Genoveva T. Palmieri
1.INTRODUCTION OF FRIDA KAHLO AND HER ART
2.REVIEW OF SURREALISM AND WHAT IT MEANS
3.PRESENTATION OF PAINTINGS - DISCUSSION OF UNIQUE FEATURES OF FRIDA KAHLO'S TECHNIQUES AND THE WAY SHE USED NATIVE MEXICAN CULTURE IN HER WORK.
4.FRIDA KAHLO'S PAINTING HOLDING DIEGO RIVERA IN HER LAP WILL BE PRESENTED. IN THIS EXERCISE THE CLASS WILL READ AND DISCUSS A SHORT ESSAY WRITTEN BY AUTHOR OF THIS CURRICULUM, AS A WRITING PIECE AT A YALE WORKSHOP. AUTHOR CHOSE THIS PAINTING AND WROTE THE FOLLOWING:
OFFICIAL NAME OF PAINTING:
The Love Embrace of the Universe
"My world is one of fantasy. In the dark side I can feel the cold night which makes the cactus and its spikes pierce my skin as I walk along. It is a reminder that I am alive. Suffering has been my companion and black death is always at my back reminding me that it has granted me some type of life. Barren of children, my intense feelings of love have turned to nature, giving me roots that keep trying to reach the ground, and what feeds them is my tenacity to cling to the world.
My feelings have found a man that I hold in my arms, with the help of my friend black death. She is stronger than me, and her embrace keeps him on my lap like a child. Below him is an ugly dog that is a symbol of ugliness and distrust.
In the light and dreamy side of my painting I live in the clouds. My red fire ball reminds me of anger and furies, the place to create in the sky. The green and white feels like the meadows where I cannot walk but only dream of.
Black and green that is how my life feels. Completely surrounding my world of plants, of love, of suffering, helping me to carry my burden, making my universe complete.
5.STUDENTS WILL CHOOSE A PAINTING. BASED ON THE ABOVE EXAMPLE AND AFTER A DISCUSSION, STUDENTS WILL WRITE THEIR OBSERVATIONS, IDEAS AND FEELINGS ABOUT IT.