our next exercise. Repeat the inhale and exhale movement and make the new drawing using twenty full seconds.
d)     At the exercise’s conclusion, repeat the breathing exercise.

Exercise 1: What Is Inside a Home?

a)     Make sure you have a piece of paper and a pencil or crayon.  
-       We are going to do a small expedition inside the home.  
-       Let’s take a moment to investigate the materials that were used to build this home, the layers of matter that were used to construct this abode, both for you and the people that live with you.   
-       Walk through the home and choose the materials (found in the walls, floors, cabinets, tiles, etc.) that catch your attention, that make you feel good. If you have a favorite, stop in front of it.    
-       What is it made of? How many layers are there? What is under the exterior layers? What do you like about these layers? What about it makes you feel at home?
b)     Now let’s honor this piece of your home. We will start by documenting its texture. Place the paper against your chosen surface and rub the pencil or crayon on the paper until you cover most of the page. There is no right or wrong. Just make sure you do it smoothly to avoid perforating the paper, and be careful not to go beyond the paper’s limits.
-       Do you like this texture? What does it tell you about the material? Does it represent this place?
c)     Now add other details and drawings to the rubbing that you just created. You can draw what you see or make something else.  
-       Ask yourself, why did you select it? Why is this material important? What do you think it does? How would you like to honor it? Add as many details as you want; there is no time limit. 
d)     Take a moment to look at your drawing and the space around you. Choose a word to represent what this piece of your home means for the home and to yourself (use the first one that comes to your mind). Write it on the drawing. 

Exercise 2: Outside the Home

a)     Make sure you have a piece of paper and a pencil or crayon.      
-       We are going outside, so put your shoes on and wear a coat if you need it. 
-       From outside your home, look at its entrance. What are the surfaces? What holes are found along its exterior (the doors, windows, or chimneys)? Does it resemble a face? Does it have a personality? Why is it there? How do you relate to it?
-       Now let’s reflect on the layers of protection that your home has (the material of the external walls, finishing touches, trimming, coats of paint, etc.). What do those layers protect your home from? Think about natural elements like rain, sunlight, heat, snow, and wind.
-       How thankful are you to have these layers of protection, these capes? If you feel this is a good time, you can thank the home and the people that built it. 
b)     Now let’s take a walk around your home, taking a closer look at its surfaces. What are the materials and surfaces that capture your attention? With a pencil/crayon and sheet of paper in hand, stop in front of your favorite surface. 
-       We are going to do another rubbing. 
-       Put the paper against your chosen surface and rub with the pencil or crayon. 
-       Think that you are touching one of these protective capes, honoring them. 
-       Go smoothly and carefully, you are massaging your home. 
-       Take your time and rub as much as you think it’s needed until you fill most of the page.
c)     Now you can add any other details to the rubbing that you just created. You can draw its architecture or choose one element of its construction. Be free. You can also draw your home’s persona. You can give it arms, legs, facial expressions. It is your home; you know it better than anyone else.
d)     Look at your drawing and the landscape around you. Choose a word to represent your home or a feeling that you have about it (use the first one that comes to mind). Write it on your drawing.

Go Further
a)     Watch this video about an artwork called Landscape <—> Body <—> Dwelling (1973) by the artist Charles Simonds (start at 8 min., 26 sec.).
b)     Discuss: 
-       What captured your attention? How is the material and the landscape around it presented? What is the relationship of it with the body of the artist and action that he is performing? 
-       Why do you think the artist chose these three words to name the artwork? After watching the video, would you use any other words to name it? What words?
-       Why do you think that the artist decided to create this work? 
c)     Take a piece of paper to draw and write down what emerged from the discussion.
d)     Optional—read these three stories by the same artist.

We would like to see your creations and add a selection of them to the blog. Please share images of your work by emailing submissions@diaart.org.

Bel Falleiros is a Brazilian artist whose artistic research focuses on land identity. Starting with her hometown of São Paulo, she has worked to understand how contemporary landscapes, city tissue, and monuments (mis)represent the diverse layers of presence that constitute a place. Falleiros is an artist educator at Dia Beacon, where she works with the Arts Education Program. She currently lives and works in upstate New York, rural Virginia, and São Paulo.