Seeing Societal Silhouettes

General Information
Grade 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade Class Length of Lesson Approximately 3 - 4 (40-minute sessions)
Lesson Title Seeing Societal Silhouettes
Unit Title Exploring Displacement: Ana Mendieta
Unit Compelling Question

What is displacement?
What does displacement feel like?
Who or what experiences displacement?
Where does displacement happen?
When does displacement occur?
How can displacement affect other aspects of life?

Historical Context:

WHO: Ana Mendieta

WHEN: 1948 - 1985

WHAT: Cuban-American Performance and Interdisciplinary Artist

FAMOUS FOR: Best known for her "earth-body" artwork and expressions of identity politics and feminism.

IN HER OWN WORDS:
"Art is a material act of culture, but its greatest value is its spiritual role, and that influences society, because it's the greatest contribution to the intellectual and moral development of humanity that can be made."

ARTIST'S HISTORY:
Mendieta was born in Havana, Cuba to a wealthy and politically influential family. At the age of 12, she was sent to the U.S. with her sister under the anti-communist effort of Operation Peter Pan where she was placed in an orphanage in Dubuque, Iowa. In 1966, she began undergraduate studies at the University of Iowa. Later, she enrolled in the university's progressive MFA Intermedia Program founded by Hans Breder and graduated in 1978. After that, Mendieta was exhibiting internationally and moved to New York City. Her powerful, prolific career was cut short by her tragic and allegedly accidental, violent death in 1985.

IOWA CONNECTIONS:
Other than New York, Mendieta's experience in the U.S. was defined by her youth and education in Iowa. She spent her formative and exploratory art making years in and around Iowa City where she experimented with her first performances and societal critiques. She also taught elementary art with Iowa City Public Schools for a brief time while she was a graduate student. Despite her short career, Mendieta's influence and inspiration endure in the works of artists worldwide today. As a testament to her legacy, a gallery in the Visual Arts Building at the School of Art and Art History at UIowa permanently bears her name.

ARTIST'S WORK:
Reflections on displacement, feminism, violence, and nature appear in Mendieta's artworks which include video, in-person performances, photographs, and sculptures. One of her most well-known works, Untitled (Siluetas Series), 1976, was a series of photographs of female silhouettes in nature-in mud, sand, and grass-with natural materials ranging from leaves and twigs to blood, and making body prints or painting her outline or silhouette onto a wall. In the examination of her work one is confronted with their own spiritual, temporary, and physical connections to themselves, the earth, and others.

ARTIST'S WORLD:
Mendieta came of age in what is known as the "second wave" of feminism that focused on women's equal rights in politics, work, family, and sexuality. She was considered a pioneer in performance art which, at the time, was dominated by men. She also bore witness to the displacement and trauma of separation from Cuba that many of the children experienced under the program Operation Peter Pan.

Lesson Supporting Question
Lesson Overview

Students will learn about the life and influence of artist Ana Mendieta, a prolific interdisciplinary artist who lived and attended school in Iowa. Using Untitled, from "Silueta Series, Mexico", 1976, as inspiration, students will work in pairs and create silhouettes of each other by outlining each other's bodies using tape in approved areas around the school or community. Students will then take a picture of the silhouetted/outlined form as the final artwork. Finally, students will write an artist statement reflecting on the process and the final photo of the project.

Primary Sources Used
Artwork 2022.003.001
Resources Needed

*Please be advised, many of Mendieta’s works are graphic, reference violence, and contain nudity. Curate accordingly. Other Notable Artworks: Untitled (Facial Hair Transplant), 1972 Untitled (Glass on Body Imprints – Face), 1972 Body Tracks, 1982 Online Resources (Used at Instructor's Discretion): ARTICLE: Ana Mendieta CUBAN-AMERICAN PERFORMANCE ARTIST, SCULPTOR, PAINTER, PHOTOGRAPHER AND VIDEO ARTIST VIDEO: Operation Pedro Pan: Our Parents' Decision VIDEO: Journey to Exile: Operation Peter Pan VIDEO: Operation Pedro Pan - The Largest Recorded Exodus of Unaccompanied Minors in the Western Hemisphere VIDEO: Ana Mendieta: Covered in Time and History - World Tour Materials: Access to internet  Print/Copy/On Screen image of artwork Untitled, from "Silueta Series, Mexico", 1976 Masking or blue painting tape Scissors Photo-taking device      


Standard
Lesson Target

Students will analyze and discuss the artwork and life of artist Ana Mendieta and her connections to the state of Iowa and The University of Iowa.;Students will work in pairs to create outlines/silhouettes made of tape in approved areas of the school or community. ;Students will take photos of the outlined silhouettes as the final artwork and complete an artist statement.

Lesson Themes Immigrants, Women's Experience, Visual Arts
Lesson Procedure
StepProcedureResources
Pre-Learning Looking Show artwork  Untitled, from "Silueta Series, Mexico", 1976. Using the compelling questions as a guide, discuss the artwork. Print/Copy of Untitled, from "Silueta Series, Mexico", 1976.
Introduction of Ana Mendieta & Iowa Connections

Introduce the work and life of Ana Mendieta. Discuss how Untitled, from "Silueta Series, Mexico", 1976  is a photograph of the artwork and part of a larger performance series.


 

Historical Context and other resources desired (videos, articles).
 Divide In PairsDivide into pairs and determine areas of the school and/or community where the tape outlines of human forms would be appropriate.Tape, photo-taking device.
Outline Forms and DocumentUsing tape, take turns outlining peers in places and positions that provoke inquiry. Once complete, take a picture of the outlined form to display with other peers and for reflection.Tape, photo-taking device.
Artist Statement & ReflectionReflect on the process of the completed photos and messaging of the human form.Writing device.
Assessment
Formative Assessment
(How will you use the formative assessments to monitor and inform instruction?)

Discussion and pairs working to create human outlines/silhouettes.

Summative Assessment
(How does the lesson connect to planned summative assessment(s)?)

Completed artist statements and photographs.

Author Information
Author Megan Dehner Created Last Edited
Reviewer: Teaching Iowa History Team
Lesson Plan Development Notes: Summer Fellowship 2022