Learning to Look: Patterns from Ancient Peru

Kimbell Kids

SPRING 2021 | FOR YOUNG ART LOVERS

LEARNING TO LOOK PATTERNS FROM ANCIENT PERU

L EA R NI NG TO LOOK PATTERNS FROM ANCIENT PERU

Hi, friends!

Did you know that art comes in all shapes and sizes?

At the Kimbell Art Museum, there are artworks small enough to fit in your hand and others that tower above our heads! No matter the size, each artwork is filled with fascinating clues that help us to understand who made it, where it came from, and what important ideas it represents. What will you discover?

In this Issue Meet Wari Man All the way from ancient Peru, this small statue is over 1,000 years old!

Amazing Seashells Learn how the ancient Wari people used treasures from the sea.

Llama Talk Fun facts about these furry, four-legged friends Shapes and Patterns Create your own Wari tunic pattern!

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New words: Inlay A design or pattern created by putting pieces of material into the surface of an object Shin The front part of the leg between the knee and ankle Status The importance or respect given to a person or thing

Tunic A long, sleeveless garment worn on the top part of the body Textiles Types of cloth or fabric, especially ones that have been woven

Meet Wari Man This tiny figure stands up tall with big, open eyes—like he notices everything happening around him! What else can you discover?

His large nose is made of lapislazuli. Since ancient times, this stone has been prized for its brilliant blue color.

Elaborate earrings, his hat, and colorful shin guards offer more clues about his important status.

He’s dressed to impress! Woven tunics kept people warm—especially up in the Andes Mountains of South America. Leaders also wore these beautiful textiles to show their wealth and power.

Who made this?__________________________________________________

Small holes on either side tell us that this artwork may have hung on a necklace!

Where was it made?______________________________________________ When was it made? ______________________________________________ What is it made of?_______________________________________________ How big is it?____________________________________________________ 1. Wari artist; 2. Peru, South America; 3. A.D. 600–1000; 4. Wood with shell-and-stone inlay and silver; 5. 4 inches tall

Fun Fact:

Amazing Seashells List all the colors you see in the Wari sculpture’s inlay design.

The orange and purple pieces are Spondylus seashells from the Pacific Ocean!

The Wari people also used these shells for jewelry, building decorations, pottery, and even in special ceremonies. What is your favorite kind of seashell?

Llama Talk Llamas and their close relatives have lived high in the Andes Mountains of South America for thousands of years. The Wari people trained these planteating mammals to carry heavy packs, produced warm textiles with their soft wool, and used their dung for fertilizer.

Fun Fact: The shape repeated on the Wari figure’s tunic is either a llama or the head of a big cat. It depends on how you look at it.

What do you see?

Playing with Shapes and Patterns

Create your own artwork inspired by Wari Man. Materials: Pencil, construction paper, scissors, glue

1. On your construction paper, draw a shape you see on the Wari sculpture or create your own.

2. Cut out the shape with your scissors.

3. Place the cut-out shape onto another sheet of paper and trace the outline. Cut out that shape, too.

4. Trace and cut out as many shapes as you like using different-colored papers.

5. Organize your shapes to create a pattern. Turn them in different directions and use different colors to make your design interesting.

6. Glue your pattern onto a piece of paper. Add a head and some legs to create your own Wari figure!

Example of an Artwork Inspired

by Wari Man

Coming up for Kimbell Kids Virtual Summer Art Adventures Saturdays, July 10 and August 7, 10 am Tune in and get inspired by rich artistic traditions from across India, China, Japan, Korea, and beyond! Virtual offerings for families will feature art-making guides, live online programming, and engaging videos from artists and performers. Offered in conjunction with the special exhibition Buddha, Shiva, Lotus, Dragon.

Pictures and Pages / Fotos y libros Selected Tuesdays, 11 am Facebook Live

Special Exhibitions Buddha, Shiva, Lotus, Dragon: The Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection at Asia Society Summer 2021 Turner’s Modern World Fall 2021

Wari culture, Standing Dignitary, c. A.D. 600–1000, wood with shell-and-stone inlay and silver. Kimbell Art Museum

Kimbell Art Museum 3333 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76107 817-332-8451 | kimbellart.org

LEARNING TO LOOK