Creative Hand, Discerning Heart: Story, Symbol, Self Kate Javens: Named for Derrick Bell Looking Questions: •
•
•
•
•
•
Describe what you see in detail. How was this work of art created? What do you see that makes you say that? Do you feel this image is realistic or abstract? How does this work of art differ from a photo‐
graph of the same subject? Does this work of art appear modern, or from an‐
other period in history? Explain. Describe how the artist has used contrast in this work of art. Why do you think the artist made this image so large? Do you think the size of the painting re‐
flects how the artist feels about the subject mat‐
ter? How does her use of scale impact the image and how the viewer feels about the work? Kate Javens (b. 1959), Named for Derrick Bell, 2003, oil on theatre muslin, 100 x 147 inches. Courtesy, Marcia Wood Gallery, Atlanta, GA. About the Artwork: Kate Javens combines beautiful brushstrokes in her large scale animal paintings to create powerful images that tell a story, and to present her passions about the world. Her naturalism is character‐
ized by the dips and swirls of her brushstrokes, tiny details and marks that create luminous details. She uses a limited color palette on theater muslin, and her images take on the quality of old, over‐
sized book illustrations. Through the warmth of sepia tone, a series of glazes and attention to line and texture, she creates reference to Medieval etchings and early photographic work. Her paintings could have been made by the Old Masters, brimming with light . They could have been made by 19th Century American painters, fused with detail. They could also have been made by a camera, capturing details and a sense of realism that is unique in our preconceptions of mod‐
ern painting. Javens communicates empathy for her subject matter. She has painted moths, cows, horses, birds, rams, and fish, among other creatures. She creates animals that are named after figures in Ameri‐
can history, people who represent an altruism and social activism that she feels deserve to be com‐
memorated. She wants her animal portraits to reflect the human characteristics she honors and admires. Download a copy of these activities on Learn with the Michener: www.Learn.MichenerArtMuseum.org Kate Javens (b. 1959), Named for Derrick Bell, 2003, oil on theatre muslin, 100 x 147 inches. Courtesy, Marcia Wood Gallery, Atlanta, GA. K‐12 Activities for Your School Visit and Classroom Visual Arts Pre‐Visit Activities: •
Kate Javens’ 2011 exhibition entitled "The Wolves, the Lambs and the Rev" refers to the vision of Harlem church leaders in a neighborhood that was once called “the most dangerous block in New York City.” Her idea was to combine images that reflected the Bible passage from the Book of Isaiah, “When the wolf lies down with the lamb.” Bucks County artist Edward Hicks also created his Peaceable Kingdom series based on the message of this quote. Compare the animal images of Kate Javens with those of Edward Hicks. Discuss them in class. Create a visual display comparing the works of both artists. Look for them both when visiting the Michener. Post‐Visit Activities: •
•
•
Draw your favorite animal in a large scale portrait using sepia colored conte crayon, brown crayon, or charcoal. Try your best to incorporate detail and texture in the style of Kate Javens. Work from a Javens image, or from a photograph. Compare Kate Javens’ Named for Derrick Bell with Study of a Cow by Rosa Bonheur, Lying Cow by Vincent Van Gogh, the cows from the Cave of Altamira, and the cows painted for Ben and Jerry’s ice cream by Vermont artist Woody Jackson. How are cows represented differently by all of these artists? If you were to create an image of a cow, how would it differ? Kate Javens is inspired by the life and works of a heroic woman, the Reverend Linnette C. Williamson, (1923‐1990). The “Rev”, as Williamson came to be known, spent her life dedicated in service to the people of Harlem. The “Rev” created an event in the life of a city, changing the lives of people in desperate need and marking forever a place where something remarkable happened. How can you be an inspiration to others in your school community? Plan a class project that raises awareness about an issue that is of importance to you and your friends. Use your artistic talents to make posters and works of art to promote your efforts and strengthen your cause. Language Arts Pre‐Visit Activities: •
•
This painting of a cow is titled Named for Derrick Bell. Who is Derrick Bell? Why do you think Kate Javens depicted him in this way? Research other American heroes who inspired Kate Javens’ images. Read and memorize one of the following cow poems as you prepare for seeing Kate Javens’ giant cow at the Michener Museum: I Never Saw a Purple Cow; Cows, Remarkable Cows; and The Cow. Post‐Visit Activities: •
•
•
Kate Javens’ works are often portraits of famous Americans. Study her animal images. Do the faces she has created remind you of any people you know? Select one to write a descriptive essay about. Research artists who have used their work as a platform for social issues. Write a research paper, or create a presentation for your class to present your findings. Kate Javens’ powerful animal images are larger than life. Research authors who write about characters that are “larger than life.” How does the depiction of these literary characters compare with the artistic characters portrayed by Javens? Download a copy of these activities on Learn with the Michener: www.Learn.MichenerArtMuseum.org