Our last Family Day focused on works from our permanent collection by women. Each March, Americans celebrate National Women’s History Month. March 8 is International Women’s Day. These celebrations are a chance to recognize women’s many accomplishments throughout history.
At the museum there are lots of important works of art by women artists. These artists had to challenge and overcome sexist expectations about what women could and couldn’t do. They are wonder women.
Beverly Buchanan (American, 1940 – 2015), “Medicine Woman,” 1993. Found object assemblage, 75 × 23 3/4 × 16 1/2 inches. Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia; Gift of the estate of the artist. 2015.318.
This work of art by wonder woman Beverly Buchanan is titled “Medicine Woman.” It is part of the exhibition “Art is a Form of Freedom” on view until July 2, 2023. Take a closer look. What do you notice? A medicine woman is someone believed to have supernatural and spiritual healing powers.
Buchanan studied to become a doctor and earned master’s degrees from Columbia University in parasitology and in public health. She decided when she was 40 to focus on making art. One reason she chose to make art is because she wanted to “express the images, stories, and architecture of her African American childhood.”
Buchanan made this sculpture from found objects — things like empty bottles, buttons, wood scraps and pieces of fabric. Can you find any of these items on this sculpture?
Wonder women are all around us. They are women who overcome challenges and persevere.
You have overcome challenges and persevered, too. Everyone has superpowers that help them do hard things. What are yours?
Make a superhero mask that expresses your superpowers.
To make a superhero mask, you’ll need the following supplies
- cardstock or thick paper
- scissors
- beads, sequins, buttons
- colored paper
- markers
- glue
- kraft paper or newspaper
- ribbon, string or elastic
DIRECTIONS
- Cover your work area with newspaper or kraft paper for easy clean-up.
- Draw the outline of a superhero mask on your cardstock, then cut it out. Don’t forget eye holes.
- Draw designs on your mask with your favorite colors.
- Glue decorations on your mask that express your personality.
- Cut and glue colored paper onto your mask to make it pow, bang, pop!
- When it dries, punch a hole on each side and add ribbon, string or elastic so that you can wear it anytime the world needs a hero.
