#miniartlessons

Mini Art Lesson Tuesday, June 30, 2020

To create the Gele Pride Flag Adejoke Tugbiyele, a Brooklyn-born artist who identifies as a queer woman of Nigerian descent, sewed together six gele, which are headscarves worn by Nigerian women for important events. By bringing together these six headscarves associated with womanhood, and putting them together like the rainbow of the Pride flag, the artist combines and affirms two aspects of her identity. Follow along for step-by-step instructions to create your own rainbow paints and Pride message with ages 2-6, and a paper flag project for ages 7 and up.

FOR AGES 2–6: LET’S PLAY

Tugbiyele’s work is about celebrating Pride, and a big representation of this is through the rainbow Pride flag. Today we’ll make our own rainbow artwork with teaching artist Sarah Chavarria!

Step 1: Gather your materials! You’ll need:

Paper

Baking soda

Food coloring

Spoons

A cupcake tin or bowls

Marker

Q-tip or paintbrush

Water

Vinegar (optional)

Step 2: Mix your paints! Combine the baking soda, food coloring, and water to make different colors and shades. You can also make colors using brewed tea or coffee. Add more food coloring to make it a deeper color, or water to make it a lighter color. 

Step 3: Now, start using your colors to paint! You can use a Q-tip or a paintbrush. Sarah’s using all of her colors to create a rainbow design inspired by the Gele Pride Flag!

Step 4: Let your painting dry. You can add in a special message that’s Pride themed. Sarah writes: “You are loved!” 

Bonus: Create fizzy paint by adding in vinegar to your paints! What’s it like to use fizzy paint rather than regular paint?

FOR AGES 7+: LET’S CREATE

Some of us may not have fabric or be able to sew, but we can still explore color, flags, and identity with Tugbiyele’s work! All you’ll need is paper, scissors, tape (if you have it), and colored pencils or markers.

Step 1: First, take two pieces of paper and fold them each into thirds. 

Step 2: Now cut along the fold lines to create six pieces of paper. 

Step 3: Take a look around your home or neighborhood. What patterns can you find? What aspects of your identity are represented in these patterns? I found a quilt that my mom made, with many patterns. 

Step 4: Using your markers or colored pencils, draw one pattern on each of your papers. Try using only one color on all six pieces of paper. 

Step 5: Let’s now bring them together into a flag! Arrange your pieces of paper, lining them up next to one another. 

Step 6: At the point where your two pieces of paper meet, make a 2-inch horizontal line that goes across both pieces of paper. Make one of these lines 1 inch from the top and a second line 1 inch from the bottom. 

Step 7: On one sheet of paper, draw a small line from the end of the first line going up. Do this on both lines. 

Step 8: On the second sheet of paper, draw a small line going down. Do this on both lines. 

Step 9: Now, cut along the lines you made. Then, bring the papers together at the notches. They should stay together! 

Step 10: Repeat this until you’ve attached all six of your papers across. Reinforce the notches with tape, if you have it. 

Step 11: Now you can hang up your paper flag! What does this flag say about who you are? 

Posted by Tamar MacKay and Noé Gaytán 

Make a Paper Flower

Follow our step-by-step instructions below to create your own flower bouquets! In honor of Earth Day, let’s upcycle newspaper in place of tissue paper and twist ties in place of pipe cleaner.

Step 1: Stack six pieces of tissue paper and fold them accordion style. Mix-and-match colors or stick with a single one.

Step 2: Wrap a pipe cleaner around the middle of the paper.

Step 3: Cut the ends of the tissue paper. Feel free to experiment with the shapes. Jagged edges will make a different kind of flower than rounded edges.

Step 4: Gently unfold each side so it looks like a bowtie.

Step 5: Carefully fan out each layer of tissue paper to open up your ower. It’s okay if the paper rips a bit.

Mini Art Lesson  Tuesday, September 15, 2020

School's back in session and so are our Mini Art Lessons. This week, we'll look at the work of Ana Mendieta, an artist who had a unique practice of blending photography, body art, earth art, and performance to address the emergence of feminism and her experience as a Cuban exile. Mendieta would place her body in the landscape, using materials such as crushed flowers, sculpted mud, or ignited gunpowder to literally inscribe her silhouette, and then document the results through photographs and films. Taking inspiration from Mendieta, we'll create our own carved portraits and silhouettes with kids ages 2–6 and 7 and up.

FOR AGES 2–6: LET’S PLAY

For this artwork, we’re going to use household or nearby materials to make our own carved portraits.

Step 1: Look at Mendieta’s artwork with your child. What do you think it’s made of? Who do you think the person is?

Step 2: Explore poses with your child. How might we pose our bodies when we feel mad? How might we pose when we feel happy? Sad? Sleepy? Excited? Here, Museum Educator Tamar MacKay and her mom explore different poses. 

Step 3: Now, choose a pose to make with your child and take a picture of them in that pose. If your child is younger, you can also ask them to observe their features in a mirror and create a self-portrait. Here, Tamar chooses an excited pose! 

Step 4: Ana Mendieta created this artwork with sand. Choose nearby material, or even items from your pantry, that might feel similar to make art with. For example, you can use dirt from a nearby park or flour on a baking sheet. Tamar chooses the dog park where she takes her family dog Sadie and her own dog Maple Syrup as her canvas.

Step 5: Try to carve your pose into your canvas! You can use your fingers, a stick, or anything else you might find. You can also collect materials such as leaves or other items from home. 

BONUS! Ana Mendieta made her artwork at the beach. You can create one there, too! You can even explore making a full-body artwork like Tamar did!

FOR AGES 7+: LET’S CREATE

Mendieta often used silhouettes both as a technique and a theme in her work. Today, you’ll learn how to make a silhouette and get creative with fun materials to take it to the next level. For this lesson, you’ll need a piece of paper (the larger the better!), a lamp, a pencil, markers, glue, and any other fun materials to fill in your silhouette.

Step 1: Choose your subject. Silhouettes are traditionally images of people represented as a solid shape or color, but the technique can be done with anything. Here, Senior Instructor Noé Gaytán makes a silhouette of Max the cat. 

Step 2: Position your subject in between your paper and your lamp. Adjust the distance of the lamp until you have a shadow that fits on the paper.  

Step 3: With your subject holding still, trace the outline of their shadow. 

Step 4: Silhouettes are usually colored in with black to resemble shadows, but you can get creative and fill in the space any way you want. Noé uses orange so people know it’s Max.

Step 5: What do your materials say about your subject? Mendieta used natural materials and her own body to connect ideas of femininity and the environment.

Step 6: Try using different material to cover your surface. Here we have fluffy cotton balls that remind us of soft fur. 

Step 7: Can you make a silhouette of your entire body? How about your whole family? And don’t forget your furry friends!

Posted by Tamar MacKay and Noé Gaytán

Mini Art Lesson  Tuesday, June 23, 2020

This week's Mini Art Lesson continues to honor Pride Month and queer artists of color by exploring the work of Jeffrey Gibson, an artist of Choktaw and Cherokee heritage who infuses historical and contemporary elements of Native American culture into his art. Follow along for step-by-step instructions to create garments of healing with kids ages 2–6 and fabric banners inspired by Gibson’s own artwork with kids ages 7 and up. 

FOR AGES 2–6:   LET’S PLAY

Jeffrey Gibson’s sculpture honors a tradition of jingle dress dancing meant to support healing and wellness and represent pride for Native culture. In this lesson, we'll decorate our outfits with symbols that help heal us.

Step 1: Talk with your child about a song that makes them feel good.

Step 2: Gather 3–5 items they need or like to have when they’re feeling sick.

Step 3: Now, draw separate pictures of these items. Be sure to leave enough room around each drawing so it can be cut out!

Step 4: Cut each drawing out and safety pin it to an outfit of your child’s choosing.

FOR AGES 7+:  LET’S CREATE

Jeffrey Gibson is a multimedia artist, meaning he creates work in various media and uses a range of materials in his art. Today, we’re going to create a banner using text inspired by Gibson’s unique way of forming letters and words.

Step 1: Can you identify the letters and words in this artwork? 

Step 2: Let’s begin by creating the base of your banner. Find an old t-shirt that you don’t wear anymore, and cut out a large shape for your banner. 

Step 3: Now, find a quote or a phrase that’s important to you. Create the words in this phrase using other fabric, paper, and any other materials you may have. Get creative with the way you form your letters! 

Step 4: Arrange your phrase on your banner in a creative way and glue them down onto your base. 

Step 5: Add other decorations, patterns, shapes, and images onto your banner with the remaining fabric and other materials you’ve collected. 

Step 6: Celebrate your artwork by finding a special place to hang up your banner.

Posted by Tamar MacKay and Noé Gaytán 

Mini Art Lesson Tuesday, July 14, 2020

In the 1960s and 70s, artist Dindga McCannon didn’t see many Black women warriors, so she created her own in Revolutionary Sister. This mixed media artwork is made from lots of different materials—including a headpiece made from recycled flag-poles, a shape which was inspired by the Statue of Liberty, as well as pieces from the hardware store. Follow along in this lesson, as we share step-by-step instructions to create your own mixed media artworks. Ages 2–6 will learn to create artworks out of household items and paint, while ages 7 plus will use found materials to create images that make them feel powerful.

FOR AGES 2–6: LET’S PLAY

For this paper bag canvas art project, we’ll be exploring the theme of what makes you feel free! In this lesson, we’ll go on a scavenger hunt for art materials around our homes and explore how it feels to make art with the objects we find.

Step 1: Think of a place that makes you feel happy and free. Talk about that place with your family. Museum Educator Tamar thought about the Botanical Garden close to the Museum that she has visited with her family. 

Step 2: Gather your freedom materials! Go on a scavenger hunt to gather materials that remind you of your favorite place. Here, Tamar uses a bouquet of flowers she has at home and a few gathered sticks from being outside with her dog, Maple. 

Step 3: Gather household items and paint. We recommend using: 

A brown paper bag as your canvas.

Painting and drawing materials. Tamar is using paint, pencils, white out, and brewed tea.

Sponges, newspaper, paper, glue, and any other household materials.

Step 4: Explore using painting tools on paper or your canvas. Here, Tamar explores what it feels like to paint with tea and a stick as her paintbrush. She also tried dipping a leaf in paint to create an imprint of it. 

Step 5: Now that you’ve explored, it’s time to make your art. Enjoy the process and try to feel free when you make it!

Step 6: Put your artwork on display, or share it with a loved one! Tamar is going to send her artwork to her Grandmother Flora, whose name means flower.

FOR AGES 7+: LET’S CREATE

In this project, we’re making powerful images using everyday materials! All you need is a photograph, a pen or pencil, glue or tape, and a few found objects from around your home.

Step 1: Find an image of someone you look up to, like a family member, friend, or someone you don’t know personally. Senior Instructor Noé is choosing to celebrate his Grandma. 

Step 2: Trace or sketch an outline of this person. You can fill in a few details too. 

Step 3: Once you have your sketch, look around your home or neighborhood for 3-4 other materials. Noé is using yarn, because his grandma loved to knit and crochet; black pieces from mailings, because that was her favorite color; and wrappers from one of her favorite snacks. 

Step 4: Take your materials and start to line them up on your sketch. Cut your materials into pieces or different shapes based on where you want to put them.

Step 5: Glue or tape your materials in place. If you have some empty space, use markers or colored pencils to fill it in. 

Step 6: Once you’re done, feel free to hang up your creation in a place that will inspire you!

Posted by Tamar MacKay and Noé Gaytán 

Mini Art Lesson    Tuesday, April 28, 2020

For this week's Mini Art Lesson, we're looking at one of the oldest works in the our collection: this Female Figure, made about 5,500 years ago in ancient Egypt. Children ages 2-6, get ready to strike a pose and learn about how Female Figure, also called Bird Lady, combines human and animal features! For children 7 and up, we'll make our own clay and figure out how to capture movement through sculpture. Follow along below for step-by-step instructions.

FOR AGES 2–6:    LET’S PLAY

Strike A Pose: Try to mirror the distinct pose of Bird Lady!

Get Ready: Grab a writing utensil (like crayon, pencil, marker, or pen) and a piece of paper. Now, choose one person to be the sculptor and another person to be sculpture.

Sculpt Away: Have the sculptor “sculpt” their subject by moving their limbs and other body parts in a comfortable pose.

Draw Away: The sculptor will then do a quick sketch of their sculpture. You can set a timer for 30-60 seconds! 

Animal Brainstorm: We don’t know much about Bird Lady, but we do know that she has traits of both a bird and a human. For example, the sculpture’s beak is a bird trait, while the hair and legs are human traits. The arms combine both bird and human traits since they resemble wings! Talk with your child and ask, what kind of animal would you want to combine with a human? Our friends Susannah and Ruthie chose an elephant! 

Switch Roles: Sculptor and sculpture switch roles! Now, the new sculptor can mold the sculpture into a pose inspired by their animal-human hybrid! Now it’s the new sculptor’s turn to draw their creation!

Thanks for taking the time to learn about Bird Lady! And, a big thank you to Ruthie and Susannah and family for the help on this project!

FOR AGES 7+:   LET’S CREATE

Bird Lady has captivated humans for thousands of years because of how she’s able to capture motion in her pose. Using homemade clay, let’s build some sculptures that consider how solid objects can imply movement.

Gather your materials: 

1 cup of salt

½ cup of cornstarch

¾ cup of water

food dye or paint (optional)

Mix the materials in a pot. With the help of an adult, heat the mixture and keep mixing it until it solidifies.

If you have, add food dye or paint. Knead the clay until the color and texture are nice and even. Make as many colors as you think of!

Think about these questions: What movement do you think Bird Lady is doing? Can your sculpture create visual rhythm? How will your sculpture guide the eye of the viewer? Now, shape your clay into a figure that captures a movement. Maybe running or doing martial arts! You can add details with other pieces of clay as well!

Bonus: Can you make an abstract sculpture that implies movement?

Movement is one of the main principles of art. It’s as timelessness can be see in figurines like Bird Lady. How will your sculpture be remembered in 5,000 years?

FOR TEACHERS, CAREGIVERS, AND PARENTS   Access a free teaching guide packed with questions for viewing and great activities and resources for six ancient figurines featured in our 2008 exhibition The Fertile Goddess.

We’ll be back next Tuesday with another Mini Art Lesson! In the meantime, let us know what your like to see or learn!

Posted by Tamar MacKay and Noé Gaytán

Mini Art Lesson Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Today’s lesson is inspired by May Wilson, who left rural Maryland and a decades-long marriage to become an artist in New York City at the age of 71. Wilson typically embellished and bedazzled found objects with some relationship to her early life, such as nineteenth-century portraits of women and old-fashioned button-up boots. Through her highly-decorated collages, she addressed issues of sexism, ageism, and the cult of beauty. Follow along as we share step-by-step instructions to create your own collages with ages 2–6 and 7 and up.

FOR AGES 2–6: LET’S PLAY

Mary Wilson often changed the narrative of a work by adding elements of collage to an otherwise complete work of art. In this lesson, we’ll alter our own images using fun art materials you have at home.

Step 1: Look at the artwork and talk about it with your child. What do you think the artwork is made with? This artwork uses a portrait and fun materials like glitter, mirrors, and red paint.

Step 2: Now, choose a photo! Perhaps one that you really like of yourself, or one from a magazine. Pick an image that you both feel comfortable permanently altering. 

Step 3: Discuss the household items your child would like to use in their collage. Parents can write this or they can encourage phonetic spelling and pictures as a form of writing. Choose a theme you’d like to explore through your artwork! Here, our friends chose to explore the theme of a party. 

Step 4: Now alter the original image using the materials you gathered! 

Step 5: Have your child explain the changes they made and why they made those changes. How does your new artwork make you feel? 

FOR AGES 7+: LET’S CREATE

May Wilson’s work is an example of “femm-age,” a combination of “feminist” and “collage” that spoke to women’s ability to transform functional objects into artworks with hidden meanings. For this project, let’s think about how we can transform images by cutting and pasting.

Step 1: First, gather your materials. You’ll need cardstock, magazines, markers, a glue stick, and scissors. 

Step 2: Now, cut your sturdy cardstock into 4x6 pieces. 

Step 3: Next, grab a magazine and cut out pictures to use in your collage.

Step 4: Here are some techniques to try…

Replace one object with another, like human heads with animal heads. 

Find creative ways to fill space. 

Mash up two or more images into one. 

Use a marker to draw or write on your collage. 

Step 5: May Wilson kept in touch with fellow artists by mailing them collages. This was an easy and inexpensive way to get her art out into the world. Add a stamp and a message and send your finished collage to a friend.

Bonus: Try adding pictures of yourself into your collage.

Posted by Tamar MacKay and Noé Gaytán

Mini Art Lesson Tuesday, June 9, 2020

Honor Pride Month and Black queer artists with this Mini Art Lesson exploring the work of Zanele Muholi, an artist who documents the Black lesbian and transgender community in South Africa and its diaspora. Follow along as we share step-by-step instructions to create self-portrait collages with kids ages 2–6, while kids ages 7 and up learn about the elements of portrait photography before creating their own.

FOR AGES 2–6:  LET’S PLAY

Step 1: Take a look at Muholi’s photograph and talk with your child about the portrait’s subject. What are a few things you notice about them? 

Step 2: Next, talk about what the subject is wearing. How is your outfit different or similar to the portrait? 

Step 3: In this lesson, we’ll make a self-portrait collage that celebrates what makes you so special!

Step 4: Take another look at Muholi’s photograph. Do you notice how Muholi added flowers in the background? Think about a backdrop you’d like to add to your collage that represents you. Education Fellow Tayler Milburn chose to add flowers and music notes to her background. 

Step 5: Next, cut out pictures from magazines, newspapers, or your own photos to create a collage. Use glue to paste down your images on a sheet of paper. 

Step 5: Find a special place to show off your new artwork! Tayler decided to put her project on the fridge. 

FOR AGES 7+: LET’S CREATE

Step 1: In this lesson, we’ll take photographs and reflect on how we feel when we see and create images of ourselves. Let’s start by exploring the elements of portraiture: pose, facial expression, clothing, props, and background. How do these show up in Muholi’s photograph?

Step 2: With these elements in mind, have somebody take your picture. The photographer will decide what your picture will look like. Here, the photographer picked a white shirt and an artwork for Senior Instructor Noé Gaytán to pose with. 

Step 3: How did it feel to have someone direct you and take your picture? Do you agree with their choices? Do you like the result?

Step 4: Have the photographer take another picture of you, but this time you get to make all of the decisions. How will you pose? What will you wear? Do you have props or a background? This time, Noé Gaytán picked the background and a black jacket to wear. 

Step 5: How did it feel to be in control of your own image? Does this picture communicate something about yourself that you want others to know?

Step 6: Do this activity again, but swap roles with the other person. How is capturing the image of another person different than capturing an image of yourself? Does that change depend on your relationship to that person?

Step 7: Muholi uses black-and-white in her photographs to create a sense of timelesness and to show that queer people of color have always existed, and that they will continue to thrive despite discrimination. In twenty years, how do you think you will look back on the photos you took today? 

FOR TEACHERS, CAREGIVERS, AND PARENTS Access a free teaching guide, featuring questions for viewing artwork as well as other great activities and resources.