MASTERPIECE: the Sunflower Quilting Bee at Arles (1991)

MASTERPIECE: The Sunflower Quilting Bee at Arles (1991)

ARTIST: Faith Ringgold

CONCEPT: Quilting as an Art Form

GRADE: 1st Grade

LESSON: Sunflower Quilt

Objectives: Students will recognize quilting as

A form of art

Vocabulary: Shape, Color, Repetition

Materials: White construction paper squares

Watercolors- Use yellow, white, green, & brown

Brushes

Bowls

Black markers

Picture of Sunflower or a real/fake Sunflower for display

Important lesson: What is a quilt? Quilting is an art form. African-American women are credited with the beginning of quilt-making in America. Making quilts was part of their duties as slaves and they made them for the plantation owner’s family. Quilts were part of Faith Ringgold’s family tradition.

Vocabulary Words:

Shape: A flat figure created when actual or implied lines meet to enclose a space. A change in color or shading can define a shape. Shapes can be divided into several types: geometric (square, triangle, circle) and organic (irregular in outline).

Color: (Also “Hue”). The common name of a color in or related to the spectrum, such as yellow, yellow-orange, blue-violet, green.

Repetition: When word, sound, color or pattern is used over and over again. A repeated pattern is a design with parts that are used over and over in a regular or planned way, usually to create a visual rhythm or harmony.

Meet the Artist:

· Faith Ringgold was born in Harlem, N.Y. in 1930. She grew up during the time of the Great Depression. As a child she had asthma so she didn’t go to school until 2nd grade.

· Her mother taught her at home and took her to museums. She gave Faith paper & crayons to draw and bits of cloth, needle and thread to make little things. Her mother taught her to sew.

· While she was at college, Faith had a professor who didn’t like her drawings and told her that he didn’t think that she would be an artist.

· Faith Ringgold began her artistic career more than 35 years ago as a painter. Today, she is best known for her painted story quilts – art that combines painting, quilted fabric and storytelling. When she started out, there were hardly any galleries that would show the work of black women.

· She has exhibited all over the world and has permanent collections in many museums in New York City. She has also written and illustrated over a dozen children’s books. She has received more than 75 awards for painting and writing.

· Faith is married with two children, three grandchildren and is a professor of art at the University of California.

Possible Questions:

o What kinds of things do you see in this painting?

o Does this painting tell a story? What do you think it is?

o Who is in the painting? African women in Arles displaying their quilt with the famous Van Gogh standing in the background. Where is Arles? (France)

o How would you describe the lines, the shapes, the colors? Is there repetition?

o Do you like it?

o What would you title this artwork?

o Does it make you want to learn how to quilt?

o What is worth remembering about this painting?

Process & Helpful Hints:

After discussion; hand out the white paper squares, have students write their name & teacher name on back.

1. Cover desks with newspaper, have students take out & use their own pencil, hand out paints, paint brushes, construction paper squares, cups for water and markers to each child.

2. Have each student draw (in pencil) a large sunflower on their paper. They may view the picture or actual sunflower in front of class.

3. Then, have them paint their flowers and leaves using only the yellow, white, brown and green paints. Let dry a bit.

4. Outline the flowers and leaves with the black marker.

5. Teacher and/or Art Guide to collect for Art Walk.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ART WALK/GRADE LEVEL COLLABORATION PROJECT:

All student squares to be glued to large piece of butcher paper to resemble large quilt to be displayed at our Art Walk.

Optional: You may add a material border using scraps of different color and designs of cloth cut into triangles, or use one large piece to glue all the flower squares on to.

Art Masterpiece: February– 1st Grade – The Sunflower Quilting Bee at Arles

Today in Art Masterpiece we studied the artist Faith Ringgold and her painting, The Sunflower Quilting Bee at Arles. Faith grew up during the Great Depression. Her mother gave her paper, crayons and bits of cloth to make things. Faith is known for her art that combines painting and fabric quilting storytelling. African American women are credited with the beginnings of quilt making in America and part of Faith’s family tradition. Today the students had an opportunity to create their own sunflower that can be put together in a big class quilt.

Art Masterpiece: February– 1st Grade – The Sunflower Quilting Bee at Arles