Diverse Art for Kids by Elan Ferguson: November 2014

KWANZAA

Including this year, I have coordinated 3 Kwanza celebrations and every year I really try hard to bring something new to this relatively new holiday.
Kwanzaa was established in 1966 during the Black Freedom Movement. It is an African American and Pan-African holiday which celebrates family, community and culture. Celebrated from December 26 thru January 1, its origins are in the first harvest celebrations of Africa from which it takes its name. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase "matunda ya kwanza" which means "first fruits" in Swahili.

http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/origins1.shtml

Kwanzaa was created to introduce and reinforce seven basic values of African culture which contribute to building and reinforcing family, community and culture among African American people as well as Africans throughout the world African community. These values are called the Nguzo Saba which in Swahili means the Seven Principles. Developed by Dr. Karenga, the Nguzo Saba stand at the heart of the origin and meaning of Kwanzaa, for it is these values which are not only the building blocks for community but also serve to reinforce and enhance them.

The Seven Principles

This year the event I am planning lands on the 3rd day, UJIMA, Collective Work and Responsibility. I want to focus on doing art with loved ones so I will have four fun workshops: Yearly Calendar collages, Crowns, a Community Patchwork Quilt and decorated decoupage magnets. There will also be story telling, balloons, a face painter and free raffles.
In the past I have had musical performers, poets and singers but this year I wanted families/participants to focus on working together, listening to each other and enjoying time together without spending a dime.

Here are some photo from the past Kwanzas and I look forward to posting the recent images after December 28th. ENJOY!!!

December 2013

December 2012

December 2014

December 2012


December 2012

Facts and Opinions / Ads and Articles

Magazine literacy is more then thumbing through articles and advertisements. It about deciphering facts from fiction and this is a very important skill to support because young people are bombarded with images and information all of the time. What is fact and what is fiction? It's good to practice these ideas and in this art project we learned about Shirley Chisholm.

Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm was an American politician, educator, and author. She was the first Black Congresswoman and represented New York's 12th Congressional District for seven terms from 1969 to 1983.

The project was to memorialize her run for presidency in 1972 with a campaign poster/article. The top half of the article would be a visual collage poster with a quote and opinions. The goal was to create an advertisement to encouraging folks to vote for Ms. Chisholm. The bottom would be a factual article with only facts about Shirley Chisholm and her career. We discussed how sometimes articles can become advertisement for people and or services.

In one of my classes I had a brief 4 paragraph write up on Chisholm and after we read it all together they chose which paragraph would be best for their ad/article.

We also watched this 2minute video:

http://youtu.be/kc1coVnxU9s

Hair today...

I love the art work of Lorna Simpson and Ellen Gallagher. Both woman create work that challenges viewers, invoke conversation on concepts of womanhood and esthetically pleasing compositions.

In the Fall/Winter 2014-15 exhibition, Speaking of People: Ebony, Jet and Contemporary Art artworks explore the ways contemporary artists use Ebony and Jet as a resource and as inspiration in their practices.

http://www.studiomuseum.org/exhibition/speaking-people-emebonyem-emjetem-and-contemporary-art#sthash.GM408Wsy.dpuf

Both Simpson and Gallagher have works in the show, that I find, help young people become aware of the many facets of advertising and concepts of feminine beauty, judgement and acceptance. I have had two conversations with two classes about advertisements for hair and the different ways we may feel about how we look.

I begin with an image from the 1950's, next an image from the 1960's and then an old wig ad.

After we look at the images we discuss the differences between the 1950's and 1960's, we discussed the use of wigs and why people wear them. The word judgement and or acceptance came up and we then discussed how it feels to be judged and or concerned about being accepted.

I ask the students to observe the artwork of Lorna Simpson and Ellen Gallegher and ask them to tell me how these two, women artists have dealt with the issue of hair in their art works and after a good discussion they move on to create their own versions of featured pieces of art.