Lesson
Background Information
Islamic Calligraphy: Materials and Tools
In addition to giving artistic instruction on the art of writing, a teacher of Islamic calligraphy trained a student in how to prepare and use a multitude of materials and tools.
Activity
Make a Salt-Dough Diya Lamp
Activity
Make Your Own Seal Script Stamp
Make your own seal script stamp and use it to “sign” a decorated postcard.
Background Information
How to Read a Woodblock Print
Learn how to read a woodblock print.
Activity
Pacita Abad: Mixed-Media Paintings
Create a colorful, mixed media painting inspired by artist Pacita Abad.
Activity
Decorate and Fold a Paper Fan
In Korea, paper fans are used in a traditional dance called buchaechum, which is often performed by groups of female dancers wearing colored hanboks (Korean traditional dress). Through dance choreography and movement, the fans express the beauty of nature by creating impressions of flowers, butterflies, and water.
Activity
Harvest Prints
Make your own harvest print to celebrate the onset of autumn and the harvest bounty.
Activity
Create a Personal Murakkaalar
Students create a murakkaalar (calligraphy album) of their name and adjectives that describe their personality written in Arabic. They will make a calligraphy reed and learn to write with it. A kit’alar is a calligraphic work written on a rectangular piece of paper pasted onto a cardboard backing. Equal margins are left around the calligraphy in which the artist decorates with marbled paper (ebru) or illumination. A murrakkalar is a series of kit’alar attached together in an album that resembles an accordion.
Background Information
Buddhist Caves at Ajanta
Learn about Buddhist caves. This is one of a series of caves excavated out of the volcanic rock that extends along a cliff overlooking the Wagora River at Ajanta, about two hours north of the present-day city of Aurangabad, in Maharastra state in western India.