American Folk Art

Art What is art?What is art? Where do you find it?Where do you find it? What is its purpose?What is its purpose? What makes something art?What makes something art?

Art is… (write words or phrases you associate with art)

Folk What does folk mean?What does folk mean? What do you associate with the word folk?What do you associate with the word folk?

Folk is… (write words or phrases you associate with folk)

Folk Art What do you think of when you hear the words folk and art together?What do you think of when you hear the words folk and art together? Based on these ideas, what might folk art be?Based on these ideas, what might folk art be? How is it a unique term?How is it a unique term?

Folk Art is… (write a definition of folk art)

Is it folk art? Why or Why not?

YES Folk art is art produced by self-taught artists (not influenced by academic art movements).Folk art is art produced by self-taught artists (not influenced by academic art movements). (Henry Darger)

YES Folk art is an expression of cultural identity and shared community values and aesthetics.Folk art is an expression of cultural identity and shared community values and aesthetics. (Floria Yancey)

YES Folk art is utilitarian: originally made for a practical rather than artistic purpose.Folk art is utilitarian: originally made for a practical rather than artistic purpose. (shoe store sign in Salzburg, Germany) (African-American rag doll)

YES Folk art is a reflection of traditional art forms: ethnic, tribal, religious, occupational, geographical. Folk art is a reflection of traditional art forms: ethnic, tribal, religious, occupational, geographical.

YES Folk art uses symbols that reveal cultural norms and trends.Folk art uses symbols that reveal cultural norms and trends. (Maria Alquilar)

Folk Art is… Diverse and not easily defined.Diverse and not easily defined. Created with diverse media: cloth, wood, paper, metal.Created with diverse media: cloth, wood, paper, metal.

Characteristics of Folk Art Collaboration & Community: made collaboratively or for purpose of expressing culture of a community (Ex. quilts, Shaker rugs).Collaboration & Community: made collaboratively or for purpose of expressing culture of a community (Ex. quilts, Shaker rugs). Individuality: some artists aware of audience, some recognized in lifetime, some work for self-expression.Individuality: some artists aware of audience, some recognized in lifetime, some work for self-expression.

Characteristics (cont.)… Utility: unique, beautiful, functional.Utility: unique, beautiful, functional. Symbolism: consistent use of symbols that reveal cultural norms and trends.Symbolism: consistent use of symbols that reveal cultural norms and trends. Traditional or contemporary: transcends different time periods (1700s; relatable)Traditional or contemporary: transcends different time periods (1700s; relatable) Documentary: records information, tells stories, conveys ideas (individual, family, community).Documentary: records information, tells stories, conveys ideas (individual, family, community). Unidentified: artists are often unnamed.Unidentified: artists are often unnamed.

Antique Art Traditional art collected today for its artistic merit; not originally intended as art for art’s sake.Traditional art collected today for its artistic merit; not originally intended as art for art’s sake. Includes: weathervanes, old store signs and carved figures, carousel horses, fire buckets, painted game boards, and cast iron doorstoppers.Includes: weathervanes, old store signs and carved figures, carousel horses, fire buckets, painted game boards, and cast iron doorstoppers.

Tribal Art Term used to describe art of “indigenous” peoples of primitive cultures, including Africa, New World or Americas, and Oceania.Term used to describe art of “indigenous” peoples of primitive cultures, including Africa, New World or Americas, and Oceania. Folk art containing ritual/religious significance pertaining to the custom of a particular culture.Folk art containing ritual/religious significance pertaining to the custom of a particular culture. Typically originates in rural areas in small isolated populations with lack of written language.Typically originates in rural areas in small isolated populations with lack of written language.

Naïve Art Art characterized by a childlike simplicity in its subject matter and technique.Art characterized by a childlike simplicity in its subject matter and technique. Difficulty with perspective that creates charming effect, use of pattern, unrefined color.Difficulty with perspective that creates charming effect, use of pattern, unrefined color.

Outsider Art Art created outside the boundaries of official culture.Art created outside the boundaries of official culture. Coined by art critic Roger Cardinal in 1972; synonym for Art Brut.Coined by art critic Roger Cardinal in 1972; synonym for Art Brut. Characteristics: convey extreme mental states, unconventional worlds, and elaborate fantasy worlds.Characteristics: convey extreme mental states, unconventional worlds, and elaborate fantasy worlds.

Folk Art Portraits & Paintings Created by untrained artists.Created by untrained artists. Proportions and perspective are unrealistic.Proportions and perspective are unrealistic. Portraits represent importance of family; status.Portraits represent importance of family; status.

Portrait Symbols Wealth: Lace, exotic animals, fruit (fruitful future), hands and feet.Wealth: Lace, exotic animals, fruit (fruitful future), hands and feet. Education: books.Education: books.

Symbols (cont.) Death: black collar, black brooch, holding a brooch, geraniums, wilted flowers, black clouds, ship departing.Death: black collar, black brooch, holding a brooch, geraniums, wilted flowers, black clouds, ship departing. Protection from bad spirits: sea coral.Protection from bad spirits: sea coral.

Symbols (cont.) Innocence & beauty: flowers.Innocence & beauty: flowers. Married: covered shoulders, bonnet.Married: covered shoulders, bonnet. Unmarried: uncovered shoulders.Unmarried: uncovered shoulders.

Age & Gender Boys under 5 years old wore dresses.Boys under 5 years old wore dresses. Girls: jewelry, dolls, flowers.Girls: jewelry, dolls, flowers. Boys: dogs, tools of trade boys will become, masculine items (bugle, weapon, etc.).Boys: dogs, tools of trade boys will become, masculine items (bugle, weapon, etc.).

Practice… Identify the symbols presented in the portrait.Identify the symbols presented in the portrait. What conclusions can be drawn about the subject?What conclusions can be drawn about the subject?