Friday, February 24, 2012
Adinkra Symbols
A little time in the sun, before we started our project, drawing with sidewalk chalk.
A full class!
One of my favorite sources for art projects is Adinkra. These west African symbols are meaningful and fun to draw. I ask the kids to pick 4 symbols that represent traits they admire or aspire to be.
They drew four symbols in pencil, then oil pastel, then watercolored. They also chose one of the symbols and traced it, transferred it to fun foam and cut out a stamp. We did rubbings of the stamp, on cloth.
Bill Wechter, a photographer from the North County Times newspaper, visited the class and took photos. Click here to see his photos.
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I had the kids write the African word and the meanings of each symbol on their artwork.
Adinkra surface design! (They used their stamps and oil pastels to do rubbings on cloth)
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3 comments:
Oh Jane,
I love the Adinkra symbols. Years ago I did a project with my middle schoolers they made huge banners using the symbols.
The kids' work is beautiful.
African art offers such a rich cultural exchange for kids. When I retire can I come and teach with you??????? :)
What a beautiful learning experience! If you are not busy can you come and share at my afterschool program in Dallas? kendra.pratt@gmail.com
Hi I would love to speak with you about your program! Kendra.pratt@gmail.com
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