In honor of Black History Month, we’re sharing two activities inspired by the art of Alma Woodsey Thomas. Activity 1 encourages a walk in search of flowers, then becomes a matching game to create art. Activity 2 encourages a trip via Google Earth to look at the world from a distance, then becomes an activity to turn the world from afar into a paper “painting.”
Rhythm is defined as a strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound. Alma Thomas saw rhythm in nature. Let’s think about what that means!
Clapping is a repeated pattern of movement and sound. Together with your child, clap to the rhythm of a favorite song. Now, take a look at Thomas’s painting Iris, Tulips, Jonquils, and Crocuses. As you follow the vertical lines in the painting, try clapping for each “dot” of color, and then try singing a note for each “dot” that isn’t dark blue. Do we find rhythm in this painting? Does this painting sing a song?
Early springtime is approaching! Bright flowers are popping up and trees are just beginning to blossom. Let’s look outside for rhythm in the colorful patterns of nature. Then, we’ll create paper art inspired by the work of Alma Woodsey Thomas. (Check out more of her art here.)
Alma Thomas also painted the world as if she were seeing it from an airplane. An example of this is her painting Light Blue Nursery. This activity allows for more creative freedom, and it’s aimed at children who’re ready to map color placement from a picture onto a blank piece of paper. It can also be done using washable paint (instead of construction paper pieces).
Alma Thomas is famous for her abstract paintings which drew inspiration from the natural world. She often painted plants, landscapes, and flowers. She painted scenes from close up (as if she were looking at something right in front of her) and from far away (as if she were seeing it from an airplane). The image on the right is Alma Thomas’s Air View Of A Spring Nursery, 1966 (courtesy of the Columbus Museum). It’s the painting that inspired our second activity above.
Alma Thomas was born in Columbus, Georgia. Her sister gifted the Columbus Museum with objects from their family home. Check out the Virtual Museum for Kids – Alma Thomas’ Family History. These objects give people a look into parts of her life, including having a family member who was a slave.
Alma Thomas’s painting, Resurrection, was the first painting by an African American woman to become part of the White House art collection! The Obamas gave this painting a place of honor in the White House Old Family Dining Room.
