Postcards of Iowa | Teaching Iowa History

General Information
Grade	Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade	Class		Length of Lesson	Approximately 3 - 4 (40 - minute sessions)

Lesson Title	Postcards of Iowa
Unit Title	Individual and Collective Representations: Virginia Myers
Unit Compelling Question	What does representation mean? Where do people represent themselves and groups? Who requires representation in society? Why does representation matter? When does representation change in society? How can representation be communicated to others?
Historical Context: WHO: Virginia Myers WHEN: 1927-2015 WHAT: American Printmaker FAMOUS FOR: Expert artist, scholar, professor, and inventor of Iowa Foil Printer. IN HER OWN WORDS: "The real test, if you're a creative person, is that you do it not just when you're feeling good. Anybody can be creative when they're feeling good." ARTIST'S HISTORY: Myers was born in Indiana and raised in Cleveland, OH. Her mother often took her to The Cleveland Museum of Art and her father was a university professor. Always interested in art, Myers attended George Washington University for undergraduate studies and then The California College of Arts and Crafts in California for graduate school. She came to Iowa City without much but the clothes on her back in 1955, to study printmaking with Mauricio Lasansky. After a Fulbright Scholarship from 1961-62, Myers returned to The University of Iowa and taught printmaking courses for over 40 years. Throughout her career, she not only made her own artworks but also helped establish the illustrious printmaking department at the University of Iowa and the one-of-a-kind Iowa Foil Printer. IOWA CONNECTIONS: Upon moving to Iowa in 1955, Myers considered Iowa her home and the landscape inspiration for art making. She spent decades teaching students at the University of Iowa and influenced the establishment of the world-renowned printmaking department along with artist and mentor, Mauricio Lasansky. In the late 1980s, Myers invented a new art form, foil stamping, which made use of the commercial foil stamping process. With it, she created and patented a new artistic tool, the Iowa Foil Printer, which is used today in printmaking studios worldwide. ARTIST'S WORK: Deeply influenced by nature, personal relationships, and the medium of printmaking, Myers specialized in intaglio printmaking processes and incorporating novel processes, like foil stamping. An expert illustrator, she was passionate about combining natural elements with supernatural visual components. Her work requires a close, detailed looking as she sought to encourage viewers to slow down and be curious. ARTIST'S WORLD: Throughout Myer's career, and even into the early 2000s university-level printmaking courses, let alone departments, were seldom influenced or led by women. Myers also went against the grain of what was expected of women as she candidly chose to remain single and put her focus on her work and students instead of family life. She also witnessed the fast-paced changes in technology and advancement which she both embraced as an inventor and resisted as she emphasized the critical skill of drawing and drafting with her students.
Lesson Supporting Question
Lesson Overview	Students will learn about the life and influence of artist Virginia Myers, who was an artist, printmaker, and inventor in Iowa. Using Myers’ artwork, To Iowa and Molly Brooks, 1959, as inspiration, students will discuss and imagine and depict what Iowa looks like to them. Students will then create their own printed postcard of Iowa to send to their future adult selves using print foam, paper, and water-based ink. Finally, students will write on the back of their print/postcard a note/letter to their future, adult selves that describe their chosen image and how they created it.
Primary Sources Used	2022.003.007
Resources Needed	Other Notable Artworks: Alone, 1959 A Time of Malfeasance No. 1, 1974 A Codex of Our Times, 2014 Online Resources (Used at Instructor's Discretion) FIRST-PERSON NARRATIVE: Virginia Myers VIDEO: Learn about the Iowa Foil Printer & the hot stamped foil print making process VIDEO: Hot Foil Printing - How It Works VIDEO: Intro to Printmaking VIDEO: How to do Foam Printmaking VIDEO: Postcards from Route 20: Iowa's Unique Sights (Extended) Materials: Access to internet Print/Copy/On Screen image of artwork To Iowa and Molly Brooks, 1959 Pencils Ball-point pens Water-based printmaking ink Brayers (Rollers) Paper cut in postcard (4”x6”) size Print foam cut in postcard (4”x6”) size Full sheet foil sticker paper (optional)
Standard	SS.K.1: Compelling Questions SS.K.3: Responses to questions SS.K.19: History SS.1.1: Compelling Questions SS.1.4: Conclusions SS.1.23: History (Cultural Makeup) SS.2.1: Compelling questions SS.2.4: Conclusions SS.2.24: History (Natural Resources) SS.3.1: Compelling question SS.3.5: Conclusions SS.3.27: History (Immigration and Migration) SS.4.1: Compelling questions SS.4.4: Conclusions SS.4.25: History (Technological Change) SS.4.26: History (Changes to Agriculture) SS.5.1: Compelling Question SS.5.5: Conclusions
Lesson Target	Students will analyze and discuss the artwork and life of artist Virginia Myers and her connections to The University of Iowa in Iowa City.;Students will create their own printed postcard of Iowa to write messages and send to their future adult selves.
Lesson Themes	Innovators, Women's Experience, Visual Arts, Cities, Towns, Rural Life, Suburbs, Environments

Lesson Procedure

Step	Procedure	Resources
Pre-Learning Looking	Show artwork To Iowa and Molly Brooks, 1959. Using the compelling questions as a guide, discuss the artwork.	Print/Copy of To Iowa and Molly Brooks, 1959.
Introduction of Virginia Myers & Iowa Connections	Introduce the work and life of Virginia Myers. Discuss how To Iowa and Molly Brooks, 1959 is an etching, a special kind of artistic copy, a print, of an artwork.	Historical Context and other resources desired (videos, podcasts).
Iowa Brainstorm	Using To Iowa and Molly Brooks, 1959 as inspiration, brainstorm a list of images or items associated with the state of Iowa and individual cities. Work individually, in small groups, or in a large group. Consider finding city-specific resources (videos and books) from the local library as references.	Historical Context and other resources desired (videos, podcasts).
Iowa Images	Based on the brainstorming and lists of ideas, draw Iowa images onto the print foam using a pencil or ballpoint pen. Remember that text needs to be written in reverse to print correctly.	Print foam, ball-point pens, pencils.
Print Images	Once drawings are complete, roll ink onto the surface of the foam, place a postcard-sized piece of paper, and print the image by pressing ink from the foam onto the paper. Print as many copies as time and materials allow. Dry prints. *Optional: If using foil sticker paper, cut and add foil shapes either before printing or after prints are dry.	Brayers, paper, ink, foil shapes (optional).
Write Postcard Messages	Once prints are dry, depending on grade level, write a message to their adult selves about the artwork. Consider showing a complete example.	Completed prints, and writing utensils.

Assessment
Formative Assessment (How will you use the formative assessments to monitor and inform instruction?)	Discussion and Iowa image brainstorm lists.
Summative Assessment (How does the lesson connect to planned summative assessment(s)?)	Completed postcard print of Iowa image and written description and message on the back.

Author Information
Author	Megan Dehner	Created	09/27/2023 - 17:01	Last Edited	03/23/2024 - 08:53
Reviewer: Teaching Iowa History Team
Lesson Plan Development Notes: Summer Fellowship 2022

Artwork

2022.003.007 [Artwork]