Harlem Renaissance

We took a week off from our work with Paint.net to learn about the Harlem Renaissance. The Harlem Renaissance was an important time in American History when the African American community produced an enormous amount of art, music, performance, and literature. We discussed the movement and watched a short BrainPop video. View the video HERE. (Brainpop username is sandwichps and password is brainpop)

Then we put on some blues and jazz music and created our own Harlem Renaissance folks! We recycled lots of cardboard, paper, and yarn for our creations. The forms are not anatomically correct, but are meant to be abstractions of the human form. They are showing expression and movement through shape and facial features. The students were asked to portray someone who is historically relevant in their actions or dress. We had portrayals of real people such as Langston Hughes and Josephine Baker as well as lots and lots of original designs.  

The designs lined up nicely in the hallway to create our own Harlem Renaissance Parade!