This month, our arts “Do Now” prompt was inspired by a project created by artist Ala Ebtekar and a group of Bay Area students. They focused on the idea of legacy, and what they hoped to leave behind for future generations. Students worked with Ebtekar on creative writing pieces that were recorded and mixed into an audio track that was part of a sound art installation at the Asian Art Museum. To learn more about this project, Cylindr.Us, check out our “Do Now” post and join the discussion in the comments section.
We recently visited Ebtekar’s studio in the South Bay and learned more about his early influences as a graffiti artist and DJ, and how those interests translated into his later work. A conceptual artist, Ebtekar experiments with many different art mediums, but his roots are in drawing, and he spent time in Iran studying with master painters of two different styles. In this episode of Art School, Ebtekar discusses traditional Persian art forms and his personal history and early influences. A teacher recently shared with us a mural project she did with her students that was inspired by Ebtekar’s wall drawings. Check it out and find inspiration for your classroom, and learn more about Ebtekar’s work and personal history in this video from Art School.