SELF-PORTRAITS FEATURE DISTINCTIVE 2020 ELEMENT
Second graders learning about self-portraiture created projects that reflect how they see themselves and the world in 2020.
“I had them add masks this year because everyone is wearing them,” lower school art teacher Bridget Kukuk said. “We talked about drawing what we see right now, so the students understand that this is where we are in our world and our self-portraits reflect that. We only glued the mask at the nose, so you can lift the flap to see their mouth and nose.”
Ms. Kukuk and the students discussed three parts of the face that show emotion through facial expression — mouth, eyes and eyebrows.
“Now more than ever we move our eyes and eyebrows as an essential communication tool to express our feelings. We have to remember to smile with our eyes this year!” Kukuk said. After drawing their faces, students chose a piece of patterned paper for the mask or used plain white paper to design their own.
“The self-portraits provide a sense of time and place, combined with a normalizing of mask-wearing,” Director of Lower School Todd Nelson said. “They follow in the tradition of artists such as Frida Kahlo, Kehinde Wiley and Cindy Sherman in being both thought-provoking and smile-provoking.” Nelson said the artwork on display in the lower school hallway is a great example of the perseverance of Barstow's talented students and teachers.
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Some students chose to create their own patterned mask for their self-portrait.
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Some chose patterned paper for their masks.
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The addition to the traditional art project reflects how students see the world around them right now.
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Some added colorful backgrounds, as well.
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