Browsing by Author "Brako-Hiapa, George"

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    Diorama Art for Museum Education
    (2004) Brako-Hiapa, George
    The project report recognizes the traditional role diorama plays as an effective medium for museum education. The diorama is a potent tool for keeping proper records and documentation of a valuable cultural and historical information. It is a presentation of scenes or images in which three-dimensional figures and objects are displayed in an appropriate natural setting in a cabinet. The study therefore seeks to produce a diorama to popularize it for Ghanaian populace to embrace. It identifies the researcher’s attempt to use non-traditional material for modeling figures to enhance creativity in the preparation of the diorama. The introductory chapter describes the background to the study, statement of the problem, objectives, hypotheses, abbreviations, importance of the study and concludes with the arrangement of the rest of the text. The review of relevant related literature is dealt with in chapter two. It covers the definition, history, composition, importance, use, preparation and examples of diorama. Chapter three identifies and describes the suitable tools and materials for the project. The research methods employed in the project and the systematic process of producing the diorama are discussed under chapter four. Here, the descriptive, experimental and analytical methods of research are identified and described to show how each of them is used in the project. Similarly, methods of production through the preliminary design to finishing and decoration stage are also discussed. The finished work is photographically documented and appreciated on its aesthetic and utilitarian qualities. A guided background notes on the subject of the diorama is provided to enhance its efficiency as an instructional medium. The results of the project indicates that corn shucks and cobs which have less use in our environment as raw materials can be used as modeling media to produce sculpture. It was also found out that preparing a diorama did not require special tools and materials that are difficult to acquire. The success of the project is that, it was possible to produce a model diorama to portray a past way of life which shows so much creativity and artistic dexterity. Realizing the boundless potential in the use of diorama to tell about things that do not exist anymore or have not been made yet, the following suggestions are put forward for consideration. It is recommended that the diorama making techniques should be adopted at the various levels of the Visual Arts programme, especially for those offerring sculpture and pointing or picture making as a way of soliciting interest in the use of the medium. Secondly, student artists should be encouraged to undertake projects in diorama to unearth scenes of equally historical and cultural importance for the development of museum education in the country. Finally it is recommended that the project report be adopted as a reference material for interested artists, art educators, curators and other researchers.
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    Documentation of Artefacts in Selected Ghanaian Senior High Schools
    (2015-05-22) Brako-Hiapa, George
    The study concerned itself with the documentation of school based visual arts which might have either deteriorated or been forgotten to serve as a record of students for a particular period of time to provide appraisal and evaluative map for the progress of the visual arts programme in Ghana. The study specifically sought to examine artefacts produced by students and to find out the skills and competencies of students in creating art works, the characteristics of students’ art works, how these art works are cared for and preserved in selected Senior High Schools which offer the visual arts, and the extent to which art works kept in the schools are made accessible and utilised. In addition, selected undocumented art works produced by students were identified, described, analysed, interpreted and evaluated. The population for the study comprised Senior High Schools which offer the visual arts in the Eastern, Ashanti and Greater Accra Regions of Ghana. The sample for the study was made up of 30 Senior High Schools where visual arts subjects are studied. Ten schools were selected from each region. The main sample and sampling procedures adopted for the study were simple random sampling, purposive sampling, stage sampling and proportional stratified sampling. Interview schedule, observation guide, official records and documents were the main instruments used to collect data. The data was collected through personal interviews and observations. This was assembled, discussed and analysed in descriptive form. The findings of the study revealed that, students exhibited excellent manipulative skills and competencies in artefacts produced. Students’ artefacts show an evidence of technical competencies in draughtsmanship and craftsmanship. Both two and three dimensional compositions are unique pieces of art based on an idea, philosophy and concept. The study had also shown that students generally produced realistic, naturalistic as well as abstracted iv works of art. The study revealed improper storage and preservation measures in almost all the schools because of inadequate or lack of display structures or facilities. Objects within storage areas were packed in ways that are deleterious to their conditions. Some objects had therefore begun to deteriorate for a variety of reasons, such as environmental conditions which include improper controls for light, temperature, relative humidity, air pollutants and pests throughout the storage and exhibit area. The study showed that the schools were not keeping good track and proper preservation measures of students’ artworks. The study also showed that art works were not fully utilised to enhance teaching and learning in the schools. Based on the findings of the study, the study recommends that instead of keeping students’ artefacts in obscure places, art teachers should look for more convenient ways of utilising students’ art works to promote effective teaching and learning. It is therefore suggested that, since visual communication is incomplete without a target audience, art teachers should share their students' art works with the community through regular exhibitions, mounting of art works in classrooms, school library, in the hallways, school staff common room, offices in the school and other public community centres. In addition to the above, art teachers should also seek sponsorship from school administrations, the district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies to publish and showcase the work of students in a professional journal. The study ends by expressing the fear that if the necessary efforts are not made to document and preserve student’s art works, many recent artistic objects and activities will no longer be accessible in the future, and will disappear from history without a trace.
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    Documentation of artefacts in selected Ghanaian Senior High Schools
    (2011) Brako-Hiapa, George
    The study concerned itself with the documentation of school based visual arts which might have either deteriorated or been forgotten to serve as a record of students for a particular period of time to provide appraisal and evaluative map for the progress of the visual arts programme in Ghana. The study specifically sought to examine artefacts produced by students and to find out the skills and competencies of students in creating art works, the characteristics of students’ art works, how these art works are cared for and preserved in selected Senior High Schools which offer the visual arts, and the extent to which art works kept in the schools are made accessible and utilised. In addition, selected undocumented art works produced by students were identified, described, analysed, interpreted and evaluated. The population for the study comprised Senior High Schools which offer the visual arts in the Eastern, Ashanti and Greater Accra Regions of Ghana. The sample for the study was made up of 30 Senior High Schools where visual arts subjects are studied. Ten schools were selected from each region. The main sample and sampling procedures adopted for the study were simple random sampling, purposive sampling, stage sampling and proportional stratified sampling. Interview schedule, observation guide, official records and documents were the main instruments used to collect data. The data was collected through personal interviews and observations. This was assembled, discussed and analysed in descriptive form. The findings of the study revealed that, students exhibited excellent manipulative skills and competencies in artefacts produced. Students’ artefacts show an evidence of technical competencies in draughtsmanship and craftsmanship. Both two and three dimensional compositions are unique pieces of art based on an idea, philosophy and concept. The study had also shown that students generally produced realistic, naturalistic as well as abstracted works of art. The study revealed improper storage and preservation measures in almost all the schools because of inadequate or lack of display structures or facilities. Objects within storage areas were packed in ways that are deleterious to their conditions. Some objects had therefore begun to deteriorate for a variety of reasons, such as environmental conditions which include improper controls for light, temperature, relative humidity, air pollutants and pests throughout the storage and exhibit area. The study showed that the schools were not keeping good track and proper preservation measures of students’ artworks. The study also showed that art works were not fully utilised to enhance teaching and learning in the schools. Based on the findings of the study, the study recommends that instead of keeping students’ artefacts in obscure places, art teachers should look for more convenient ways of utilising students’ art works to promote effective teaching and learning. It is therefore suggested that, since visual communication is incomplete without a target audience, art teachers should share their students' art works with the community through regular exhibitions, mounting of art works in classrooms, school library, in the hallways, school staff common room, offices in the school and other public community centres. In addition to the above, art teachers should also seek sponsorship from school administrations, the district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies to publish and showcase the work of students in a professional journal. The study ends by expressing the fear that if the necessary efforts are not made to document and preserve student’s art works, many recent artistic objects and activities will no longer be accessible in the future, and will disappear from history without a trace.