Step 1 - Introducing the Faith Ringgold Slideshow Guide

Transcription

1

2 Step 1 - Introducing the Faith Ringgold Slideshow Guide BEGIN READING HERE MOTIVATION Would you like to go to college? Good. What things do you need to go to college? (TAKE A NUMBER OF RESPONSES - APPLICATION, MONEY, GOOD GRADES, DESIRE, HARD WORK IN SCHOOL, SUPPORT FROM YOUR PARENTS) What if I told you that just a few years ago in the United States, you were not allowed to go to some colleges if you were female a girl. Does that sound fair? (NO) Why isn t it fair? (TAKE A NUMBER OF RESPONSES) DEVELOPMENT Today s master artist, Faith Ringgold, dreamed of going to college from the time she was a little girl in elementary school. But when she applied to the City College of New York, she was told women were not allowed to attend the School of Liberal Arts. So, she registered in the School of Education. That was the only way she could get a degree in art at City College. Faith eventually earned her college degree and set out on her teaching career as a high school art teacher. Today she has received many awards and honorary degrees for her art, but she still spends part of her year teaching (recently at the University of California/San Diego), because she loves to inspire young artists. Let s look at a photo of Faith Ringgold. Click Start Lesson To Begin 1. PHOTOGRAPH OF FAITH RINGGOLD Faith grew up in New York City in an area called Harlem. As a young girl she suffered from asthma and had to spend a lot of time in bed. She kept busy by drawing and learning how to sew from her mother who was a dressmaker and fashion designer. In school she was always the best artist. Faith began her career in the 1960 s. She showed her paintings in exhibitions and gallery shows. It was difficult for her at first, because she was a woman and an African-American. Despite this discrimination, she was very determined to succeed.

3 Because of her concern about the disadvantages of being an African-American woman in the United States, she became involved in the civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. What was the Civil Rights Movement? (A MAJOR HISTORIC PERIOD IN THE UNITED STATES IN THE 1960s IN WHICH BLACK AMERICANS DEMANDED FREEDOM AND RIGHTS WHICH HAD BEEN DENIED THEM. A MAIN GOAL WAS TO END DISCRIMINATION AND GUARANTEE EQUAL RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL PEOPLE.) Can anyone tell me the name of the famous Black American who was an important person in the Civil Rights Movement? Hint: We celebrate his birthday every January. (MARTIN LUTHER KING) Many of Faith Ringgold s early paintings showed her concern about civil rights, as we will see in this next slide. 2. U.S. POSTAGE COMMEMORATING THE ADVENT OF BLACK POWER What does this painting resemble? (A POSTAGE STAMP) It s not a real stamp, only a large painting, 6 high x 8 wide. Describe what you see. (ROWS OF FACES WITH WORDS OR NUMBERS OVER SOME OF THEM, 90 LIGHT-COLORED FACES AND TEN DARK FACES, HORIZONTAL WHITE STRIPES) The dark faces and the words BLACK POWER cross on the canvas to form an X. The painting expressed Faith s frustration with the inequalities in American society for African-Americans. Notice the 10 cents painted in red. Most stamps we use today also have the cost printed on them. Ringgold chose this number, because it represented the percentage of African- Americans in our country: 10%, and she painted exactly 10% of the 100 faces dark (TEN). She also hid a word in this painting that you can see if you tilt your head to the right and read the white stripes. Can anyone read it? (WHITE POWER) After awhile, Ringgold changed the way she did her art, and this new way has made her famous. She combined painting and sewing. Remember that Faith learned to sew as a child from her mother who learned from her mother and so on. Let s take a look at one of Faith s ancestors. 3. PHOTO OF ANCESTOR, SUSIE SHANNON This is Faith Ringgold s great, great grandmother, Susie Shannon, who lived to be 110 years old. (The photo looks old and faded, because it was taken 100 years ago.) She was a slave on a plantation in the South before the civil War, and her job was to sew quilts -- bed coverings for the household. Do you use a quilt on your own bed at home? Do you have a quilt that was handmade by a family member? (TAKE SEVERAL RESPONSES) Quilt 2 FAITH RINGGOLD Ages 10 Adult MeetTheMasters Online Edition

4 making (layers of material stitched together) goes back a very long time in history, and it is still very popular today. Even though Faith never got to meet this relative, she loved hearing stories about her quiltmaking ancestor, and it inspired her to include sewing in her own work. 4. PHOTOGRAPH OF ARTIST AND MOTHER SEWING FIRST PAINTED QUILT Here is Faith and her mother, Willi Posey, sewing the first painting that she turned into a quilt. Faith was living in New York City where most people don t have cars. They use buses, taxis, and the subway to get around. She would carry her paintings to art galleries hoping to sell them. From what are frames for paintings usually made? (WOOD, METAL) Faith began framing her paintings in cloth with help from her mother who was an expert seamstress. What do you think would have been easier for her to carry around the city - a painting in a wood frame or a quilt rolled up under the arm? (QUILT) Why? (NOT AS HEAVY) Let s look at the completed painted quilt. 5. ECHOES OF HARLEM This is called Echoes of Harlem, the neighborhood where she grew up in New York City. What is an echo? (SOUND THAT COMES BACK OR REPEATS) Faith honored the people of Harlem, people she knew, by painting them in this quilt. The different faces were painted first on canvas. Then colorful fabrics were cut into triangle shapes and pieced together around the painted faces by sewing with a needle and thread. Let s now look at Faith s most famous painted quilt. 6. TAR BEACH What has the artist added to this quilt that we didn t see in the last one? (WRITTEN WORDS) Do you see where the words of the story are added to the quilt? (ABOVE AND BELOW IN HORIZONTAL WHITE PIECES OF FABRIC) Because the artist printed the story right on the canvas, we call this a story quilt. (The hand-written print is hard to read on this slide but not on the actual quilt.) This painted quilt is part of a story about eight-year-old Cassie Louise Lightfoot who lives in a tall New York City apartment building with no yard. On a hot summer night, her family would picnic on the tarpaper rooftop. That s why this quilt is called Tar Beach. Her parents and their friends would play cards while Cassie and her brother would lie on a mattress, look up at the stars, and make up stories. Cassie imagined that she could fly. Can you find her flying up in the sky? (YES) 3 FAITH RINGGOLD Ages 10 Adult MeetTheMasters Online Edition

5 This story quilt became part of a children s book, written and illustrated by Faith Ringgold, called Tar Beach, based on her own memories from childhood. Have you read that book? Her own family spent many evenings cooling off on their own tar beach rooftop. Faith loved looking at this big structure off in the distance. (Point to bridge tower on right.) What is it? (BRIDGE) Yes, it s the famous George Washington Bridge with its shining string of lights. In the story, the young girl, Cassie, wants to wear the lights like a giant diamond necklace. Faith Ringgold loves color and pattern. Who remembers what pattern means in art? (FORM OR DESIGN THAT IS REPEATED) Tell me where you see pattern in this work. (FABRIC SQUARES, TABLECLOTH, BUILDING SHAPES, BRIDGE LIGHTS, CLOTHING) Because this is a quilt, the top layer (painting and pieced fabric) is sewn to a bottom layer that we don t see when it s hanging on the wall of the museum. There is also a thin layer of batting (soft cotton-like material) in between the two layers. If you look closely, you can see the lines of sewing holding these layers together and these sewing lines create more patterns. Let s look at a close-up view of Tar Beach. 7. DETAIL OF TAR BEACH Can you see the stitches? A good quilter will make small, even stitches when putting the layers together. It takes patience and lots of time. Do you think Faith Ringgold still does her own sewing? (NO) She is too busy painting! She has a group of excellent quilters who do all the stitching for her. Faith Ringgold loves bridges so much that she has done several quilts showing bridges. Do you enjoy dancing? Have you ever imagined dancing on a bridge? 8. DANCING ON THE GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE (WOMAN ON A BRIDGE SERIES) Do these women look like they are having a good time? (YES) What shapes do you see on the bridge? (SQUARES, RECTANGLES, TRIANGLES, VERTICAL LINES) Faith Ringgold once said that bridges remind her of quilts, because they have the same kind of construction: A quilt is put together with squares and triangles, and so are the towers of a bridge. This is her favorite bridge, and she can still see it every time she looks out of her art studio window. Is this a story quilt? (NO, BECAUSE THERE IS NO WRITING.) We call this one a painted quilt. 4 FAITH RINGGOLD Ages 10 Adult MeetTheMasters Online Edition

6 One of Faith Ringgold s favorite memories as a child was of family picnics and Sunday dinners, which her mother planned and prepared. This next story quilt does not show her actual family. The people are famous African-American writers, artists and philosophers. 9. HARLEM RENAISSANCE PARTY Imagine how exciting it would be to have a dinner party with famous people you would like to meet! What famous people would you invite to your dinner party? (TAKE A NUMBER OF RESPONSES) At this dinner party, there is a woman named Cee Cee who is entertaining her guests. Can you find Cee Cee? (IN FRONT, RIGHT, IN MULTI-COLORED GARMENT) Her young daughter, Celia is watching her, and her husband, a dentist, is sitting at the top of the table. What do you think Cee Cee is doing? (DANCING AND SHOWING OFF HER QUILTED AFRICAN-STYLE DRESS, SHE ALSO HOLDS A MASK.) Isn t she beautiful! Cee Cee might remind you of Faith Ringgold who also loves to wear colorful, bright African-inspired dresses. Notice the small squares of fabric around the table are each made of four smaller triangle shapes of fabric that have been pieced together by sewing. Is the style of this work realistic or abstract? (ABSTRACT) Why is it abstract? (FIGURES ARE SIMPLIFIED AND SEEN IN FLAT PROFILE OR FRONTAL VIEWS OF UPPER BODY; FIGURES ARE REPRESENTED FROM STRAIGHT-ON, BUT TABLE SETTING IS VIEWED FROM ABOVE; USE OF FLAT PIECES OF FABRIC AND AROUND THE PAINTING EMPHASIZES FLATNESS; ADDITION OF SMALL TEXT IN WHITE STRIPS LEFT AND RIGHT ALSO MAKE IT FLAT LIKE THE PAGE OF A BOOK.) Faith has been lucky enough to travel to Europe a few times. She has visited many great museums and studied the work of the great artists. Can you recognize this famous painting that she saw while visiting Europe? 10. MONA LISA BY LEONARDO DA VINCI Yes, you are right. It is the world s most famous painting: the Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci who painted it five hundred years ago. Because Faith was so inspired by great works of art like this one, she decided to create a number of story quilts telling the adventures of an imaginary African-American artist living in Paris who met many master artists of the past. The artist s name is Willia Marie Simone. Faith created twelve story quilts in this series. What do you call the numbered sections of a book? (CHAPTERS) Good! Well, each of these story quilts is like a chapter in a book. The series is called The French Collection, because the story takes place in France. Let s look at the first chapter of this book, the first quilt in this collection. 5 FAITH RINGGOLD Ages 10 Adult MeetTheMasters Online Edition

7 11. DANCING AT THE LOUVRE (THE FRENCH COLLECTION PART I, #1) Willia Marie Simone (in the white dress) has been studying painting in Paris. A friend and her daughters have just arrived for a visit, and she takes them to the famous art museum, the Louvre (loov). Are they even looking at the painting? (NO) What are they doing? (WALKING, PLAYING, SITTING) Faith Ringgold called this work Dancing at the Louvre. Why do you think she shows the people dancing? (TAKE A NUMBER OF RESPONSES) Faith Ringgold loves museums, and she wanted to show how happy they were to be there. The children in this quilt were painted to look like Faith s granddaughters. What is similar about Mona Lisa and the little girl in the white dress? (BOTH ARE IN CENTER OF PAINTING. BOTH ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A QUILTED DIAMOND SHAPE.) Let s look at another artist Faith Ringgold admired. 12. SELF-PORTRAIT OF VINCENT VAN GOGH WITH STRAW HAT Do you recognize the artist in this self-portrait? (VAN GOGH) Do you remember some of the colorful paintings done during his sad, lonely life? If one of his favorite colors was yellow, and he loved to paint flowers, what kind of flower do you think he might have painted? (SUNFLOWERS) 13. sunflowers by vincent van gogh This is just one of several sunflower paintings van Gogh painted to decorate his little yellow house. In the next story quilt by Faith Ringgold, you will see van Gogh, sunflowers, and his home. 14. THE SUNFLOWERS QUILTING BEE AT ARLES (THE FRENCH COLLECTION PART i, #4) Have you ever seen so many sunflowers at one time? Can you spot van Gogh? He s almost lost in the flowers. He lived in the small yellow house with the green shutters. The next chapter in the French Collection series features an imaginary group of people. Does anyone know the special word that describes when a group of people makes a quilt together? (QUILTING BEE) Ringgold is showing us this very old American tradition with a very special group of African-American women who changed history. You might recognize some of them. (HARRIET TUBMAN IS 5 TH FROM LEFT IN BLUE JACKET, ROSA PARKS IS 6 TH FROM LEFT IN GLASSES) If you look closely, you can see their names printed along the white border on the quilt. These women all lived at different times, but she honored them by placing them together at this special quilting bee. 6 FAITH RINGGOLD Ages 10 Adult MeetTheMasters Online Edition

8 Why do you think van Gogh is standing by himself while all the women are working together? (TAKE A NUMBER OF RESPONSES: HE IS A MAN. HE WAS A LONELY PERSON. HE HAD NO FRIENDS. HE WORKED ON HIS ART BY HIMSELF.) Now let s look at another important group of people painted by Faith in her French Collection series. 15. le café des artistes (the french collection part I, #11) Here is Willia Marie Simone again (white dress) at a café in Paris with a group of people who all do the same kind of work. Can you guess? Hint: Name of café on awning. (ALL ARE ARTISTS) Do you recognize some of the artists you might have studied in Meet the Masters? (PAUL GAUGUIN, VINCENT VAN GOGH, AND TOULOUSE-LAUTREC ARE SITTING IN A TRIANGLE. JACOB LAWRENCE HAS HIS HEAD VERY TILTED IN THE BACK ROW.) Today s artist even included herself. Can you spot Faith Ringgold? (SITTING FAR RIGHT) CONCLUSION - REVIEW GAME Do you like to play games? I have a game for you! Take the quiz and write down the correct answer. Then there will be a surprise for you at the end. Let s begin! QUIZ 1.In the book Tar Beach, where were Cassie and her brother when they looked at the stars? 2.On the roof she used her good to think of the stars as a diamond necklace. 3.Painting a story quilt was a(n) idea in art. 4.In Dancing at the Louvre, Faith painted the children to look like her. 5.One of her paintings is titled, Dancing on the 6.Faith wasn t very when she started to draw and sew. 7.Ringgold bright colors. Backyard, Roof, The Beach Imagination, Eyes, Ears Old, New, Silly Children, Grandchildren, Cats George Washington Bridge, Moon, Edge of the World Old, Young, Smart Disliked, Loved, Never used 7 FAITH RINGGOLD Ages 10 Adult MeetTheMasters Online Edition

9 8.Her Mother was a dress. Model, Repairer, Designer Click Next To Finish Lesson to exit this unit click Back To Units 8 FAITH RINGGOLD Ages 10 Adult MeetTheMasters Online Edition

10 Step 2 - Learning From: Faith Ringgold Visual Ringgold loves to paint memories from her childhood. When she makes a memory visual, she often adds her imagination. Using the phrases below,complete the phrase and draw a memory of yourself that tells a story. The first one is done for you. Eating an Ice Cream Playing Enjoying Visual memory Now draw your own memory of being with someone special, or doing something you enjoy. It could be having a picnic with your family, playing soccer with your friends, or anything that is special to you. This is me making pizza with my Uncle. This is me 9 FAITH RINGGOLD Ages 10 Adult MeetTheMasters Online Edition

11 Drawing a Quilt Design Ringgold surrounds her paintings with cut and sewn fabric shapes to become a story quilt. The quilt design is balanced by repeating the pattern on opposite sides. using the square, or adding one or two diagonal lines to make triangles, draw an interesting border design for your quilt. You may color it with markers to help enhance your design. Fabric Textures and Patterns Repeating lines, shapes and colors can create patterns and textures that look like fabric. Try some bright, fabric patterns to add to your quilt. Use line and shape with bright colors. Fill each shape below using different patterns of line and shape. A few have been done for you. Try a Line pattern Try a Shape Pattern Try a few constracting patterns in the outer, narrow border. 10 FAITH RINGGOLD Ages 10 Adult MeetTheMasters Online Edition

12 The last few pages of this section contain the Art Activity for Faith Ringgold. This step-bystep outline will be a guide for instructing your child(ren) through the activity. The parent/instructor should review all steps necessary to complete this project before beginning any work. Cut out the Artist Profile Slip below and attach it to the back of the completed art project. FAITH RINGGOLD Present (RIN-gold) Faith Ringgold is an African-American artist who is famous for her colorful, patterned story quilts. She paints a story on canvas, and often frames them with beautiful, fabric borders. Actual words on the piece often tell the story of her work. ART ACTIVITY EMPHASIS: Visual storytelling combined with cut-paper quilt design and patterning MEDIA: Oil Pastel, Colorful Paper Shapes and Fiber FAITH RINGGOLD Present (RIN-gold) Faith Ringgold is an African-American artist who is famous for her colorful, patterned story quilts. She paints a story on canvas, and often frames them with beautiful, fabric borders. Actual words on the piece often tell the story of her work. ART ACTIVITY EMPHASIS: Visual storytelling combined with cut-paper quilt design and patterning MEDIA: Oil Pastel, Colorful Paper Shapes and Fiber 11 FAITH RINGGOLD Ages 10 Adult MeetTheMasters Online Edition

13 Step 3 - Working With: Art Activity Instructions ARTIST Faith Ringgold (RIN-gold) (1930-Present) American ART ELEMENTS Color, Balance, Pattern and Texture MEDIA Oil Pastels, Cut Paper and Yarn EMPHASIS Visual story telling with cut-paper quilt design and patterning LEVEL Advanced VOCABULARY Design, balance, pattern, fabric, story quilt, visual, geometric PRINT The Sunflowers SUGGESTED MUSIC Sounds of Africa or Music of the 1900s MATERIALS FOR INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENTS One 12 x 14 Black, Royal Blue, or Violet construction paper (***1/3 of each) Four 4 x 4 squares of different colors selected from the following colors Hot Pink, White, Bright Yellow, Lime Green, Magenta, and Turquoise One 36 length of white or bright-colored thick craft yarn (Students will cut into four 9 pieces) ***Yarn could be pre-cut into 9 pieces by volunteer! Cut all at once! Artist profile slip 6 x 8 tag board rectangle 10 x 12 tag board rectangle Boxes of oil pastels Single-hole puncher (for adult) Glue sticks Pencil Scissors PREPARATION Place the Ringgold print in front of the room for all to see. Tape your 12 x 14 paper (black, blue or violet) to the board. Have your four 4 x 4 different, colored squares, 6 x 8 and 10 x 12 tag board stencils, oil pastels, yarn, scissors, glue stick and hole punch close by. SET-UP [ 5 minutes ] Distribute the materials: SUPPLIES [3] Oil pastels, glue sticks, yarn (one 36 length to each student, or four 9 ) 12 FAITH RINGGOLD Ages 10 Adult MeetTheMasters Online Edition

14 PAPER [5] One black, violet or blue construction paper (one to each student); four 4 x 4 squares to each student (student chooses 4 squares, each a different color); one 6 x 8 tag board rectangle and one 10 x 12 tag board rectangle to each student ; and one artist profile slip ORIENTATION [ 5 minutes ] Faith Ringgold loves to paint a visual story and surround her painting with what media? (CUT AND SEWN FABRIC WITH WORDS) What does she call her works of art? (STORY QUILTS) Ringgold likes to use bright colors and patterns also found in African art. Who remembers what pattern means in art? (WHEN SHAPE, LINE AND/OR COLOR ARE REPEATED) What are some of the subjects for Ringgold s story quilts? (FAMOUS AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN HISTORY, FAMOUS ARTISTS AND ARTWORKS, AND RINGGOLD S CHILDHOOD MEMORIES) Let s each think of something special you like to do, a special memory you have, or being with someone who is special to you, and we will get ready to make a story quilt in the style of Faith Ringgold. DEMONSTRATION AND ACTIVITY Have the students repeat each step immediately with their materials: ORGANIZE YOUR WORK AREA [ 2 minutes ] 1.Print your name on the back of your colored 12 x 14 paper. 2.Place your large 10 x 12 tag board on top. 3.Set your smaller 6 x 8 tag board and the four 4 x 4 different, colored squares next to your paper. 4.Put your pencil, oil pastels, yarn, glue, scissors, and artist profile slip to the top corners of your desk. DRAWING TWO FRAMING EDGES [ 5 minutes ] (The instructor will need to demonstrate with a light pastel.) 1.Center your large 10 x 12 tag board on top of your colored 12 x 14 colored construction paper. Carefully make sure that it is equal distance from the edge all the way around. 2.Using pencil, hold tag board with one hand and draw firmly around the rectangle slowly and carefully with your other hand to form a framing edge. Set the large stencil aside. 3.Now center the smaller 6 x 8 tag board inside the first framing edge. Carefully look to make sure it is equal distance from the edge all the way around. Again trace firmly with pencil. These tag board stencils can now be collected and returned to the tote. DRAWING A COLORFUL STORY OR MEMORY [ 15 minutes ] 13 FAITH RINGGOLD Ages 10 Adult MeetTheMasters Online Edition

15 Using the oil pastels, the students will now draw a creative story or memory of being with someone special, or doing something they enjoy. It will be within the smaller, centered rectangle, and not extend into the framing edges. It could be a special nighttime memory, or try to set the mood with the colors you choose. Try to also use the colors of your four colored squares, so that the colors will balance with the border design. CUTTING AND FORMING THE QUILT DESIGN [ 10 minutes ] 1.Begin by carefully folding each of the four colored squares in half and in half again to form four equal 2 x 2 squares. Make sure the corners match! 2. 2.Using your scissors, very carefully cut along the fold lines to make four, 2 x 2 squares of each color. You should now have sixteen, 2 x 2 squares Working in the 2 inner frame and keeping the narrow, outer framing edge plain for now, put four squares of one color in the four corners of the inside frame of your quilt. These can be glued down now. 4.***Show how each side of this border divides into 2 equal squares. Lay a 2 square down and draw lines. The shapes can fit in the squares. 5.You may cut the remaining colors diagonally to form eight triangles. One color set of four could be cut twice to make sixteen small triangles of one color Arrange the rest of your colored shapes in a geometric pattern. Think about an interesting design, using balance and pattern. Each side should repeat, and be the same or opposite to balance the border Carefully glue each shape in position. ADDING PATTERN AND TEXTURE WITH OIL PASTELS [ 5 minutes ] *** This step can be done later, or omitted to simplify and shorten the lesson. 1. Review and demonstrate the use of repeated line, color and shape to make pattern and texture. 2. Let the students add some interesting patterns and textures to some of the shapes in the border design. This makes the shapes look more like fabric. 3. The narrow, outer border can now be divided into sections with drawn lines. Pattern and texture can also be added to these sections in the outer border. ADDING YARN TO THE CORNERS [ 5 minutes] 14 FAITH RINGGOLD Ages 10 Adult MeetTheMasters Online Edition

16 ***While the students are adding patterns and textures, teacher and volunteer can punch holes in the four corners of the students quilts. Make sure the holes are far in from the edges so they will not tear. 1. The students cut the yarn by first folding in half and cutting, then fold these two pieces in half and cutting again. Students should now have four equal 9 pieces. 2. Put the 9 piece through the hole and carefully tie a knot. Repeat in each of the four corners. 3. The yarn can be unraveled to look more like a tassel of fiber in each of the four corners. ***If time is short, this step can be done later. MOUNTING THE ARTIST PROFILE SLIP [ 2 minutes ] (Profile slips for each artist are provided. They give a brief description of the artist, the technique, and the media used in the art activity. They should be mounted on the back of each art project after it is completed.) 1.Write your name on the front of the artist profile slip. 2.Using glue, mount the profile slip on the back of your artwork. Encourage students to discuss their artwork at home using this artist slip of information. CONCLUSION Let s all share your story quilts. They look so colorful and interesting! If you would like to give a title to your story, please raise your hand. As children show their artwork and titles, comment and compliment using vocabulary: pattern, balance, shape, and design. THIS CONCLUDES THE FAITH RINGGOLD UNIT. 15 FAITH RINGGOLD Ages 10 Adult MeetTheMasters Online Edition