The document discusses the influence of Martin Luther King Jr. on modern American abstract art, highlighting how this art form expresses common human traits by downplaying race, nationality, and economic status. Abstract representations remove identifiable features, focusing on the inner character of individuals, families, and pets to illustrate shared human experiences. It also provides a brief art lesson plan aimed at third-grade students, encouraging them to create abstract representations using colors that reflect character traits.

1. A Look at the Common Man Modern American Abstract Art

2. Art is influenced by current events. This man, Martin Luther King Jr., had an effect on people. He had an effect on artists, too.

3. The artists who believed what he was saying invented a new form of art called “Abstract Art.” Abstract Art forces the viewer to look at the person’s character. It shows what is inside the person. Some people call it “a look at the common man” because it shows what we all have in common; what it is that makes us human.

4. Therefore, anything that can tell you about a person’s race, nationality, or economic status, is removed, played down, minimized or just plain left out. Abstract Art shows the inner person.

5. You can tell; She’s from Europe. She lived in the past. This is a princess.

6. It does not have hair. Hair can tell you what race a person is. The artist doesn’t want you to know if it is an English princess or an African princess. This is just the character of being a princess.

7. Eyes, mouths and noses can tell you what country a person is from. In Abstract Art, the face is played down to a minimum so that you can’t tell the person’s nationality or race.

8. Clothes can tell you what country and what period of history a person is from. Clothes show how much money they have. The artist doesn’t want you to know that. The princess doesn’t have clothes showing.

9. This is a princess; any princess from any country, at any time. It shows what all princesses have in common; the poise, the confidence, the attitude.

10. This is a family. You can tell a lot about them just by looking at this picture.

11. This is an abstract family. It could be a normal, American family. It could be an extended family. It could be a family in another country. It could be a rich family. It could be a poor family. You can’t tell.

12. What you can tell is that the father, (or step father) is big and strong. He’s watching out for his family. You can tell the mother takes care of the children. You can tell that they love each other.

13. This is what all families, in every country, of every race, of every economic status, should look like on the inside.

14. Ready to draw? You are going to draw a cat or dog. This pet will be abstract, so it can’t have a breed.

15. A German Shepherd, an Irish Setter, an American Tabby, a Siamese, are all nationalities. A breed for a pet is like a race for a human.

16. You must choose a trait for your animal. It can be something like playful, lazy or mean.

17. The colors you choose should not relate to the breed, but should help show the character of the pet. If you are showing a “warm trait” use warm colors. If you are showing a “cool” trait, use cool colors. If you are showing a bright, happy trait, use bright happy colors.

18. Get it? Good!

19. Teacher’s Page Grade Level: Third and up Sunshine State Standards VA.A.1.2.1 produce works from observation or imagination VA.B.1.2 Knows how to identify the intentions of art. VA.B.1.2.4 uses elements of art when communicating ideas. VA.C.1.2.2 understands how artists use visual language across cultures. Note; I realize that the example of the princess sculpture is from the French Abstract Movement. There is another sculpture by the same name that is from the correct movement. This was a college homework assignment, and I couldn’t find the sculpture called The Princess that is from the correct movement before the assignment was due. For more art lesson plans, see my web site at http://www.projectsbypaula.com . This presentation is for personal use only and cannot be sold.