Barbara Frackiewicz POLISH STYLE PAPERCUTS and MORE

Transcription

1 Barbara Frackiewicz POLISH STYLE PAPERCUTS and MORE ABOUT THE ARTIST Barbara Frackiewicz was born and grew up in Massachusetts experiencing Polish Christmas and Easter traditions that were celebrated by her Polish-born parents and aunt. After moving to Buffalo in 1981 she deepened her interest in Polish papercutting, experimented with new papercutting ideas, and exhibited her work. Over the years she has shared her enthusiasm and knowledge of Polish folk traditions through demonstrations and workshops in Erie and Niagara counties. In 1993 she toured Poland, meeting with local folk artists including traditional papercutters from the Lowicz and Kurpie regions. ABOUT THE PROGRAM Traditional Polish papercutting is introduced as a folk art of the 19th century. Examples of papercuts from Poland and other countries are compared and contrasted. The artist demonstrates Polish techniques of folding, cutting and layering used to create papercuts in the Lowicz region style. Each student, inspired by displayed examples, creates a card with a unique design, a layered papercut flower in the Polish style. The program is approximately 45 minutes in length. During the presentation and demonstration by the artist, students are encouraged to answer questions and participate verbally. During the workshop, each participant creates a card with a papercut design to take home. GRADE LEVELS: 2-1 CURRICULUM CORRELATION: Mathematics, Science and Technology Standard 3: Mathematics Students will recognize that shapes such as circles, half-circles, rectangles and triangles can be the basis for complex artistic design. Concepts such as repetition and symmetry are explained and reinforced verbally and visually.

2 Standard 4: Science Students will translate knowledge of the basic parts of a flower and leaf into papercut forms. English Language Arts Standard 1: Language for Information and Understanding Students will respond to questions posed during the presentation and demonstration. Students acquire information and understanding about paper, scissors, cutting, the Polish folk art of papercutting and related topics. They follow directions to create a work of art. Languages other than English Standard 2: Cultural Understanding Students will be introduced to the cultural context and environment in which papercutting originated in 19th century Poland. The Arts Standard 1: Creating, Performing and Participating in the Arts Each student will create a unique card with a layered pepercut flower design. No patterns are used or traced to create the designs. Standard 2: Knowing and Using Arts Materials and Resources Students will become knowledgeable about the materials and techniques that are necessary for creating traditional Polish papercuts. They will learn that simple, inexpensive materials available in every classroom and home can be used to create original artwork, including reused or recycled papers. Students strengthen scissors cutting skills and eye-hand coordination. Standard 3: Responding to and Analyzing Works of Art The artist displays many papercuts samples. Students are engaged in questions and discussions about Polish papercuts and those of other traditions, so that they can recognize different expression the of the art form and how they are made. Students learn to recognize visual qualities such as color, shape, size, color contrast, repetition and symmetry. Standard 4: Understanding the Cultural Contributions of the Arts Students will develop an understanding of the cultural forces that shape artistic communication by learning about and creating visual art that is based on traditional Polish papercutting techniques. GOALS To present the cultural context in which Polish papercutting developed To expose students to world-wide expressions of papercut art To develop and reinforce observation skills and memory for following instructions To teach design by using simple materials and techniques

3 OBJECTIVES Responding to questions during presentations and demonstrations Developing an understanding of and working ability in the Polish folk art of papercutting Understanding cultural and historical contexts of papercutting Listening carefully in order to follow instructions Creating and applying original design ideas Using art to reinforce concepts in the arts, sciences and social studies PREPARING FOR THE PROGRAM Locate Poland on a world map. Read about and look at examples of Polish papercutting and papercutting of other cultures (see references list). Describe the availability, types and uses of today s paper and paper products. Start a paper collection in the classroom for future papercutting projects (used gift wrap paper, scrap paper, colorful envelopes, etc.). Introduce the attached vocabulary. ON THE DAY OF THE PROGRAM Review proper audience/participant behavior. Encourage students to listen attentively. Encourage students to participate verbally by answering and asking questions. Review the vocabulary. AFTER THE PROGRAM Allow students to make a card with a different floral design in Polish style to further their creativity. Research the papercutting traditions of one country (see references). Make a papercut in the traditional style of a particular country. Have students compare and contrast the papercutting traditions of different cultures. Have a discussion about holiday traditions, family traditions, and/or ethnic traditions. Have students write an essay about a tradition that is special to their family. Have students interview and write a report about an adult in their family. When this person was a child, did she/he learn special traditions from family and relatives? Why were these traditions important? Work on a group project using stories/poems and papercuts for classroom display.

4 EVALUATION Did students respond to questions posed during the presentations and demonstrations? Did students participate in the workshop activities by creating papercut art? Did they enjoy the programs? Did students express new ideas and creativity during or after the program? Did they generate new papercutting projects in the classroom or at home? VOCABULARY Poland: a country in central Europe. Capital: Warsaw. Polish: of Poland, its inhabitants, or their language and culture. Lowicz: a region of Poland that is 50 miles west of Warsaw. wycinanka: (vih-chee-nahn-kah) the Polish word for papercut (singular). wycinanki: (vih-chee-nahn-kee) the Polish word for papercuts (plural). Folk art: the traditional art of ordinary people of a region or country. It is usually handed down from one generation to the next. Tradition: customs, ideas, and beliefs that are handed down from one generation to the next. Region: a large area of land, geographical location. Color contrast: a strong difference between colors when they are compared. Repetition: saying or doing something again and again. Symmetry: a balanced arrangement or matching of parts on either side of a line or central point. Vibrant: bright, lively. Pastel: a light, soft shade of color Fantastic: whimsical, fanciful, imaginative, wonderful. Decorative: beautifying, ornamental, adorning. Describing something added to make things prettier or more pleasing. Floral: having to do with flowers; like flowers; made up of flowers. Silhouette: a drawing made by filling in an outline with a solid color. Any dark shape seen against a light background. Ephemeral: lasting only for a brief amount of time; short-lived. Imagination: the ability to form new images or ideas in your mind. Creativity: The use of imagination and ability to bring ideas into being; inventiveness; originality. REFERENCES Drwal, Francis. Polish wycinanki designs. Owings Mills, Maryland: Stemmer House Publishers, Hopf, Claudia. Scherenschnitte: traditional papercutting. Lebanon, Pennsylvania: Applied Arts Publishers, 1977.

5 Jablonski, Ramona. Folk art designs to color or cut from Polish Wycinanki and Swiss and German Scherenschnitte. Ownings Mills, Maryland: Stemmer House Publishers, Jablonski, Ramona. The paper cut-out design book: a sourcebook for creating and adapting the American Folk art, Polish Wycinanki, Chinese Hua Yang, Japanese Kirigami, German Scherenschnitte and others. Owings Mills, Maryland: Stemmer House Publishers, Kozlowski, Lawrence G. Papercuts...Polish Style. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Lawrence G. Kozlowski, Munthe, Nelly. Meet Matisse. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, Rich, Chris. The book of papercutting: a complete guide to all the techniques with more than 100 project ideas. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Temko, Florence. Chinese papercuts, their story and how to make use of them. San Francisco, California: China Books and Periodicals, Trenchard, Kathleen. Mexican papercutting: simple techniques for creating colorful cut-paper projects. Asheville, North Carolina: Lark Books, 1996.