Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siquieros are the TRES GRANDES (the Big Three) of Mexican Muralism. Deeply political, they each combined their communist views and left-wing ideas with societal issues to create deeply moving, controversial, and thought-provoking works of art.
Those are the ideas that I'm trying to get across to my classroom of 15-year-olds. Today we began our mural project, which will take us through Spring Break. It starts with a lecture on what murals are, then discusses the TRES GRANDES of Mexican Muralism, and then allows the students the chance to create their own artwork. We did the lecture today and will finish it up tomorrow, and then the students will be in groups to create their own murals. In years past the mural themes have ranged from Mardi Gras to the Twin Towers to Environmental Issues. Of course, there will always be the groups that do nothing, but for the most part, the students enjoy the project. It gives them a chance to step outside of the classroom box of language learning and put their ideas on paper---(which, really, is part of the reason I like to blog--blogging lets people take all of the ideas in their heads, all of the thoughts, and gives people an outlet to channel them).
As the groups channel their ideas, I'll try to post some pictures of previous murals. I think you'll be suprised by some of these 15-year-olds' creativity and artistic depth.
If you're interested, here's a link to some reprints of Rivera's work. (One of my personal favorites is La Molendera).
http://www.oceansbridge.com/art/customer/home.php?cat=3914&maincat=R&page=2
I'm definitely not too into art, and I even appreciate these works! :-) I enjoy murals because I love learning the stores behind them--what the pieces are representing, what issues the artist is discussing or even flaming.
And, if you want to read about a controversial work, check out this link to Siquieros' Tropical America, which attacks America's imperialism and the oppression he believed it to cause.
http://olvera-street.com/html/siqueiros_mural.html
So, we'll see how the students do. If I can get them to think a little bit larger, a little bit beyond the walls of my classroom, then I think this time & energy-consuming project will be worth it.
Wow Anna! You make Spanish interesting. I wish I had you as my Spanish teacher, I might remember more that uno, dos, tres. :-)
I find it really interesting that Siquieros made his statement about American Imperialism here in America. It can't be that bad of a country if your not afraid that the secret police will come and get you if you speak out against the government.
mortgage refinance
I enjoy what you guys tend to be up too. Such clever work and reporting!
Keep up the good works guys I've incorporated you
guys to my blogroll.
Feel free to surf to my homepage :: amazon prada 財布
Post a Comment