Week 17: January 18 through January 22nd

What is art? When did people begin to do art and why? What is the role of art in civilization and how has society been influenced by it? This week, we will learn some of the history of visual art and explore how art makes us feel.

Monday, January 18th, 2021

Key Words for today are:

Within culture is music, architecture, painting, sculpture, celebrations, and traditions. Culture is one thing that defines a people and tells everyone around them, where they are from and what is important to them.

Today, is Dr. King Day. It is a special day to people all over the world because Dr. King brought the values of his culture to the forefront of the world. He promoted the idea that all people are valuable and that cultures that are not the same as someone else’s should be respected as long as those standards do not impose upon another person’s right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of what brings them happiness.

There is a saying, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” and another that says, “A picture is worth a thousand words”. These common sayings illuminate (or show us) how visual art can often do more to push an idea than a speech or than by force.

Art can be turned into a weapon, as it was when Dr. King was alive. Political art is art used as either a weapon or a tool to imprint an idea in the minds of its viewers. It is often published in newspapers but can sometimes be found in art galleries, books, homes or studios. Political art’s imprint is designed to change or confirm the way the viewer thinks about a controversial person or idea. When art is a tool it is used to connect people with a shared goal or concept that uplifts or empowers. Art that is a weapon is used to influence people or confirm negative beliefs about a person or cause.

Many people in the United States did not like the idea of Dr. King showing the world how valuable Africans of America are and subsequently how violently the Caucasian American treated them. During that time, Black people born in the United States were considered citizens. We had every responsibility of a citizen, from paying taxes to fighting for U.S. interests in various wars. Yet, we were treated as non-citizens and in many cases as criminals for the amusement of Caucasians Americans. To bully and discourage Dr. King from doing his work, some Caucasian artists drew pictures to mock him.

This is an image from a newspaper called The Birmingham News. A cartoonist illustrated this to imply that Dr. King’s peaceful marches were actually violent. This was a tactic used to influence Caucasians to believe that Dr. King was actually inciting violence and crime (which is against the law) instead of promoting peaceful protests (which is a Constitutional right). Do you think this artwork would be used as a weapon or a tool?

This art is also a political art piece. It was published in the Chicago Sun Times in 1968. What do you think of when you see this piece of art? Can you guess the idea the artist was attempting to promote? Is this piece of art a tool or a weapon? Why?

Product: Today we discussed and learned about political art. Can you find political art in your home or city? What does it mean? Is the political art you see being used as a tool or a weapon? Today, you will make an origami tool (hammer) and a weapon (a bomb). Cut out and glue examples of the political art that is used as a weapon on the paper that you will use for your origami bomb and glue examples of political art used as a tool on the sheet of paper you will use for your hammer. Think about what the artists or cartoonist wanted to say with her or his art. Follow this link to find pictures that you can use. You can find a guide sheet to help with your origami creation below. Watch the following video for steps on how to make the origami hammer and bomb.

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background song by Abyssinians; FWS does not claim any ownership of this song, copyrights, etc

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Graffiti art has been around since ancient times , as far back as ancient Egypt chiseled into stone and painted onto cave walls. Just like during those times Graffiti Art has always conveyed a message, told a story or leave behind names to let others know they had been there. The history of modern graffiti art became popular in the United States in 1960's and 1970's. By the time the art form hit New York City it had already earned the reputation for being quite rebellious because most of the time it was done on other peoples property without permission.

One particular graffiti artist name stands out, Jean-Michel Basquiat who was of Haitian and Puerto Rican decent. This artist became know all over the world for his graffiti art that he and a friend tagged SAMO. Tagged graffiti art was the name and logo the artists used to let other street artist know who painted it. Between 1978 and 1980 Basquiat signature style had gained him popularity and his work transcended from street art to canvas and made its way onto canvas. He became popular outside of the United States and even had his very first art show that exhibited in Modena, Italy in 1981. Basquiat died young at the age of 27, however, his art lives on. Most recently an untitled painting of his was sold for a record breaking $110.5 million dollars which is the highest amount ever paid for an American artist.

Left: Ancient Egyptian Graffitti Art. Right: Jean Michel-Baquiat Famous American Graffitti Artis (Basquiat by William Coupon in 1986)

Basquiat by William Coupon in 1986

American Grafitti Art on New Your Subway. Demon, NYC Subway Grafitti pintrest.com

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Product: Create your own graffitti art by using your name. Click the link posted and give it a try. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXm8LqHP5zw&t=188s

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Ndebele Houses and Art in Architecture

The Ndebele (DEH BEH LEH/ TH EH BEH LEH) people in South Africa have a tradition of painting their homes with strong geometric patterns that have thick black lines and bold colors. Ndebele women paint their homes using a feathers and have pride in good craftsmanship, especially straight lines.

One important thing that some scientists, linguists, and anthropologists are beginning to recognize is much of the art on these homes is modeled after a form of ancient writing. In the 1700's the Ndebele people were a mighty people in the Southern region of African continent. However, upon the arrival of the European, called Boers, they had to fight for their land against people who had weapons of mass death, such as canons. During this era in African history, the Ndebele were amazing warriors and greatly revered throughout the land. In 1883, the Boers started a war against the indigenous people of the area to take over Ndebele land for farming.

The Ndebele people were driven from their land, just as were indigenous people from all over the world, by the European invaders. They found refuge in the further North and there, they built round homes. Life was much harder there as the land was not as rich as the land that the Europeans, Boers, had stolen. However, the Nbedele were innovative and carved a life in the rough region they now called home. The women began to use the written language often weaved into traditional beadwork on the outside of their homes to communicate to one another about who lived there, safety and danger in the area, and other important information that Ndebele people and allies would need to know. The Boers were illiterate to the Ndebele language and couldn't understand their written skills. They only saw the beautiful colors and geometric designs. Because they didn't know how important the beautiful language on the walls of Ndebele homes were to the Ndebele people, they didn't destroy it whenever they passed through.

In Ndebele written language, the grammar is very complex. The colors, shapes, and placement of each character is important to the meaning in words. For example the color black can mean marriage, death, rebirth, or sadness, depending on the shape and placement of the figure. Likewise, blue mean means faithfullness or requesting, hostility, or dislike. Yellow relates to means wealth, thirst, garden, withering. Green means to be content or it could mean strife or sickness. Pink stands for promise, high family status, but can also represent poverty and laziness. If you want to represent strong emotions, like love, anger, heartbreak, you could use the color red... but again, these will depend on what specific geometric shape you use. The use of the color white relates to the spirit realm, spiritual love, and purity.

A unique thing about this art/ literary form is that the women of the Ndebele people were the painters of the houses. This special role may relate to the fact that the women were also the manufacturers of the traditional beadwork that integrated the Ndebele language forms. Today, the tradition is passed on from mothers to their sons and daughters. It's still a rite of passage for girls who turn 18. When they turn 18, it is their duty to completely repaint their family home. If she does a good job, meaning the lines are straight and/or smoother and there are no mistakes, it is said that she will become a good wife and mother in the future.

Geometric shapes are those they use the lines found in squares, rectangles, triangles, circles, and stars. Artists use geometric shapes in different art forms because they can create very colorful patterns that contrast well.

*Contrast means that the colors do not fade into one another easily*

Artist Esther Mahlangu was born in 1935 in Middelburg Mpumalanga (PU MAH LAH N GAH), South Africa, and she belongs to the South Ndebele people. Mahlangu began painting at the age of 10 years and was taught the skill of mural painting by her mother and grandmother, following a tradition of her people, for girls to paint the exterior of their houses. Esther became the first artist to transfer the traditional Ndebele designs that would typically decorate walls, to canvases.

Esther gained international fame in 1989 at a European art exhibition titled Magicians of the World. It was a group exhibition and Esther exhibited massive canvases depicting Ndebele geometric colourful patterns. She was at the age of 54 years old before her work was featured internationally.

Today, Ndebele is 84 years old. She is an artist who continually appeals to communities to hold on to their traditions, languages, and culture, despite globalization. She had worried that young Africans were losing a sense of themselves and starting to think that the important things were related to the Europeans' culture and ways of living.

She said, "I am surprised that people are running away from their own culture. The children, the grandchildren must know which roots they are coming from. If the young children don't learn from the elders, then everything will vanish."

Product:

Create your own Ndebele house and add geometric patterns. You can draw your own Ndebele house and geometric shapes or you can use the FWS template here to create your amazing Nbedele house.

Thursday, January 21, 2021

When you think of body art most people may think tattoos of some type. However, body art can be traced back to African tribes that was and is used to distinguish one tribe or family from the next and beautification as well as to indicate different stages in life development. Sometimes body art tells the story of a person or even a person's family. Today we will look at different types of body art.

One type of body art is called scarification, which is raised body art that forms a design and is packed with dirt, very small stones or cut in such a way that the scaring leaves raised markings. It is perhaps one of the most misunderstood body modification procedures done today, largely perceived in Western society as a tabooed and harmful cultural practice (Kenneth Michael Felsensteinm. National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States, Winter 2014) Also, some burning may also take place to form these raised tribal markings on their bodies. In ancient times as well as today the Gonja, Dagomba and Nanumba tribes of West Africa and the Dinka, Surma, and Masai people of East Africa Below are a few examples of scarification even as it is done today.

Among the Yoruba of Southwestern Nigeria, scarification is an important part of lineage identification. Marks are etched into people’s cheeks. Throughout the world, Yoruba diaspora are commonly seen wearing different patterns of stripes on their cheeks produced by scarification.

Yoruba facial stripes are only produced by scarification and not by paint or tattoos, as in other cultures which may often use both. Moreover, not all Yoruba people have facial stripes. A person whose face is scarred with stripes is referred to as [okola] or the one with facial stripes, whereas those without them are called [oboro] or plain, not striped-face.

There are some hazards associated with scarifications. The hazard of pain is the most obvious. In some tribes those who can tolerate the pain are thought to be more spiritually mature and brave. Another hazard is the mental stress associated with knowing that you must take on the tribal/familial scarring whether you want to or not.

Another type of body art is tattoos. Tattoos are a form of body modification where designs and pictures are etched into the upper most area of the skin. Dyes and ink are used along with a special needle designed to add different hues that show on the surface of the skin. Although very artistic they do pose some hazards to ones health, such as compromising ones immune system. Whenever the surface of the skin is open there is always an opportunity for foreign harmful foreign bodies to attack healthy cells. So there are some stipulations on who should or shouldn't obtain, or get, tattoos.

Regardless of the hazards many people around the world enjoy and wearing tattoos but for different reasons. For instance, Polynesians tattoo their bodies which began over 2,000 years ago.

They believe that strength comes from the tattoo displays. Furthermore, they use the tattoos to show their heritage and culture. Although Polynesians, have the richest history in tattooing traditions, many other people use tattoos to tell the story of their family history, personal journey, and strength or endurance.

In Central Asia a mummy of a woman was found and she had a tattoo of a deer on her body. The Nordic people may have also worn tattoos as well, adopting the practice from other nations. Tattooing was not inherently a European practice so the Nordic people stood out in this respect. In North East Africa, ancient people created sculptures of tattooed women and men. It is believed to have been a part of spiritual practice.

The Fulani people of West Africa also continue to perform the ancient practice of tattooing. When a girl becomes a young woman, she receives a facial tattoo around her lips or on her chin to show her beauty.

In ancient times the equipment used to make the tattoos were boars teeth and turtle shells fastened to a wooden handle. Today, a special artists needle is usually used to make the process more sterile. Traditionally and today great pain is endured to etch them into the skin.

Product: In a many cultures, body art is not an acceptable practice. The reasons can relate to the cleanliness or an aversion to the reasons of other nation's traditions. How is body art perceived in your family? Is scarification common in your culture? Does your family find tattooing taboo? Use the paper figure found here to show different ways people express themselves using body art. You can use body art to create or use plain [oboro] styles.

Friday, January 22, 2021

Sculpture (SKUL P CHUR) is an art form where the artist usually uses clay, wood, metal, or glass to build up a figure that represents an idea or something in real life. People used to use wood and clay to sculpt the images of things they saw around them, thought beautiful, or people they revered.

The people who create sculptures are called sculptors (SKUL P TURS). Historically, these artists were very important to communities. They showcased the communities values and the way they lived. Today, anthropologists, or scientists who research the way people lived in pre-Western history, look at these artworks to learn more about ancient people.

Today, artists don't only use clay or wood to make sculptures. They use many different mediums like paint or paper, and even bottles and old tires. Sculptors like to create things they imagine and dream about, just as well as they create renditions of people they admire. Some sculptors even create images of things they dislike. Many well-known artists create art that is installed in front of important or popular buildings in big cities or temporarily at galleries and other venues so that passersby can see them. When a piece of art is installed outside of buildings or placed in a location for an extended period, the work becomes installation art. According to the Tate Museum in the UK, installation art is a large-scale, often mixed-media construction, designed for a specific place or for a temporary period time. These sculptures are not a part of a building's architecture. However, they are used to transform the area into a statement of artistic value or social and political awareness.

Simone Leigh is a sculptor from Chicago, Illinois (IL LUH NOY) in the United States. She does work that is often considered social sculpture, a political art form that attempts to present the beauty and challenges of her people, of African heritage. In her sculptures, she uses materials and forms traditionally associated with African art. Leigh's sculptures are used to create spaces where historical precedent and self-determination co-mingle. She describes this combination representing "a collapsing of time."

She often uses ceramics and clay as a part of her work and uses her fingers and fists to create the "textures" of the works she forms. Leigh has given artist lectures in many institutions nationally to talk about how she does the art pieces and what they mean.

In October 2020, Leigh was the first woman of African heritage to attend the prestigious 2022 Venice Biennale.

Simone Leigh's most famed piece may be a large sculpture called Brick House. In the 1970's a popular song called She's a Brick House premiered celebrated the form and figure of Black women. Simone Leigh could have been influenced by this song in the creation and naming of her bronze bust of a Black woman with a torso that stands at 16 feet tall and looks out over the raised outdoor park in New York. The sculpture's torso combines the forms of a skirt and a traditional clay house. The sculpture's head is crowned with an afro framed by cornrow braids. Brick House is one of the pieces in a collection of works she has titled Leigh's Anatomy of Architecture. In this collection Leigh combines architectural forms from regions as varied as West Africa and the Southern United States with the human body.Brick House combines a number of different architectural styles: "Batammaliba architecture from Benin and Togo, the teleuk dwellings of the Mousgoum people of Cameroon and Chad, and the restaurant Mammy’s Cupboard in Natchez, Mississippi."

Product: Define the words below using then use them in a sentence of your own.

Differentiation: Choose 5 of the words define. The same 5 words chosen, make as many words as you can out of each of them. Example: Endure (end, red, nerd, den, etc)

revere

endure

signature

political

controversial

cartoonist

political

incite

perceive

distinguish

transcend

Product: Try your hand at making you own sculpture using paper mache

Materials Needed: Water, glue, newspaper or printing paper, balloon, paper plate. After your work of art is completed, decorate it using tempra paints, markers and assesorize as you like. Watch the demonstration video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbnEpUp35jA . Don't forget to share you finished works of art her in FWS and/or in FWS Facebook group.