Out of Hours

T-Shirt Printing 1: Activity 1

Introduction
Activity 1: T-Shirt Design

Give students three examples of text panels (select from the Collections Online or use the examples provided below) which are currently on display at Tate Modern and talk about how language is used. With highlighter pens they should highlight any phrases or sentences which stand out as using art terminology or sections where the student is drawn to a particular phrase. They should pay particular attention to phrases that stand out as being most different to street slang.

Examples of texts we used: example 1, example 2, example 3. In bold type are sentences in which we took particular interest.

On making a selection each student needs to turn their sentence/phrase into text messaging language. Use mobiles brought in from home and text messaging guide books. Be as creative and reductive as possible Think about the quirky use of language found in text messaging. Then get the group to think about text messaging: how it effects meaning; visually - how it looks; who tends to use it...What if all the signs in art galleries were like txt mssgs?

Once completed create a design for your T-shirt. Draw the entire phone screen, the text and any icons. Pay particular attention to typeface, scale, colour or tonal values.

Duration 2 Hours

Activity Images

Pablo Picassoi, Goat's Skull, Bottle and Candle, 1952.
© Succession Picasso/ DACS 2002

Activity Resources