Malfeasance Manifest

General Information
Grade 9th -12th Grades Class Length of Lesson Approximately 5 - 6 (40 minute sessions)
Lesson Title Malfeasance Manifest
Unit Title Individual and Collective Representations: Virginia Myers
Unit Compelling Question

What does representation mean?
Where do people represent themselves and groups?
Who requires representation in society?
Why does representation matter?
When does representation change in society?
How can representation be communicated to others?

Historical Context:

WHO: Virginia Myers

WHEN: 1927-2015

WHAT: American Printmaker

FAMOUS FOR: Expert artist, scholar, professor, and inventor of Iowa Foil Printer.

IN HER OWN WORDS:
"The real test, if you're a creative person, is that you do it not just when you're feeling good. Anybody can be creative when they're feeling good."

ARTIST'S HISTORY:
Myers was born in Indiana and raised in Cleveland, OH. Her mother often took her to The Cleveland Museum of Art and her father was a university professor. Always interested in art, Myers attended George Washington University for undergraduate studies and then The California College of Arts and Crafts in California for graduate school. She came to Iowa City without much but the clothes on her back in 1955, to study printmaking with Mauricio Lasansky. After a Fulbright Scholarship from 1961-62, Myers returned to The University of Iowa and taught printmaking courses for over 40 years. Throughout her career, she not only made her own artworks but also helped establish the illustrious printmaking department at the University of Iowa and the one-of-a-kind Iowa Foil Printer.

IOWA CONNECTIONS:
Upon moving to Iowa in 1955, Myers considered Iowa her home and the landscape inspiration for art making. She spent decades teaching students at the University of Iowa and influenced the establishment of the world-renowned printmaking department along with artist and mentor, Mauricio Lasansky. In the late 1980s, Myers invented a new art form, foil stamping, which made use of the commercial foil stamping process. With it, she created and patented a new artistic tool, the Iowa Foil Printer, which is used today in printmaking studios worldwide.

ARTIST'S WORK:
Deeply influenced by nature, personal relationships, and the medium of printmaking, Myers specialized in intaglio printmaking processes and incorporating novel processes, like foil stamping. An expert illustrator, she was passionate about combining natural elements with supernatural visual components. Her work requires a close, detailed looking as she sought to encourage viewers to slow down and be curious.

ARTIST'S WORLD:
Throughout Myer's career, and even into the early 2000s university-level printmaking courses, let alone departments, were seldom influenced or led by women. Myers also went against the grain of what was expected of women as she candidly chose to remain single and put her focus on her work and students instead of family life. She also witnessed the fast-paced changes in technology and advancement which she both embraced as an inventor and resisted as she emphasized the critical skill of drawing and drafting with her students.

Lesson Supporting Question
Lesson Overview

 Students will learn about the life and influence of artist Virginia Myers, who was an artist, printmaker, and inventor in Iowa. Using Myers’ artwork, A Time of Malfeasance No. 1, 1974, as inspiration, students will create a large charcoal drawing depicting an event or example of malfeasance in US history and law. Students will research and understand the meaning of malfeasance, use the medium of charcoal to create a large drawing, and then write an artist statement describing the process and message of their artwork.

Primary Sources Used
Artwork 2022.003.002
Resources Needed

Other Notable Artworks: To Iowa and Molly Brooks, 1959 Alone, 1959 A Codex of Our Times, 2014 Online Resources (Used at Instructor's Discretion): FIRST-PERSON NARRATIVE: Virginia Myers VIDEO: Learn about the Iowa Foil Printer & the hot stamped foil print-making process VIDEO: Hot Foil Printing - How It Works VIDEO: Intro to Printmaking ARTICLE: Malfeasance ARTICLE: What is malfeasance? Materials:  Access to internet  Print/Copy/On Screen image of artwork A Time of Malfeasance No. 1, 1974 Sketch materials as desired  Large (18” x 24”) drawing paper Variety of drawing charcoal (vine, pencils, compressed)  Kneaded eraser Blending stick    


Standard
Lesson Target

Students will analyze and discuss the artwork and life of artist Virginia Myers and her connections to The University of Iowa in Iowa City.;Students will will create a charcoal drawing depicting an event or example of malfeasance in U.S. history.;Students will research and write an artist statement and rationale explaining the process and message of their artwork.

Lesson Themes Innovators, Women's Experience, Visual Arts, Lawmaking
Lesson Procedure
StepProcedureResources
 Pre-Learning Looking

 

Show artwork A Time of Malfeasance No. 1, 1974. Using the compelling questions as a guide, discuss the artwork. 


 

Print/Copy of  A Time of Malfeasance No. 1, 1974.
Introduction of Virginia Myers & Iowa Connections

Introduce the work and life of Virginia Myers. Discuss how To A Time of Malfeasance No. 1, 1974 is an engraving and drypoint, a special kind of artistic copy, a print, of an artwork. 


 

Historical Context and other resources desired (videos, podcasts).

 

Malfeasance Research 


 

Using A Time of Malfeasance No. 1, 1974 as inspiration and library resources, research instances of malfeasance in U.S. history and law. Choose a particular event to depict in an artwork.Library and internet resources.
Malfeasance RenderingKeeping in mind the elements and principles of art create a large-scale drawing inspired by the researched act of malfeasance.Paper and drawing materials.
Malfeasance ReflectionWrite an artist statement and rationale explaining the process and message of the artwork.Completed artworks
Assessment
Formative Assessment
(How will you use the formative assessments to monitor and inform instruction?)

Class discussions and malfeasance research.

Summative Assessment
(How does the lesson connect to planned summative assessment(s)?)

Completed charcoal drawings and artist statements.

Author Information
Author Megan Dehner Created Last Edited
Reviewer: Teaching Iowa History Team
Lesson Plan Development Notes: Summer Fellowship 2022