Panchyk, Richard. American folk art for kids; with 21 activities.PANCHYK, Richard. American folk art folk art, the art works of a culturally homogeneous people produced by artists without formal training. The forms of such works are generally developed into a tradition that is either cut off from or tenuously connected to the contemporary cultural mainstream. for kids; with 21 activities. Chicago Review Press, dist. by Independent Publishers Group. 118p. illus. bibliog. index. c2004. 1-55652-499-4. $16.95. JS In his introduction, the author states, "Folk art is all about taking something ordinary and making it extraordinary." In an accessible and friendly manner, he goes on to explain the origins of folk art from the cave paintings Cave or Rock Paintings are paintings on cave or rock walls and ceilings, usually dating to prehistoric times. The earliest known rock paintings are dated to the Upper Paleolithic, 40,000 years ago, while the earliest European cave paintings date to 32,000 years ago. of the Ice Age through the rise of great civilizations and on into modern times. The book focuses on American folk art, starting with Native Americans and continuing with the influence of immigrants from Europe, Africa, and Asia. This interesting history lesson includes commentary on the first folk art exhibition in this country in 1924, the importance of the WPA WPA: see Work Projects Administration. WPA in full Works Progress Administration later (1939–43) Work Projects Administration U.S. work program for the unemployed. program, and Grandma Moses Grandma Moses: see Moses, Grandma. , whom the author calls the "first true living folk art celebrity." The sections that follow focus on such diverse media as painting, drawing, reverse painting on glass Reverse painting on glass is an art form consisting of applying paint to a piece of glass and then viewing the image by turning the glass over and looking through the glass at the image. This art form has been around for many years. , decorative arts decorative arts, term referring to a variety of applied visual arts, both two- and three-dimensional, including textiles, metalwork, ceramics, books, and woodwork, as well as to certain aspects of architecture (see ornament), public buildings, and private houses (see , textile arts, wood and ivory carvings, and commercial design and advertising. Each section includes an informative history and discussion of techniques as well as full-color illustrations of superb examples of artwork created by American folk artists. Quilts, dolls, gravestones, whirligigs, spoons, toys, paintings, and boxes are a few of the treasures that are illustrated and discussed. Each section also includes activities that are easily accomplished and promise lots of fun while offering hands on experience with the subject matter. Creating stencils, paper cutouts, cross-stitch samples, soap scrimshaws, checkerboards, memory boxes, and gum-wrapper chains are just the kind of projects that will keep students of all ages occupied and engaged. Numerous sidebars focus on individual artists and add to the value of the book, as do the accompanying glossary and listing of folk art museums. This book will be enjoyed by students of all ages interested in art, craft, and history, and will be useful to art teachers as well. Rhonda Cooper, Dir., Univ. Art Gallery, Stony Brook Stony Brook may refer to: Massachusetts:
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