The Unique Assemblage Art of Louise Nevelson: Wood, Metal, and Found Objects

Society has designated the month of March as “Women’s History Month" since late 1990. During the month of March, we celebrate the achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of occupations. As we wrap up Women's History Month, we decided to feature American and Ukrainian born artist Louise Nevelson (1899-1998). Nevelson was known for her monumental sculptures and installations. She had a huge impact on recyclable and assemblage art and the feminist art movement of the 1970's.

Louise Nevelson's work often involved gathering recyclables, wooden scraps, furniture, and various discarded objects, which she would assemble into interrelated parts and structures. Her sculptures often consisted of boxes filled with a variety of arranged objects. Nevelson was a minimalist; she used monochromatic colors (usually black or white) to coat her assemblages and sculptures. The minimal use of color helped to create a sense of harmony and wholeness in the discarded objects embedded in her works of art.

Louise Nevelson-Sky Cathedral, 1982

Nevelson's work also influenced the concept of recyclable art, as she was one of the first artists to explore the beauty and aesthetic potential of found objects. Her unique use of everyday objects paved the way for future generations of artists to consider the creative possibilities that can be created with found objects.

ARTIST FUN FACT: WHAT INSPIRED NEVELSON TO BECOME A SCULPTOR?

Louise's love for wood and found objects stemmed from her childhood. Nevelson's father worked at a lumber yard, so Nevelson would play, stack, and create miniature works of art from leftover scrap pieces of wood she found around her house.

Louise Nevelson-Night Flight #1, 1972

RECYLCE, REUSE AND CREATE: NEVELSON INSPIRED

ASSEMBLAGE ART

“When you put together things that people have thrown out, you’re really bringing them to life - a spiritual life that surpasses the life for which they were originally created.” 

-Louise Nevelson 1899-1988

This art lesson is sure to be a crowd pleaser! Consider gathering disposable miscellaneous objects in advance for your students. This will help to ensure that the selection of objects is safe and suitable for the assemblage process. You will also need white glue, paint brushes, box lids or shoe boxes, and acrylic paint. We highly recommend using Elmer's Glue and Dick Blick paints as both products are of high quality. A glue gun will help to ensure that objects are securely embedded in the boxes, however, only an adult should operate a glue gun in an art studio or at home as hot glue guns can cause serious burns. Students should never operate or be within proximity of a glue gun.

Next, have students play around with the arrangement of objects. Be sure to point out and demonstrate what makes an interesting composition. This is also an opportunity to introduce the concept of form, both two-dimensional and three-dimensional. Form is an element of design that can be enhanced by color or texture. Encourage students to select objects with a variety of textures and shapes. Students should glue and secure their objects into place.

To enhance the form of our objects, we will focus on Nevelson's use of monochromatic color. Our method of introducing this color scheme to students is to chunk and break each part of this multisyllabic word down. "Mono" is a prefix that means "one or single", and "chroma" means the "purity or strength of a color". Monochromatic is having one color represented by different tints and shades. Louise Nevelson was a minimalist and used this color scheme in her works of art.

As you can see in the examples below, the monochromatic use of color helps to enhance and place emphasis on the shapes, textures, and forms within the cardboard relief assemblages. Students were intentional in the selection of one color to bring the assemblages to life.

Students should paint their boxes only after the glue used to attach objects is completely dried. Encourage students to paint over objects (around and in between), and to coat the front, back and sides of boxes with their preferred color of choice.

If you want to learn more about Louise Nevelson, The Rockefeller Brothers Fund's video below Thinking Outside the Box: Louise Nevelson at Kykuit (with Deborah A. Goldberg, Ph.D.), provides an overview of Nevelson's diverse types of sculptures and assemblages created throughout her career and at Kykuit.

Got recyclables?

Give this artmaking process a try, send us a pic or comment below to

let us know what you think.

The School of Saint-Leger has been in the business of public education for over twenty years. We are a reliable and credible source for art educators, parents, and children. We advocate for art education in schools, and host studio art classes and community art events for children and families.  

Narrative Art: Jacob Lawrence's "The Life of Toussaint L'Ouverture"

This year marks the 220th anniversary of the Haitian Independence Day. Haiti became a free republic on the first day of January in 1804. In this month's blog, we will explore Jacob Lawrence's "The Life of Toussaint L'Ouverture" and how we can use art to tell stories.

Who was Jacob Lawrence?

Jacob Lawrence was an African-American painter known for his representation of African-American political and social life in America. Lawrence was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey. His family moved to New York City when he was 13 years old. He learned to paint after his mother enrolled him in after school art classes. Jacob Lawrence later attended classes at the Harlem Art Workshop where he was mentored and given a scholarship to attend the Amercan Artists School.

Jacob Lawrence is known for his use of bold colors and graphic shapes that were influenced by his surroundings in Harlem. The subjects in his artworks chronicled the struggles of African-Americans. He gained national recognition at the age of 23 years old for The Migration Series, a 60-panel series portraying the flight of African-Americans who left the rural south to live in the industrial north during the outbreak of World War I.

Between 1936 and 1938, prior to the creation of The Migration Series, Lawrence created his first narrative work of art. The Life of Toussaint Louverture was originally created as a series of forty-one tempera paintings on paper in 1938. The panels tell the story of Toussaint Louverture's birth and rise to leadership as the commander-in-chief of the Haitian Revolutionary Army. The story of Toussaint Louverture was one that resonated with Lawrence so much that he felt compelled to return to his tempera paintings to make something that was already great even better! Fifty years later, Lawrence decided to select the most significant of the tempera on paper paintings to create fifteen large scale silk-screened panels. The most popular and well-known panel in the series is General Toussaint, a bold and graphic portrait of Toussaint Louverture in uniform.

General Toussaint from The Life of Toussaint L'Ouverture,1986. Silkscreen on paper, 30 1/2 x 20

The Former Slave Who Freed Haiti

François-Dominique Toussaint Louverture (1743-1803) was a Haitian general and leader of the Haitian Revolution. Under his leadership, Haitians overthrew the French who occupied the colony of Saint-Domingue (Haiti). Louverture's revolution was the first and only successful slave revolt in recorded history which made Haiti, the first free independent nation in the Caribbean, the second democracy in the western hemisphere, and the very first black republic in the world.

After Haiti defeated France, Napoleon gave up on his plans for Western domination. This was significant because it led to the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of the United States.

The success of the Haitian Revolution inspired Gabriel Prosser, Nat Turner and

Denmark Vesey, leaders of the three largest slave revolts in America. In addition, the Haitian Revolution helped other countries such as Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador, Columbia, Panama, northern Peru, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Bolivia to obtain their independence. As a result, Europeans and Americans did not want to see a former slave colony thrive, so despite Haiti becoming the world's first black republic, the Haitian government was forced to pay an indemnity to France for the loss of property (slaves) in 1825. The money paid to France could have established a robust economy for Haiti. Instead, it took Haiti six generations to pay twenty-one billion in today's currency as a form of reparations to France.

Discussion on Empathy

The Haitian Revolution was the largest and most successful slave rebellion in the Western Hemisphere. Share Jacob Lawrence's The Life of Toussaint L'Ouverture with your students. Engage your students in a discussion about oppression.

What was life like for Africans in Haiti? Why did Haitians feel the need to revolt?

Do you think you would have felt compelled to join or lead a revolution for freedom if you were enslaved?

Narrative Art: Art That Tells a Story

Jacob Lawrence told stories that were near to his heart. He chronicled the African-American experience; the stories of heroes in America (The Harriet Tubman Series) and heroes abroad as told in The Life of Toussaint L'Ouverture.

So, how do we cultivate the ability to tell stories in our young artists? Begin by introducing the idea of creating a personal narrative; artwork that is personal to a student's unique background, culture, or history. This can inspire students to create beautiful, meaningful, and unique works of art. Consider encouraging the use of found materials and personal artifacts to create a collage. Once artwork is completed, have students attach an artist statement to their finished works of art.

Resources

For more on the Haitian Revolution, the book Haiti: The First Black Republic by Frantz Derenoncourt Jr. is a beautifully crafted picture story book for children. This non-fiction, history and biography book gives an accurate chronology of events that lead to Haitians gaining their independence. You can find the author and order a copy of this book at www.thorobredbooks.com or have your students watch the Kulture Kids YouTube read aloud video below.

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The School of Saint-Leger has been in the business of public education for over twenty years. We are a reliable and credible source for art educators, parents and children. We advocate for art education in schools, and host studio art classes and community art events for children and families.  

Native American Heritage and Folklore: Rainbow Crow and The Art of John Nieto

As we near the end of November, we must not forget that November is recognized as Native American Heritage Month in the United States. It is a time to celebrate and honor the rich histories, diverse cultures, and significant contributions of Native American peoples. Throughout this month, various events and activities take place to promote awareness and appreciation for Native American art, music, dance, literature, and other aspects of Native American cultural heritage. Communities, schools, and organizations often organize events such as powwows, art exhibitions, film screenings, and educational programs to highlight the traditions and accomplishments of Native Americans. This observance is an opportunity to foster understanding, respect, and dialogue between Native American communities and the broader population.

How Native Americans View the Thanksgiving Holiday

Views on Thanksgiving among Native Americans vary widely, as different tribes and individuals may have distinct perspectives based on their histories, cultural backgrounds, and experiences. It's important to recognize that the traditional narrative surrounding the first Thanksgiving often oversimplifies and romanticizes the complex relationships between Native Americans and European settlers. Rarely is it taught in our schools what followed the first landing in North America. Here are some perspectives Native American communities may hold regarding the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Cultural Appropriation Concerns

Some Native Americans express concerns about the appropriation of their cultural symbols and traditions during Thanksgiving celebrations. This includes the use of stereotypical imagery or the misrepresentation of Native cultures.

Historical Trauma

For many Native Americans, the Thanksgiving holiday can be a reminder of historical traumas, including the colonization of their lands, loss of lives, forced relocations, and cultural suppression. Some may find it difficult to participate in celebrations that do not acknowledge this history.

Day of Mourning

In response to the traditional narrative of Thanksgiving, Native American communities observe the National Day of Mourning on Thanksgiving Day. This event, held in Plymouth, Massachusetts, serves as a remembrance of the suffering and injustices experienced by Native peoples throughout history.

Educational Opportunities

Some Native Americans use Thanksgiving as an opportunity to teach others about the true history of the relationship between Native peoples and European settlers. This includes discussions about the impact of colonization on Indigenous Communities.

THIS MONTH'S FEATURED ART LESSON: JOHN NIETO INSPIRED RAINBOW CROWS

You will need the following materials:

Sakura Oil Cray-Pas Junior Artist Pastels

Canson XL Series Mixed Media Paper

Pencils and erasers

Self-Made Cardboard Crow Tracers

Image of Native American Symbol for Crow

STEP ONE 

You will introduce your students to the Native American art of storytelling. It is common in indigenous storytelling to teach children about cultural values, lessons and to link people or animals to land, making connections between a hero’s journey to natural and supernatural worlds.

Rainbow Crow by Nancy Van Laan is the book we will highlight for this lesson. The author of the story adapted this tale from a descendant of the Lenape People of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. If you do not have a copy of the book, the story can also be accessed by viewing the YouTube video below created by HITRECORD on TV written by Rabid Schnauzer, edwardheninth.

STEP TWO

John Nieto (1936-2018) is a contemporary artist of Spanish and Native American (Mescalero Apache and Navajo) descent. He was known as a brilliant colorist and for his use of bold lines. Nieto's signature style included bold ribbons of electric colors around the subjects of his paintings as seen in Nieto's paintings of the coyotes below.

If you are not familiar with John Nieto, you can learn more about this artist by visiting https://www.nietofineart.com/nieto-fine-art-homepage .

STEP THREE 

Remind students that Native Americans incorporate rich symbolism that is drawn from nature. The natural world holds deep significance in the cultures of many Native American tribes, and this is reflected in their artistic expressions and stories.

Different birds have different meanings in Native American culture and feathers are commonly used in Native American art and regalia. They can symbolize honor, strength, and spirituality.

What was the connection between the crow and nature in Rainbow Crow? What character trait did the crow display? What happened to his feathers? How was the crow rewarded for his good deed?

STEP FOUR 

Demonstrate how to draw a crow step by step for your students. Some children up to 7 or 8 years old might still struggle with holding a pencil or free-hand drawing lines and shapes into their works of art. Use the hand-crafted cardboard crow tracers prepared prior to teaching this lesson to assist children who have limited fine motor skills.

STEP FIVE

Finally, you will demonstrate how to use and blend oil pastels. It is important to model for students proper use and care of art materials. We strongly recommend using a top tier brand of pastels for children's art such as Sakura's Cray-Pas Junior Oil Pastels. Students will want colors to be vibrant as seen in Nieto’s Female Coyote below. Have students distinguish between warm and cool colors. Nieto used either a blend of cool or warm colors in the background of his paintings. Encourage the use and mixing of colors (both primary and secondarycolors side by side) to create a rainbow of colors around the crows. Monitor the use of white and black pastels as they tend to dull colors.

Promoting awareness of Native American history, culture, and contemporary issues can contribute to a more accurate and respectful understanding of the complexities surrounding this holiday. If you're interested in participating or learning more about Native American Heritage Month, you can check with local cultural organizations, museums, or educational institutions for events in your area. Additionally, there are many online resources and initiatives that provide information on Native American history, art, and culture.

The School of Saint-Leger has been in the business of public education for over twenty years. We are a reliable and credible source for art educators, parents and children. We advocate for art education in schools, and host studio art classes and community art events for children and families.