Grade 7 Options—Art: Keith Haring Dance Party

Project

You will need:

Painting paper (large)
Acrylic paint
Black thick Sharpie
For this project, we will be recreating a famous work of art called, “Dance Party” by
Keith Haring!
Keith Haring is an artist who was most active during the 1980’s and his works were
known for their movement, bright colour, and genderless animated characters. There is
a feeling of joy and celebration in Haring’s art.
Keith Haring was also known for creating a lot of public art, which means he wanted his
art to be accessible to all people. In other words, he wanted all people, especially
poorer folks who couldn’t afford to go to fancy art galleries, to enjoy his art and
understand its message.
Keith Haring’s art also contained a lot of social messages, mostly about people
respecting one another and coming together despite differences in beliefs.

PROCESS!
We need to pick out some DANCE MOVES for this project!
We can look at pictures of dance moves, or recreate some ourselves!
On a large piece of paper, create at least 5 (five) characters that look like Keith Haring’s
characters in pencil. Here are some close-up:

After you draw it, fill them in with any colour acrylic paint you choose! Paint the
background one solid colour as well.
After your bright colours dry, outline the characters in Sharpie and add some squiggles
and wavy lines to indicate movement.

Keith Haring-Inspired Dance Party Rubric:

Project Total: Exemplary 4 Marks
(Other Media): /30
Self-Expression/Theme Maximum effort to capture
Evident the theme of the project, but
created in your own
Creating (VA-CR2) and style/interpretation
Making (VA-M3)
Skill Level/Effort Maximum effort and
attention were given to
Making (VA-M1) and (VA- details in working with
M3) media.
Learning Experience You made this an
exemplary learning
Making (VA-M2) and experience for yourself.
Connecting (VA-M3)
Risk Taking You tried something new,
both in techniques and
Connecting (VA-C3) subject matter.
And Responding (VA-R4)
Project Specifics 1. You worked with
neatness and effort, 2. You
Connecting (VA-C2) and created a project that
Making (VA-M3) represents your ideas well,
and 3. You finished your
project on time.
Creativity Maximum input to create a
unique and interesting piece
Making (VA-M1) and of artwork.
Creating (VA-CR2)
Total Mark: /30
Competent 3 Marks
Competent effort to capture
the theme of the project,
used elements of your own
style/interpretation
Competent effort and
attention were given to the
details in working with
media.
You made this a competent
learning experience for
yourself.
Made a strong effort to try
new techniques and subject
matter.
1. You mostly worked with
neatness and effort, 2. You
created a project that
represents your ideas well,
and 3. You finished or
nearly finished your project
on time.
Input several new and
unique parts into the
artwork.
Satisfactory 2 Marks
Some effort to capture
theme of the project, used
some elements of your own
style/interpretation
Some effort and attention
were given to the details
working with media.
You made this a satisfactory
learning experience for
yourself.
Made little effort to try new
techniques or engage in
new subject matter.
1. You worked with some
neatness and effort, 2. You
created a project that
represents some ideas well,
but not others, and 3. You
nearly finished or did not
finish your project on time.
Attempted to try and out
one or two unique parts in
the work.
Rudimentary 1 Mark
No attempt made to engage
in project theme and/or self-
expression.
Little effort and attention
were given to the details
working with the medium.
You did the project but
didn’t try to learn anything
from it.
Made no effort to try new
techniques or new subject
matter.
1. You worked with little
neatness or effort, 2. You
created a project that is
confusing and/or
inappropriate, 3. You did
not finish your project on
time.
Completed the project with
no creative flair.