Grete Bodøgaard Let the Weaving Begin Provided by the South Dakota Art Museum Brookings, South Dakota
South Dakota Artists Curriculum Unit Unit of Study: Grete Bodøgaard, weaver Title of Lesson Plan: Let the Weaving Begin Grade Level: 3 5
South Dakota Content Standards Fine Arts: Visual Arts Standard Two 3-4: Students will understand selected techniques which give artwork detail. Visual Arts Standard Two 5-8: Students will describe the various techniques which give artwork definition and detail.
South Dakota Content Standards Science: 3.L.1.1 4.L.2.1 5.L.2.2 5.L.3.1 Students are able to identify the basic structures, functions, and needs of a plants in relation to their environment. Students are able to identify behavioral and structural adaptations that allow a plant or animal to survive in a particular environment. Students are able to describe structures and processes involved in plant reproduction. Students are able to describe how natural events and/or human influences may help or harm ecosystems.
South Dakota Content Standards Writing: 3.W.1.2 4.W.1.3 Students can identify a topic sentence, supporting details, and a conclusion in a paragraph. Students can compose a paragraph with a topic sentence, supporting details, and a conclusion.
Assessment Strategies Class discussion Observation using VTS Create a paper weaving project Identification of leaves Use a technique of leaf printing
Learning Objectives Students will learn about South Dakota artist Grete Bodøgaard. Students will discuss observations made using VTS techniques. Students will create a paper weaving project. Students will identify different types of leaves. Students will create a leaf print using leaves and paint.
Time Required Two class periods of 30 minutes each (or could do one class period of 60 minutes). Materials/Technology Needed Image of Grete Bodøgaard s weaving: Ginko Spring Construction paper (variety of colors) Scissors Glue Leaves Poster paint (or something thick, but not watercolor)
Background Information According to the South Dakota Art Council s website, Grete Bodøgaard s specialty,...cover all stages in the spinning, dyeing with natural dyes, design and weaving of a wide range of natural fibers. She also participates in Artists in Schools & Communities program through the South Dakota Arts Council.
Lesson Description Show students the weaving of Grete Bodogaard titles, Ginko Spring. Ask students to use VTS observations to comment on this weaving. Sample questions might include: What do you see? Describe the leaves in the piece. What do you smell? What is the significance of the colors used in this weaving? What type of emotions are associated with this piece? Discuss the observations as a class (make a list on the board of the comments).
Lesson Description continued Explain that this is a weaving based on the Ginko leaf. If you are studying about classification of plant leaves, this would be a good example to use to have students classify the type of leaf this would be. Some students may know what this leaf is, have them explain what they know about the Ginko. Discuss with students about the process involved in creating a weaving project like this. They will be creating their own weaving project using paper strips. For those that are not familiar with paper weaving, there are many websites that have step-by-step directions for you to follow.
Lesson Description continued Have students create a paper weaving using one large sheet of construction paper and several strips of different colors of construction paper (strips could be cut ahead of time with a paper cutter to save time). Have students select a few leaves that you have provided or that you had students bring from home. With poster paints, have students paint their leaves and randomly place their leaves paint side down on their weaving to make a leaf print then carefully remove each leaf. Students could use a variety of leaves for their project, or each student could use just one type of leaf. You could display these paper weavings together as a class collage of weavings with leaves (like a large quilt) in the classroom or in the hallway.
Enrichment Students could research the Ginko tree. Many would be fascinated with the fact that this is the oldest living tree - dating back to the dinosaurs. Students could also research the uses of Ginko as an herbal remedy. Contact the South Dakota Arts Council about having Ms. Bodogaard come to your community to teach weaving sessions. This possibly could be done in conjunction with your town s art council or local library.
Bibliography/Resources South Dakota Art Museum Collection Grete Bodøgaard Grete Bodøgaard. South Dakota Arts Council. 2008 <http://www.artscouncil.sd.gov/aisc/visual2.aspx>. Grete Bodøgaard: Ginko Spring. South Dakota Arts Council. 2008 <http://artscouncil.sd.gov/directories/images/bodogaard2.jpg>.
Grete Bodøgaard Presentation to Students
Grete Bodøgaard http://www.artscouncil.sd.gov/aisc/visual2.aspx
Grete Bodøgaard Professional artist, tapestry weaver, and educator since 1968 Born in Bodø, Norway Immigrated to the United States in 1969 Lives in Volin, SD Tapestries created using Norwegian Tapestry Techniques that date back to 1200 AD Uses contemporary subjects in tapestries
Bibliography Grete Bodøgaard.Tapestry Works. Grete Bodøgaard Tapestry Works. n.d. <http://grete.us/about_us>. *For more information or to show students other pieces of artwork by Grete Bodøgaard, go to her website http://grete.us/ or contact the South Dakota Art Museum.
Ginko Spring http://artscouncil.sd.gov/directories/images/bodogaard2.jpg
Other Examples of Grete Bodøgaard s Artwork
Missouri River Morel Image Courtesy of the South Dakota Art Museum
When I Am on Top of the World I Can Not Fall Down http://grete.us
The Future is in My Hands http://www.sdartists.net/members/gbodogaard/gallery_one.php