This tour looks at the theme of identity by examining works by artists who have lived in more than one place or culture. This activity could be used in the Walker Art Center galleries, Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, or in the classroom with a selection of images from Art Collector. The artworks included in the activity are suggestions only and instructors may choose different artworks to accompany the discussion questions.  This particular activity comes from the section of the Tour Guide Tool Kit called Living in Our Time.

Living in Our Time Activity Title: A Foot in Two Cultures Theme: Who Am I? Age: Grades 8–Adult Overview: This tour looks at the theme of identity by examining works by artists who have lived in more than one place or culture. This activity could be used in the Walker Art Center galleries, Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, or in the classroom with a selection of images from Art Collector. The artworks included in the activity are suggestions only and instructors may choose different artworks to accompany the discussion questions. Procedure: Setting the Scene What does it mean when we say we live in a global world? It can mean many things economically, politically, and culturally. In our world today people move between places and cultures more than ever before. They move as immigrants, refugees, or visitors and travel either physically or virtually, through the media and the internet. Ask (Note: Some of the following questions may be too personal for some people. Let them know that they can just think about these ideas. You could also ask if they have traveled to a different culture.) Have you ever lived in a country other than the one you were born in? If so, where did you live? How was that place different from where you live now? Or have you ever lived in two cultures simultaneously, such as here in the Twin Cities and in another place? Perhaps you experience different cultures at home and at school or work. Have you ever been with a group and felt like an outsider?  The United States, Minnesota, and the Twin Cities, for example, have become more culturally diverse because of movement between cultures. For many people, including artists working today, their identity is a mixture of two or more cultures. On our tour today, we are going to see how some artists express this in their art. Begin Looking Begin the tour in the Pop gallery to develop a shared understanding of how culture can be expressed through art. Ask: What do you know about the culture of the 1960s in the United States? Who were important people? (Think about musicians, politicians, celebrities, and artists.) What places were important (New York, San Francisco)? What activities typified the 1960s art world? (Answers include happenings, blurring the boundaries between high art and popular culture, and technologies such as photo silkscreen, Polaroid, and video.) What ideas were key to the 1960s art world (experimentation, sexual freedom, protest, counterculture)? Discuss with the group one or two works of art that reflect some of these elements from the 1960s. Select works by three or four artists who have lived in more than one country or culture. (See the list below for ideas.) Discuss each work with a focus on how the artist’s multicultural background informs his or her art. Some topics to include: •    places that have been part of this artist’s experience (for example, the artist’s birthplace, traditional cultures, where he or she was educated, places where the artist has immigrated or traveled) •    people (such as other artists, cultural figures, or celebrities) who are part of their art world •    activities important to the artist (for example, art forms, techniques, and media; traditional practices; contemporary practices) •    ideas (such as religious, political, and philosophical) with which the artist is familiar How do these things help us to understand the work of art? Ask What do you see in this artwork? How can we learn about the culture (people, places, activities, and ideas) of these artists? What do you know about the artist’s home country or current place of residence? Does the artist include cultural references in this work? If so, what are they? Does the artist’s experience of bridging or coming from contrasting cultures inform this work? How? Why do you think the artist chose to make this work? How does the artist’s choice of materials contribute to the overall meaning of the work? Are there other ideas or issues expressed in the work? Suggested artists: For each of these artists, more research needs to be done to provide information about their cultural world. Yoko Ono Nam June Paik Isamu Noguchi Julie Mehretu Chris Ofili Gabriel Orozco Conclusion Is it important to understand the cultural references and/or background of the artist in order to understand or appreciate the work? Why or why not? Many people (artists and others) have lived in more than one culture. Knowing their backgrounds can help us to have a broader definition of contemporary art in a global world. And it helps us find a path to understand the meaning of unfamiliar artwork. What are some ways that artists express their experience bridging cultures? What makes up your cultural world? How might you express this in a creative way?