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American Symbols
Elizabeth Catlett

Image credit
Elizabeth Catlett, (1915 - 2012), Singing Head, c. 1980, bronze, edition of 9; recast from original sculpture cast in 1960, 7 1/4 x 5 x 9 in. Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Calvin A. Bell and Winston Bell (son), 2013.10.
Artist, teacher, and social activist Elizabeth Catlett was best known for her work in printmaking and sculpture.
Grades
6-12
Class
English Language Arts
Standards
- 604: Construct and communicate arguments citing supporting evidence to: • Demonstrate and defend an understanding of ideas • Compare and contrast viewpoints • Illustrate cause and effect • Predict likely outcomes • Devise new outcomes or solutions
- 9-12.SL.PKI.4 Present information, findings, and supporting evidence, conveying a clear and distinct perspective so that listeners can follow the line of reasoning; address alternative or opposing perspectives; and organize and develop substance and style appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
- VA.Cr2.C Redesign an object, system, place, or design in response to contemporary issues.
Objectives
After completing this activity, students will better be able to:
- Define symbolism and provide examples of established symbols used in various styles of artwork
- Use elements and principles of design to create their own symbolic images
- Display the safe and correct use of art materials
About
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Activity 1
Students will look at how symbols and symbolic imagery is used to express thoughts or share opinions. Looking at the art of Noel Anderson, learners will consider how these images can be rearranged and combined with other symbols to change meanings and share personal ideas.
INSTRUCTIONS
What are symbols? How do we use symbols and where have you seen symbols used? How and why do artists use symbolism?
- How did you see symbols used in the various artwork in the galleries?
- How is symbolism used to provide information about an individual in a portrait? How is symbolism used to communicate other ideas within artwork?
- Introduce students to the studio project. Today students will create a collage that expresses their perception of America. What does America look like, feel like, mean to you?
- Discuss with the group the types of symbols they see daily (smiley faces, McDonald’s Arch, Apple Logo, even words) and the types of symbols they might use to represent their perception of America: a simple shape, a figure, lines or patterns of shapes, a merging/blend of symbols and words?
- What does America look like to you?
- What does America feel, sound, smell, taste like to you?
- What does America mean to you?
- How will you depict this vision with found images and words?
- How will you incorporate these into a complete design?
- Have students take a large piece of paper and the provided materials to begin searching for their images. Students can combine pictures with letters to form words that express feelings associated with or connected to the answer to the lesson prompt. Using cut-out letters to form words replicates Anderson’s style of using anonymity to share an idea as an individual and as a society all at once.
- Allow students time to find and cut out images, words, letters, etc.
- Suggest that students lay their images out and organize them in the way that best depicts their idea before gluing items to the page.
- Once students are satisfied with the layout of their work, have them glue the images to the page.
- Offer students a chance to share their symbols/logos and to explain why these items represent them.
- When about 10 minutes are left in class, ask students to finish up their collages and begin cleaning up the area around them.
Assessment
- Ask if anyone would like to share their collage. Use the students’ work to review what they saw and talked about in the galleries and in the studio (review vocabulary).
- Share student work online via #huntermuseum or send to cbespalec@huntermuseum.org
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Activity Examples
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