Lesson 3: Dish Washing

​Age group for 5 and up (or anyone wants to help to clean)

(Adults, this is your chance!)

Materials

A pile of dirty dishes in the sink
Dish soup
Sponge to clean the dish
Pencils
Markers or  crayons
Eraser
Sketch paper, at least 8x11.
Ruler (if you need it)
Picture taking device 
 Someone to help you take pictures
 Hand towel for drying your hands​

Washing dishes?!
Are you serious, Art teacher?

Yup. Today, your ‘assignment’ is to help wash some dishes after a meal. Well, do not think of it as a chore (I can see you making faces right now). In fact, if you pay attention, washing dishes could be very ‘artful’. 
(Not awful)
 
You gradually will realize that in the process of getting dishes washed, it has a hidden ‘pattern’, which involves repetitive movements. It is quite rhythmistic. Visually, you see how bubble foaming up, coupled with the sound of water running.
It is a small performance piece, don’t you think?
Ok, I know you’re not buying it.
Well, just think of today as a boy/girl scout day, do some dishes and then do some art. 

Before you start washing Dishes:

1. Take a picture of the way dishes got piled up in the sink. 
​2. Hand position: Look where your fingers are positioned. Do you have one hand holding
    the dish and use the other to scrub? (Ask a family member to take a few picture).
3. How does the soap foam up and got moved by your sponge?  (Ask a family member to
    take a picture)
​4. How does the water wash away all the soap foam?  How do the water droplets look
    when hitting the dishes (Ask a family member to take pictures)
5. If you are putting washed dishes in a drying rack, how are they organized? (Ask a
​    family member to take a picture.
​6. Lastly, how do you dry your hands? (Ask a family member to take a picture)

Drawing Assignment

Pick one picture from your camera roll and draw it as detailed as possible.

Some artists find inspirations from their daily routine. Washing dishes is one of them. Charles Courtney Curran (1861–1942)'s Emily and Her Tea Set and Jessie Willcox Smith's  Girl Doing Dishes are two examples.  Australia artist, John Bokor, is famous of his visual recording of daily objects. 
​

For older students, please think about these questions

1. Chalres Leslie Thrasher's Washing Dishes  is one of few examples protraiting boys doing dishes. 
2. Why is that? 
3. ​Is there a gender divide when it comes to household chores? 
4. How do we break the stereotype? 

//REFERENCES//

Charles Courtney Curran, Washing Dishes Emily and Her Tea Set

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Jessie Willcox Smith, Girl Doing Dishes. 

John Bokor, Dishes in the SInk. (Australia Artist) Image retrieved from Pinterest

Student Samples

Chistina Yao is a great helper.
After they finished washing dishes, she then revisited her Lego bank.  

Ben washed dishes today.