together, during the 2021 art residency "remarkable women" we will investigate the contributions of 39 women who have made an impact on american history and who have inspired generations to pursue their dreams.
Augusta Savage American Pie
augusta Savage
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Augusta Savage was the daughter of a Methodist minister born in 1892 in Green Cove Springs, Florida. As a young child Augusta spent hours with her hands dug into local clay creating small animals and figures. Her Father disapproved of how she spent her time. She hid her clay treasures and eventually gained support of her art form and left home to study sculpture in New York.
Augusta Savage fought against both financial and racial barriers to explore art. The Great Depression brought art commissions to a stand still and Augusta began teaching. In 1934 Savage became the first African American elected to the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors (now National Association of Women Artists). She went on to become the first director of the Harlem Community Art Center in 1937 and created artwork for the New York World's Fair in 1939. In 1962 Augusta lost a battle with cancer, she left behind a legacy of artwork and is appreciated for both her sculptures and the doors that she opened for African American women in the art world. |
augusta savage was told when applying to art school
"sculpt what you know."
For this project we will do exactly that... aren't we all familar with dessert?
let's make pie!
session one of three
Note to staff:
1. Tape down a piece of wax paper to each of the drawing boards this will ease clean-up after lesson no. 2
2. The packages of The paper clay can be opened and divided into thirds. Place each of the three segments into individual plastic bags (squish out the air) and place each inside a plastic container. each Art peep will be given their own container.
3. Write the name of the artist on the tape which I put on the container lids
4. I suggest (if possible) for the artists to take off rings which are loose and may twirl their way around a finger and get clay embedded in them. Perhaps rings could be placed in a pill cup for the project and put on again after working with the clay.
video set to music of Augusta Savage at work in her studio3 minute video |
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To learn more about this artist, you may enjoy reading In Her Hands: the story of sculptor Augusta Savage
session twoedible inspiration
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