"Contains great supplemental material for art teachers and homeschoolers on an often overlooked topic." —School Library Journal
"Will encourage a wide age range of students to reconsider what makes an object art and perhaps to reconnect with their own cultural heritages." —Booklist
"This book will be enjoyed by students of all ages interested in art, craft, and history, and will be useful to art teachers as well." —Rhonda Cooper, Kliatt
Drawing on the natural folk art tendencies of children, who love to collect buttons, bottle caps, shells, and Popsicle sticks to create beautiful, imperfect art, this activity guide teaches kids about the history of this organic art and offers inspiration for them to create their own masterpieces. The full breadth of American folk art is surveyed, including painting, sculpture, decorative arts, and textiles from the 17th century through today. Making bubblegum wrapper chains, rag dolls, bottle cap sculptures, decoupage boxes, and folk paintings are just a few of the activities designed to bring out the artist in every child. Along the way kids learn about the lives of Americans throughout history and their casual relationships to everyday art as they cut stencils, sew needlepoint samplers, draw calligraphy birds, and design quilts. Important folk artists such as the last surviving Shakers, the legendary Grandma Moses, and the Reverend Howard Finster are also explored in sidebars throughout the book.
Richard Panchyk is the author of World War II for Kids and Archaeology for Kids and the coauthor of Engineering the City..
View interior graphics from this book.
Rag doll (14K)
Childrens: Nonfiction, Childrens: Education Resource
Age Range: 9 and UP
128 pages, Trade Paper, 11 x 8 1/2
100 Color Photos, Four-color Interior
Distribution Rights: WOR
$16.95 (CAN $25.95)
9781556524998 (1556524994) Pub Date: September 2004
Chicago Review Press