Our last Family Day focused on the long-term exhibition “Decade of Tradition: Highlights from the Larry D. and Brenda A. Thompson Collection.”
In 2012, collectors Larry and Brenda Thompson donated many works of art by African American artists to the Georgia Museum of Art. They gave 100 works of art to match the original donation of 100 American paintings that started the museum.
The exhibition “Decade of Tradition” celebrates their gift and how they transformed the museum’s permanent collection. Traditionally, museums have not collected many works of art by artists who are Black, Indigenous or people of color. These works of art represent a new, changing tradition. This change is important because it represents everyone who lives in our society.
Joyce Wellman (American, b. 1949), “Mutual 3,5,7,” 1999. Acrylic and collage on wood. Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia; The Larry D. and Brenda A. Thompson Collection of African American Art. GMOA 2011.606.
Take a closer look at this work of art by Joyce Wellman. What do you notice? What does it look like to you?
Wellman makes art to express her feelings and inspire viewers’ emotions. This artist book is part of her “Number Book” series. This series pays tribute to Wellman’s mother, who enjoyed “playing” mathematics.
Wellman said this work of art is “about hopes and dreams . . . and that life is, as they say, a gamble, and often guided by hunches and even sleep-filled dreams.” Talk with someone you are with about what that might mean.
What would an art book about your hopes and dreams look like?
The Thompson Collection celebrates traditions, both old and new. A tradition is a custom or belief that is passed on from generation to generation. Examples of traditions are a special family handshake, how you celebrate Thanksgiving or eating pancakes on your birthday every year.
What is a tradition that is special to you? What is a new tradition you would like to start?
you’ll need the following supplies:
- two pieces of chipboard or cardboard
- two pieces of watercolor paper
- a long strip of regular paper
- glue
- paint
- paintbrush
- kraft paper or newspaper
To make an art book of traditions:
- Cover your work area with newspaper or kraft paper for easy clean-up.
- Take the long strip of paper and fold it like a zig zag. We call this an accordion fold. Each page created by the fold should be the size you want it to be in your book. You can make your book as big or small as you want it to be.
- Cut your chipboard or cardboard so it is the same size as or a little bigger than these pages.
- Spread out the accordion-folded paper so it is one long, flat rectangle.
- Cover one side of a piece of chipboard with glue and attach it to a panel on the end of the folded paper. Then do the same with the second piece of chipboard on the other end of the paper. These boards are the front and back covers of the book.
- Glue a piece of watercolor paper to each piece of chipboard to cover the front and back of the book.
- Paint the front and back of your book.
- Once it is dry, fill the panels with details about your traditions.
