Five Artists of the Mexican Revolution How were artists infuenced by the events of the Mexican Revolution?

Grades 9-12 Lesson: Five Artists of the Mexican Revolution Grade Band: 9-12 Arts Subject: Visual Arts Other Subject: Language Studies, History

SUMMARY In this 9-12 lesson, students will create original artwork demonstrating the style of an early 20th-century artist of the Mexican Revolution. They will research how art was infuenced or created in response to major events, artists, and personalities of the Mexican Revolution.

PREPARATION Learning Objectives Students will: ● Research and gather information about the Mexican Revolution, including prominent revolutionary fgures and artists. ● Analyze the style and recurring themes of Mexican artists. ● Create artwork using contemporary events and the style of one of the artists studied. ● Describe connections between how the artists were infuenced by Mexico’s history, political fgures, and infuence on original artwork.

Recommended Materials Editable Documents: Before sharing these resources with students, you must first save them to your Google account by opening them, and selecting “Make a copy” from the File menu. ● Slide: Mexican Artists ● Brief Synopsis: History of Mexico ● Inquiry Project: Mexican Revolution Leaders ● Capture Sheet: Mexican Revolution Political Figures ● Slide: Mexican Revolution Timeline ● Capture Sheet: Artist Inquiry

Websites ● TweenTribune ● Newsela ● PBS

Teacher Background Review the Brief Synopsis: History of Mexico. Note: This lesson can be adapted for the Spanish language classroom.

Lesson Connection: Five Artists of the Mexican Revolution Copyright The Kennedy Center. All rights reserved. Materials may be reproduced for educational purposes. Updated April 2021 Prerequisites Basic knowledge of the Mexican War of Independence and key vocabulary: communism, fresco, Marxism, mural, satire, surrealism, symbolism.

Accessibility Notes Modify handouts, text, and utilize assistive technologies as needed. Provide preferential seating for visual presentations and allow extra time for task completion.

INSTRUCTION Engage 1. Show students the Slide: Mexican Artists. Explain that these works of art were inspired by the Revolution.

2. Have students discuss their observations. Are there any common themes among these images? What emotions do they evoke? What messages do you think the artists were trying to convey?

Build 1. Explain the history of the Mexican Revolution, Brief Synopsis: History of Mexico.

2. Have students collaborate to research leaders of the Mexican Revolution using the Inquiry Project: Mexican Revolution Leaders handout. Assign small groups to one of the following leaders: Porfrio Díaz, Francisco Madero, Victoriano Huerta, Venustiano Carranza, Pancho Villa, or Emiliano Zapata.

3. Have groups present their research to the class. Groups should present in the order of the above list. Students should fll in information about each political fgure in the Capture Sheet: Mexican Revolution Political Figures.

4. Create a class timeline of the Mexican Revolution. Use craft paper or create the Slide: Mexican Revolution Timeline to sequence events. Each group should add images and a short biography of the fgure they research.

Apply 1. Review the Slide: Mexican Artists. State each artist’s name and title of the piece. Encourage students to reevaluate the images in light of the knowledge they have about the Revolution. Assign one artist per group. Groups should research the artist and create a piece of artwork in the style of that artist.

2. Students should choose one of the following artists and styles to create: ● Printmaker & Illustrator: José Guadalupe Posada

Lesson Connection: Five Artists of the Mexican Revolution Copyright The Kennedy Center. All rights reserved. Materials may be reproduced for educational purposes. Updated April 2021 ● Murals: Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, or David Alfaro Siqueiros ● Painting: Frida Kahlo ● Self Portrait: Incorporate a contemporary event.

3. Have student groups research artists using the Capture Sheet: Artist Inquiry. Groups will use the research to plan their artwork.

4. Create a mural, painting or illustration. Group work will incorporate the style, techniques, and/or themes of one of the artists. The artwork should represent a contemporary news event from TweenTribune, Newsela, or PBS.

Refect 1. Presentation of murals. Groups should discuss the artist’s connection to Mexico’s history, other relevant background/biographical information, the artist’s style (using printed or projected images as examples), and how they incorporated that style into their artwork. Encourage the audience to ask questions about the murals.

2. Assess students’ knowledge of artists of the Mexican Revolution by responding to the essay writing prompt: Describe the life of the artist you research and their connections to Mexican history. Explain how your artwork incorporated the style of the artist through a contemporary news event.

Credits Original Writer, Carolyn Callaghan Adaptation, Jill Gerlman Editor, JoDee Scissors Updated January 3, 2020

Lesson Connection: Five Artists of the Mexican Revolution Copyright The Kennedy Center. All rights reserved. Materials may be reproduced for educational purposes. Updated April 2021