RJ Argumedo, Rudi Monson Marvin Camras Elementary School 6 th and 8 th grade, Language Arts Where Do I Belong?

Jamie Wyeth, Kalounna in Frogtown, 1986 Oil on Masonite (36 x 50 1/8 in.) Terra Foundation for American Art,

Many Laotian refugees immigrated to the US in the early 1970’s due to their country’s civil war. The subject of the painting is an eleven-year-old Laotian refugee whose parents are the caretakers of the artist’s family farm. The boy lives on the farm and thus, the artist watched this boy grow up. The title maintains the boy’s Laotian name even though he’d assumed an American first name, Bruce.

Art reflects a person’s identify both literally and symbolically Art represents and comments on greater societal issues Identity is a byproduct of our experiences and community

Students examine the formal elements of Kalounna in Frogtown and how the artist’s choices develop the character’s point of view. Students create their own self- portraits through collage and explain how the artwork answers the question, “Where Do I Belong?” Students visit Art Institute of Chicago to study portraits and the theme of identity.

What our students learned: I learned that art is not only a simple painting or drawing because every piece has a story to tell. I learned that art expresses culture and history. Everything in an art piece has a purpose. For example, colors, lines, and shapes are carefully organized by the artist before the piece is actually made. Art has many words behind what we see and can be portrayed in many ways. I learned that American art can come in different forms and each piece has a message to give. Art reflects a person’s personality and can tell how the author felt at the time he created the piece.

“Reading” art uses the same thought processes as “reading” text, but invites more students into the conversation, regardless of reading ability Students feel more comfortable sharing differing opinions and ideas when examining art than when examining text