James Córdova
James Córdova is one of four artists who participated in Cuatro [4]: A series of artist interactions. Each of the four artists brought our pre-Columbian and Spanish Colonial art collections to life through their own artistic practice. James used his practice as a santero, an artist who creates images of saints, to activate the collections and help us see the collections in a new way.
And they just spoke to me. It was a visual language that spoke to me. It didn’t just speak to me, it spoke to the artists who made them. It spoke to a lot of locals who were there to admire and purchase the art. I could see that it was a language that a lot of people could speak and made sense to them. And I knew I was part of that group. In other words, it made me feel like part of a community, a cultural community.
— James Córdova
Guiding Questions:
- How could you use group time to brainstorm different communities the children feel a part of?
- Examples: school community, family community, sports communities, etc.
- What is an object that would represent one of their communities? If that object could speak, what would it say?
- What are ways that you “belong” to your community?
TIP: Have a variety of items that could represent a “community”. These items could help prompt ideas and conversation.
Related Creative Activities
Storytelling Through Art
Home and Identity
The Magic of Discovery
A Walk in Nature
It’s a Wrap!
Students will explore the symbols and colors on the Osage blanket and will experience how different types of clothing and materials influence movement of the human body. Students will also create a class blanket displaying symbols that are important to them.
What Does Mud Have to Do With It?
Students learn about using common materials from the earth to create art. After spending time examining the materials used by Roxanne Swentzell and learning about her process and intent for Mud Woman Rolls On, students experiment with dirt, sand, water, and straw to gain a real world experience using materials like those used by the artist.
