Background Information:
Gourds have a long history in Mexico. In Mexico gourds are used mainly as containers and utensils. The ancient Maya made a variety of hand painted containers that were made from gourds. Most gourds are often highly decorated with carved designs, and are also sold in many places as sculptures. The traditional designs on gourds are of village scenes and are very complex in the design sense. The designs are usually of people, animals, houses or geometric shapes. Gourds are usually painted with oil base paints and are embellished with gold leaf.
Gourds are usually available in supermarkets, or you can plant your own seeds in the springtime and harvest your gourds in the fall. A fresh gourd, whether it is purchased from a supermarket or grown in your yard, must be dried. Gourd drying can be a problem in a damp environment because a gourd can easily turn rotten. Gourds that are dried too quickly using artificial heat can split. Gourd drying takes approximately six to eight weeks for the process to be done completely.
If gourds are not available, to you for your classroom, substitute one made of papier-mache for a real gourd.
Resources:
Art from Many Hands by Jo Miles Schuman.
Arts and Crafts of Mexico by Chloe Sayer.
Video: Frida Kahlo (VHS) 62 mins. For cultural history of Mexico.
Additional Standards Addressed:
Performance Standard 5.1
Students will reflect upon and assess the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others.
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a. Students will compare the same subject matter in various media (i.e painting, video, sculpture, photography, weaving) and describe how the medium and process influences how an object is lighted formed and symbolically represented.
Materials for Activity:
Dried Gourds
Black Crayon
Nail or Flat Linoleum tool
Procedure:
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1.
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Once gourds are dried completely, cover the gourd with black crayon.
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2.
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Polish or smooth the crayon with the thumb or fore finger to form a black glossy surface.
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3.
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The gourd must now be studied to decide what design it will have. Different gourds will suggest different things.
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4.
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Using a nail or the flat linoleum cutting tool, scrape through the crayon layer to expose the gourd underneath.
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5.
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Outline your general design and add as many details as possible. (These details can consist of geometric patterns, fish scales, etc.)
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6.
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Use the cutting tool to outline your design.
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Alternative Gourd Making:
If gourds are not available, you can make an acceptable substitute using paper mache.
Materials:
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Balloons (oval shape)
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Wheat Paste
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Newspaper (torn into strips)
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Fine sand paper
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Acrylic paints
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Brushes
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Shellac
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Pencils
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Scrap paper to practice designs
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Safety Pins (large)
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Procedure:
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Blow up balloons to desired size (oval shaped)
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2.
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Cover the balloons with five layers of paper dipped in wheat paste.
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3.
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Carefully smooth down each layer of papers and make sure that the surface has no bumps.
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4.
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When paper mache is dry, break the balloon inside using a safety pin.
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5.
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Sand the paper mache covered balloons with medium and then fine sandpaper.
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6.
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When the surface is smooth, paint the entire surface with white acrylic paint. (two coats)
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7.
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Draw a Mexican design on the gourd then paint using acrylic paint.
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8.
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Shellac.
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*Recipe for Papier Mache: (If wheat Paste is not available.)
Water
Flour
* Mix the water, flour and wheat paste together until you have a pasty substance. Throw away any remaining paste that is not used.
