Silkscreen and the WPA

This class is designed to accompany the study of US History and the Great Depression

 

Ages: 8th - 12th grade

The following topics are presented:


  1. •The purpose of  the WPA (Works Progress Administration) and FAP (Federal Art Project)

  2. •The issues presented in the posters as a dialog from the government to the American people

  3. •The messages as they reflect the era of the Depression

  4. •The technique of silkscreen

  5. •The potential messages for posters today


Art Activity:


Two stations are set up with a silkscreen, ink and paper.  Each station has a different image and ink color. Students make a paper stencil and use it to print a unique poster.

Objective:


Students learn how to silkscreen, the printmaking technique first used in a fine art application for the posters by WPA artists in 1936.  They discuss the meaning of more than 20 original WPA posters and their relevance to Depression era America.

Original WPA Silkscreen Poster with a strong graphic image and important message.Photo_Gallery/Pages/Silkscreen_and_the_WPA.html

For more information check out:


The Library of Congress WPA poster collection at

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pp/wpaposhtml/wpaposabt.html


How to Silkscreen

http://nomediakings.org/doityourself/howto_silkscreen_posters_and_shirts.html