Create your own version of beautiful Somoan Siapo bark cloth using a brown paper bag. Use your knowledge of geometry, too!

• 1.

  Samoa is part of Oceania, an area of about 25,000 islands in the Pacific Ocean off of Australia. Samoans are known for art called Siapo. Bark from a mulberry tree is pounded into very thin sheets and dried in the sun. Artists mix plant dyes and other natural materials to paint stylized designs, primarily geometric shapes, on the cloth.

• 2.

  Today Samoans still make versions of this traditional art form. This cloth is worn special occasions. Similar fabrics are found in Ghana and Nigeria. In Hawaii, this art cloth is known as Tapa cloth. Find out more about these cultures and their decorative textiles.

• 3.

  To make a replica of Siapo bark cloth, tear a large section of a brown paper bag so the edges are a bit ruffled. Crumple the paper tightly, unfold, and flatten it. Repeat several times so the paper is very pliable, much like fabric.

• 4.

  Cover your painting area with newspaper. Most Siapo fabrics have black lines that divide the area into several smaller ones. You can think of percentages or dividing areas into halves, quarters, or thirds. Mark your divisions with lines of Crayola Tempera Paint.

• 5.

  Inside each of these areas, use other colors to paint geometric shapes. Dab the brush to get paint inside the paper cracks. Mix Crayola Texture It! Tempera Mixing Medium with some of the paint colors. Or brush it on top of painted areas—even over the entire piece. Apply several coats for different effects.

• 6.

  You can paint smaller shapes on top of larger ones after the paint is slightly dry. Leave some of the bag showing through. Add lines, dots, or any design to make your fabric style unique. Air-dry completely before you display your work.

Standards

• LA: Read and comprehend informational texts, including history/social studies, science, and technical texts, at the high end of the grade level text complexity band independently and proficiently.
• LA: Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade level topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.
• MATH: Understand that attributes belonging to a category of two-dimensional figures also belong to all subcategories of that category.
• MATH: Compare two fractions with different numerators and different denominators, e.g., by creating common denominators or numerators, or by comparing to a benchmark fraction such as 1/2.
• SS: Describe ways in which language, stories, folktales, music, and artistic creations serve as expressions of culture and influence behavior of people living in a particular culture.
• SS: Use appropriate resources, data sources, and geographic tools to generate, manipulate, and interpret information.
• VA: Select media, techniques, an processes; analyze what makes them effective or not effective in communicating ideas; and reflect upon the effectiveness of choices.
• VA: Intentionally take advantage of the qualities and characteristics of art media, techniques, and processes to enhance communication of experiences and ideas.
• VA: Use subjects, themes, and symbols that demonstrate knowledge of contexts, values, and aesthetics that communicate intended meaning in artworks.

Adaptations

• Encourage students to create several of these paintings. Lace the paintings together to create wearable clothing or accessories such as a vest or bag. When organizing a Samoan celebration, have students wear their creations and be prepared to explain the learning that went into creating the artwork.
• Students organize artwork into a display that contains background information and visual examples of traditional Samoan art.