Overview
On August 26, we remember as Women’s Equality Day, the day that the U.S. adopted the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, giving women the right to vote. All three of these artworks from the museum’s collection deal with women’s suffrage. Yvonne’s Wells’ Helen Keller is a quilted portrait of Helen Keller, a famous Alabamian woman while being deaf and blind became a famous writer and political activist for disability and women’s rights. Anne Goldthwaite was a Montgomery-born artist who worked with the French Impressionists and was also working with the suffragettes to gain the right to vote. Marisol’s Women’s Equality is a portrait of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were the two main figureheads of the women’s suffrage movement in the 1920s which would end with the adoption of the 19th Amendment.
Material Suggestions
- Several sheets of construction paper (depends on how many dolls you want to make,) lighter the color of the paper the better
- Tempera paint, the colors do not matter just get whatever you would like
- Paintbrush
- A pair of scissors
- A piece of string, yarn, or ribbon
- A plate for painting
- A water cup for paint
- Whatever decorative materials you like (examples: feathers, gems, etc.)
- Paper towels
- A hole puncher (not necessary)
Steps
1. First figure out around three to five (there is really not a limit) women who are important in your life you want to celebrate.
2. Then you will choose the color of paint for her outfit then paint your hand and stick it on the paper and do touchups with a paintbrush as needed.
3. Then you will choose the color that is closest to her skin-tone and dip your thumb and create a head at the top of where you previously stuck your hand.
4. Once her head and body are dry, then paint on some hair for your doll and add on facial features and decorate her outfit however you like!
5. You will need to repeat these steps for however many dolls you are planning to make
6. Once all of your dolls are done, hole punch each doll around where the thumb and pinky are (you can use scissors if you do not have a hole puncher.)
7. When they are all ready, get your piece of string, yarn, ribbon, etc., and string all of your dolls together where they can all be holding hands and standing together!
Conculsion
We love seeing your creations! If you would like us to share your work on the Museum’s website and social media outlets, please email images of your finished works of art to education@mmfa.org.
Make sure to include the following information in the email: the name and age of the artist, the title for your word art, the title of the original artwork from the MMFA’s collection that inspired your creation.
