Genoveva T. Palmieri
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@Text:For the purpose of the high school course Latin America Art and Culture that I teach at Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School in New Haven, Connecticut, I will use this curriculum to expand what is offered in the textbook I use as part of this course. The information in the text is minimal and at times not very well presented.
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The opportunity to teach, encourage and support my students who may become future artists has become a very important part of my life. Thus, teaching a course to young people aspiring to be artists is challenging and inspiring.
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Art appreciation is a special learning experience. It gives one a sense of wonderment and excitement about almost everything that surrounds us. Artists and their work represent the creativity that human beings are capable of; and, for those of us who were not given that gift, understanding and appreciating beauty its and uniqueness can be a joy.
Through my own experience I recognize that my exposure to art appreciation did not come until late in my teen years. Consequently, I want my students to recognize the importance of art not just in their lives, but the importance that art plays in cultures.
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For the purpose of this curriculum I plan to introduce students to native cultures of Mesoamerica; the influence of Mexican native culture on art, with special focus on the Maya. Of special note, how a Mexican woman artist, Frida Kahlo used the influences of the ancient civilizations in Mexico in her artistic creation in many different ways. She was able to blend most effectively those native Mexican roots with a very modern European art development, surrealism.
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Another reason why, I believe, Frida Kahlo is important is because as an artist she creates an energy, a sense of discovery, and provides an important sensitivity to art for my students. She links the ancient Mesoamerican past to the present.
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