(G1,G2) Creating in the style of Tom Gilleon (American Indian Legends Part III)

In trying to find artists who use American Indian symbols in their art I discovered the artist Tom Gilleon.

View his work here

Tom Gilleon's grandfather had immigrated to the United States from Scotland. His grandmother, was a Cherokee and descended from a band of tribal members who refused to relocate into  a reservation in the Oklahoma Territory.

I was so impressed with the aesthetic qualities of his teepees series, that I decided to introduce his work to our students.

Here is how he describes the spark and luminosity found in his teeppees.

" My memory of the important events in my early life are set somehow in dramatic theater lighting. We lived in a little place where there was no electricity and the inside of our wooden home was lit by kerosene lanterns. I always felt drawn into the light and everything around the glow disappeared into a blur." 

Tom Gilleon

The artist Tom Gilleon

For this project the students were given two options in creating their-Tom Gilleon inspired teepee. 

1. Use American Indian symbols to decorate the teeppe.
2. Use simple lines for the teeppe and place the emphasis on the background.

Tom Gilleon

Tom Gilleon

Tom Gilleon

Tom Gilleon

Tom Gilleon

(G1,G2) American Indian Legends and Symbols Part II

For this project the students were given the choice to  create works based on two sources: The Legend of the Bluebonnet  by Tomi DePaola, and  Native American Crafts by Judith Hoffman Corwin

We discussed how the spirit of nature is important to Native Americans in the design and decoration of the objects they use in their daily lives. Their rich culture was based on their respect for the natural world around them; the Earth, sky, wind, rain, animals, plants, fire and water, the sun, the moon, and the stars.

O our Mother the Earth,

O our Father the Sky,

We bring you the gifts that you love.

Then weave for us a garment of brightness;

May the warp be the white of morning.

May the weft be the red light of evening.

May the fringes be the falling rain.

May the border be the standing rainbow....

           

       __ Tewa Song, Southwestern Pueblo

This student created a rainbow based on the Tewa Song.

Creating the symbol of sun 

Creating a collage composition based on  the book: The Legend of the Bluebonnet.

The Bluebonnet flower based on the book: The Legend of the Bluebonnet.

A collage composition of the rain falling based on the Tewa Song

The blue feathers that decorated the little girl's warrior doll based on the book: The Legend of the Bluebonnet.

Chief's Blaket based on the book: Native American Crafts

For this Navajo blanket the student used stripes and diamonds, a design called Eye Dazzler.

The student created a Mimbreno eagle ( The  Mimbrenos lived about a thousand years ago along

the Mimbres River, in what is now New Mexico. Their designs show the animals of the Mimbreno world- the people's "wild brothers." )  Based on the book: Native American Crafts 

The student created a work based on images of Southwestern Jewelry

Creating a turtle by using rows of geometric patterns  based on Ute designs.

Creating a bug based on images of Southwestern jewelry. 

Learning about the importance of the horse for the Ute people of the Great Basin.

(G1,G3) Lines and Shapes in the work of Paul Klee

The students look at the work of the early modernist Paul Klee.

We examined his method of using lines and shapes in his compositions.

I advised the students to follow Paul Klee's statement: "A line is a point taken for a walk".

The students interpreted his work  by creating trees and self-portraits. 

Paul Klee Small Rhythmic Landscape

The artist Paul Klee

(G3) We used rulers to draw the lines inside the tree.

The background lines were based on Paul Klee's statement: "A line is a point taken for a walk".

This student used  rectangular pieces of paper to create the trunk.

I love the way he took his line for a walk. 

Using scarps of paper to create the trunk. 

Paul Klee often used burlap, gauze, cardboard, and metal foils to embellish his work.

This student used scraps of clay for her trunk 

Paul Klee Head of Man

Paul Klee Castle and Sun

(G1) We examined the rendering of lines and shapes in Paul Klee's work.