For years I had wanted to create some Black History month art collages. I taught art in multiple inner city schools which were predominately African-American. Every February the curriculum in all grades focused around Black History, but for third, fourth and fifth grades, there was a strong emphasis on every phase of black history. My art classes also focused on this subject and was planned in conjunction with the teachers curriculum. The students were very interested in these art projects and I could see their pride when they completed their projects.
DesgregationCollage1
In honesty I have to admit that this was a learning process for me also because as a student I was not exposed to information on Black History. I did not go to schools that were integrated because it was before the segregation law was passed. I did experience the events surrounding the civil rights but it was many years ago and my experience was limited to hearing about it on the news on tv or reading about them in the newspaper.The younger generations really have very limited knowledge about the history of Civil Rights and Black History. My desire to create artwork surrounding Civil Rights and Black History started when I was teaching art in inner city schools and would work every February with my students creating their artwork on this topic. I tried many different art projects about Black History but I noticed that the ones that were the most popular was on that we used prints of the Civil Rights heroes and other Black leaders from the past and the present. The assignment was to create a collage using the prints I provided that depicted something they wanted to say about Black History. I realized the children were drawn to this project the most because they had a desire to see visual images that were photos because they connected with them as real people instead of just reading about it during their history class. I realized also that although there are many photos about Black leaders and the Civil Rights movement, today’s generation of students are not familiar with them. May fascination with these images also stemmed from many years ago when I researched newspaper articles from the time frame of desegregation. I was shocked at what I read. Although I am sure I must have heard about it on the news during that time frame, it seems much more shocking to me now.
Desegregation2RosaParks
My desire to bring all of this information together in my own artwork and collage has been following me around for years. My last year of teaching I was assigned to three schools to teach art, but one of them was upper middle class and not predominately black like the other schools. I did the same projects with the children during Black History month but these children had no clue who most of the black leaders were. This helped me further realize that there are several generations that are not familiar with this time frame and the advancements that have been made. The realization was there also that people connect more with actual photos of these events they do with artist’s drawing or paintings as the depictions.
My thoughts behind both of these black history month art collages had been with me for years. I did use the actual photos that I found on the internet. My intent is to educate those that have forgotten about the importance of these events but also to provide a glimpse to the younger generations that really have no concept of the importance of these events years ago before many of them were born. Prints and products with the images from these collages can be purchased on my Fine Art America pages, Desegregation 1 and Desegregation Bus Ruby Bridges 2. Products include everything from a greeting card, T-shirts, tote bags and framed prints. I also have quotes and portrait drawings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr in my Etsy store that are available to purchase as prints or instant digital downloads that you can print yourself.
No Comments Yet