The Murals of Diego Rivera
Discover the value of social commentary as you turn a newspaper story into original artwork similar to Diego Rivera's portraits in murals.
1. View and discuss the murals of Diego Rivera, a famous Mexican muralist. Describe the imagery Rivera used and the social/historical significance of the portraits he painted in his murals. Compare and contrast Rivera's murals to contemporary murals (such as Philadelphia's Anti-Graffiti Network murals) or those in your area. Identify similarities and differences in technique and subject matter.
2. Read a human interest story from a newspaper. Imagine the people described. Are they old or young? Happy or sad? What does their environment look like? Who are they with?
3. On construction paper, use Crayola® Crayons to draw an interesting person in the story. What do you imagine this person looks like? What might she or he be doing? Include details, such as clothing and facial expressions, that dramatically tell the story.
4. Write a sequel to the story you just illustrated. What might happen next? Display illustrations and stories in a hallway mural.
Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project. Observe children closely and intervene as necessary to prevent potential safety problems and ensure appropriate use of arts and crafts materials. Some craft items, particularly beads and buttons, are potential choking hazards for young children. Avoid use of such small parts with children younger than 3 years. Craft items such as scissors, push pins and chenille sticks may have sharp points or edges. Avoid use of materials with sharp points by children younger than 4 years. Read all manufacturers' safety warnings before using arts and craft supplies.
- Create a mural of opposites. For each sad story you illustrate, create a sequel that is happy. Include solutions to the problems you encounter in your drawings.
- Choose one single day, and illustrate several stories you read in the newspaper. Place many classroom drawings together in a single display, creating a contemporary "slice of life" mural. Date it. Create another similar mural a month later, and compare the events you encountered.
- Select a current issue and follow it in the news over time. Create a mural depicting the people and events that are shaping the outcome.
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