Looking at Art

Understand the importance of Carlos Villa’s work to prioritize and spotlight artists who are underrepresented.

The vast Tibetan pantheon includes numerous peaceful and wrathful deities, who guide and protect believers on their paths to enlightenment. Among the images of peaceful deities are those of buddhas and bodhisattvas, great teachers, and high monks. Wrathful deities, such as the guardian deities, use their power to protect Buddhism and to destroy the three major obstacles to enlightenment: anger, greed, and ignorance.

Create a WPA-inspired poster based on one or more current economic or political issues in the U.S.

Lesson: Students will 1) become familiar with Wong’s artistic style and recognize how an artist can have many influences and sources of inspiration; 2) use compare-contrast skills in discussing artwork from different cultural contexts; and 3) practice online research skills, presentation skills, and working in groups.

Lesson: Students will 1) learn some of the hallmarks of Wong’s ceramics and enamels; 2) gain a general understanding of the ceramics- and enamel-making processes; and 3) understand some of the scientific processes involved in art.

Lesson: Students will 1) understand how Wong was viewed by her community as a rebel in her choice of career and in her artistic style; 2) practice using compare/contrast skills to identify the hallmarks of art from the Qing and Song dynasties, to understand how Wong’s work was initially judged; and 3) hone discussion skills through the use of Project Zero’s Artful Thinking Routines.

Chinese operas are very long and feature complex narratives with a large number of characters. Have fun coloring in these sheets based on Chinese opera prints in the Asian Art Museum’s collection.

Lesson: Students will take inspiration from Sekimachi and write a short essay on the cultures, celebrations, and traditions that represent them.  They will then create a poster, slideshow, or video that illustrate your essay.