Beasts that care for human DDreams

Aims:

1- Knowing what an alebrije is: origins, implementation process, materials, as well as cultural, economic and ecological impact on the area.

2- Assess popular creation in the same way we assess the art in Art Galleries.

3- Develop creativity through the development of fantastic animals without making preliminary sketches. Let’s go or “leave me alone” with the dictates of the material and the artist's imagination.

4-Understanding the creative process in three dimensions.

5- Understand how visual textures complement the three-dimensional design.

6- Promote the use of ICT to search for visual information and facilitate the development of the exercise.

7-Motivate and encourage students to create their own alebrije.

Subject: Arts and Crafts

Preparation:

1- Ask students about what they know about alebrijes. Make questions like:

Have you ever seen an alebrije?

What do you know about alebrijes?

Do you know where alebrijes are from?

Can you tell me something about Pedro Linares?

When did Pedro Linares create his first alebrije? Do you know what happened to him to create alebrijes?

2. See examples of alebrijes as below or click to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUs0Y5yKpno&feature=related

3. Ask your students to read the following text:

Alebrijes are brightly coloured Mexican folk art sculptures of fantastical creatures. The first alebrijes, along with use of the term, originated with Pedro Linares. In the 1936, when he was 30 years old, Linares fell ill with a high fever, which caused him to hallucinate. In these feverish dreams, he was in a forest with rocks and clouds, many of which turned into wild, unnaturally coloured creatures, which frequently features wings, horns, tails, fierce teeth and bulgy eyes. While seeing the creatures, he heard a crowd of voices which repeated the nonsensical word “alebrije.” After he recovered, he began to create the creatures he saw using papier-mâché and cardboard. His work caught the attention of a gallery owner in Cuernavaca and later, the artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. Linares was originally from México City (DF), he was born June 29th, 1906 in México City and never moved out of México City, he died January 25th, 1992.

The Oaxaca valley area already had a history of carving animal and other types of figures from wood, and Linares’ designs were adapted to the carving of a local wood called copal. The success of the craft, however, has led to the depletion of the native copal trees. Attempts to remedy this, with reforestation efforts and management of wild copal trees has only had limited success.

4. To be sure they have understood the text,…

… ask them to answer true or false into the violet rectangle.

A) Is it true or false? Write the answer in the violet rectangle following the example below.

… ask them to answer the terms below in their own words…(Key words).

B) Can you explain the terms below in your own words?

Pedro Linares heard a crowd of voices which repeated the nonsensical word “alebrije.”

True

After he recovered, he began to create the creatures he saw using steel and cardboard.

Pedro Linares heard a crowd of voices which repeated the nonsensical word “alebrije.”

Linares’ designs were adapted to the carving of a local wood called hazel.

The idea of making an Alebrije became when Pedro Linares fell ill with a high fever, which caused him to hallucinate.

The Oaxaca’s history of carving animal started after Linares’ dream.

His work caught the attention of a gallery owner in Cuernavaca and later, the artists Siqueiros y and Rufino Tamayo.

The brightly coloured Mexican folk art sculptures of fantastical creatures which frequently features wings, horns, tails, fierce teeth and bulgy eyes.

Linares was originally from México City (DF) but when he became famous he was travelling all over the world.

- Sculptures of fantastical creatures

- Craft

- Artisans

- Cardboard and papier mache

- Carving process

- Copal wood

- Oaxaca (which in nahuatl language means “at the top of the gourd”)

- Nahuatl

5. To be sure they have shown several models of alebrijes, ask them to copy and paste five images from different artists:

Copy and paste five images of alebrijes from five different artists. Do not forget to write the title of the sculpture and the name of the author.

6. To ensure they are aware of the visual elements (Dots, lines, planes, textures, colours, etc….) on alebrijes ….

By using dots, lines, colours and planes, try to make different visual textures into the rectangles below and chose the one you like the most to create your own alebrije.

7. And now, why don’t you try your own alebrije?

For further information:

Watch those videos!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikfHONm9Nwk

Nahualt:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF4Yf9XyVkM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDYc8pXzyDI&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzenSGD8co0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6r3HoQW8zY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1ckhkEBmpc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBpCpsiNFY4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYCBaR8ZZl4&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5ttJU_kTgI&feature=related

Today's extra question/exercise:

Debate with your classmate sitting next to you the three main reasons why you like or dislike the artworks shown below. Write down your three main arguments at the end of the sheet.

1. First argument:

2. Second argument:

3. Third argument: