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Hero Dogs

George Rodrigue's art will be the basis of an original artwork as students represent community heroes in the style of his famous "Blue Dog."

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

Steps

  • Step 1

    George Rodrigue (1944-2013) was an American artist from Louisiana best known for his Blue Dog series of paintings. Have students learn about the origin of the blue dog image. How did Rodrigue come to paint it? Who is the original blue dog? What is the Cajun/French legend of the "loup-garou," the crazy werewolf dog that lurked in the bayous? Have students look at images of some of Rodrigue's Blue Dog paintings.

  • Step 2

    People who view Rodrigue's Blue Dog paintings say the dog seems to talk to them with its eyes, always saying something different. Since Rodrigue was so philanthropic and community oriented, it would honor his legacy to have students create a drawing where their blue dog is portraying a community hero such as a firefighter, health worker, teacher, soup kitchen volunteer, or someone else.

  • Step 3

    Ask students to present their work and discuss the hero the blue dog portrays. What would the eyes tell us? What would they want us to know?

Standards

ARTS: Speculate about processes an artist uses to create a work of art.

ARTS: Analyze multiple ways that images and performances can influence specific audiences.

Adaptations

George Rodrigue was Cajun (also known as Acadian), a Louisiana French ethnicity, and he depicted Cajun life in much of his art. Have students learn about this group of people who were forced to flee their home in Nova Scotia in 1755. What was "Le Grand Dérangement"? What language is spoken by Cajun people? What are some traditional foods? What musical style is associated with the group?

George Rodrigue has said of his blue dog works that "people look at the paintings, and the paintings speak back to them." Have students discuss what they think he meant by this. How can a painting "speak"? Why might several people have different interpretations of the same image?

Ask students to research the Rodrigue Foundation and how it supports arts education in Louisiana. Even after his death, his passion for students learning about and through art is helping the community.